American Express vs Hyundai: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
American Express reported $72.2B of revenue in FY2025 and $10.8B of net income. Hyundai reported ~$132.2B of revenue in FY2025 and ~$6.7B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
American Express
- Latest revenue
- $72.2B (FY2025)
- Net income
- $10.8B
- Net margin
- 15.0%
- Revenue growth
- +8.2% a year, FY2016–FY2025
Hyundai
- Latest revenue
- ~$132.2B (FY2025)
- Net income
- ~$6.7B
- Net margin
- 5.1%
- Revenue growth
- +12.2% a year, FY2021–FY2025
Financial summary
American Express
American Express reported $72.2 billion in total revenues net of interest expense for FY2025, up 10 percent, and $10.8 billion of net income, or $15.38 per diluted share. The mix is less fee-only than its premium image suggests: discount revenue on merchant transactions was $37.4 billion, net interest income on card member loans was $17.4 billion, net card fees were $10.0 billion and service fees and other revenue were $7.5 billion. Growth in 2025 came disproportionately from the two smaller lines, with net card fees up 18 percent and net interest income up 12 percent against 6 percent growth in discount revenue. Return on average equity was 33.9 percent, the net write-off rate on consumer and small business loans and receivables was 2.0 percent, and the company declared $3.28 per share in dividends while average diluted shares fell from 713 million to 696 million.
Hyundai
Hyundai's revenue has grown every year since 2020, from ~$83.5 billion (KRW 117.6 trillion) in 2021 to ~$132 billion (KRW 186.25 trillion) in 2025. Profit peaked in 2023 and 2024, when operating profit topped ~$9.94 billion (KRW 14 trillion) on a rich SUV mix and a weak won. In 2025 operating profit fell 19.5% to ~$8.14 billion (KRW 11.47 trillion) and net profit fell 21.7% to ~$7.36 billion (KRW 10.36 trillion), mostly because of U.S. tariffs. Q2 2026 revenue was a record ~$34.9 billion (KRW 49.22 trillion), up 1.9%, but operating profit dropped 20.8% to ~$2.02 billion (KRW 2.85 trillion), leaving H1 2026 operating profit at ~$3.81 billion (KRW 5.37 trillion) against ~$5.14 billion (KRW 7.24 trillion) a year earlier. The company paid a total 2025 dividend of KRW 10,000 per share, and its 2026 guidance calls for 1-2% revenue growth and a 6.3-7.3% operating margin, which its CFO said in July it may miss on volume.
Revenue and profit by year
American Express
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $72.2B | $10.8B | 15.0% | +9.5% | Source |
| FY2024 | $65.9B | $10.1B | 15.4% | +9.0% | Source |
| FY2023 | $60.5B | $8.4B | 13.8% | +14.5% | Source |
| FY2022 | $52.9B | $7.5B | 14.2% | +24.7% | Source |
| FY2021 | $42.4B | $8.1B | 19.0% | +17.4% | Source |
| FY2020 | $36.1B | $3.1B | 8.7% | -17.1% | Source |
| FY2019 | $43.6B | $6.8B | 15.5% | +8.0% | Source |
| FY2018 | $40.3B | $6.9B | 17.2% | +9.4% | Source |
| FY2017 | $36.9B | $2.7B | 7.5% | +4.1% | Source |
| FY2016 | $35.4B | $5.4B | 15.2% | — | Source |
Hyundai
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | ~$132.2B | ~$6.7B | 5.1% | +6.3% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$124.4B | ~$8.9B | 7.1% | +7.7% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$115.5B | ~$8.5B | 7.4% | +14.4% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$100.9B | ~$5.2B | 5.2% | +20.9% | Source |
| FY2021 | ~$83.5B | ~$3.5B | 4.2% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
American Express
- Discount Revenue (Merchant Fees)~52%
Discount revenue is the fee American Express charges merchants on card transactions. It was $37,401 million in FY2025, up 6 percent, and equalled 2.24 percent of billed business. It remains the largest revenue line and moves with billed business, merchant mix and geography.
- Net Interest Income~24%
Net interest income is earned on card member loans and receivables after funding costs. It was $17,364 million in FY2025, up 12 percent, on a net interest yield of 8.1 percent, helped by growth in revolving balances and by lending features added to charge card products.
- Net Card Fees~14%
Net card fees are the annual fees on consumer, small business and corporate cards. They reached $9,993 million in FY2025, up 18 percent, at an average of $117 per proprietary card in force, driven by new acquisitions on fee-paying products and by the 2025 Platinum refresh.
- Service Fees and Other Revenue~10%
Service fees and other revenue was $7,471 million in FY2025, up 10 percent. It covers network partnership revenue from cards issued by partner banks, foreign currency fees on cross-currency spending, loyalty coalition and merchant service fees, delinquency fees, travel commissions and income from equity method investments.
Hyundai
- SUVs and Passenger Vehicles
Core revenue engine
Tucson, Santa Fe, Palisade, Sonata, Elantra, and other global models generate volume, dealer traffic, and cash flow across major regions.
- Hybrids and Electrified Vehicles
Growth and transition
Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, and fuel-cell vehicles support Hyundai's transition while giving buyers powertrain choice during uneven EV adoption.
- Genesis Luxury
Premium margin contributor
Genesis sedans and SUVs lift brand perception and average transaction prices while competing with Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.
- Parts, Services, and Mobility
Recurring and adjacent
After-sales service, parts, connected services, fleet offerings, robotics, and future mobility investments extend Hyundai beyond one-time vehicle sales.
Business model and strategy
American Express
How it makes money
American Express runs a closed-loop payments business: it issues the card, owns the network, underwrites the credit and contracts with the merchant. Visa and Mastercard only move the transaction between an issuing bank and an acquiring bank, so they never see both sides of a purchase.
Growth strategy
Amex's growth strategy is aggressively focused on capturing the next generation of wealthy spenders: Millennials and Gen Z. They have successfully revamped their well-known Platinum and Gold cards with perks tailored specifically for younger demographics (like Uber credits and dining rewards), resulting in rapid growth among younger cohorts.
Competitive advantage
American Express competes on the spending power of its card members rather than on price or ubiquity. Average spending per proprietary basic card member was $25,453 in 2025, which is the argument it makes to merchants who pay a higher discount rate, an average of 2.24 percent of billed business.
Hyundai
How it makes money
Hyundai earns most of its revenue from wholesale vehicle sales to dealers and distributors across North America, Korea, Europe, India and emerging markets. Three layers sit on top of that core: the Genesis luxury brand, which lifts average transaction prices; a finance division (Hyundai Capital and Hyundai Capital America) that earns interest and lease income on vehicle loans; and after-sales parts and service.
Growth strategy
Hyundai's growth strategy rests on four moves: localising production in the United States, India and other big markets to avoid tariffs; expanding hybrids across its range while keeping EV investment flexible; pushing Genesis higher in luxury; and building software, autonomous driving and robotics. In the U.S.
Competitive advantage
Hyundai's edge is breadth plus speed. It can offer gasoline, hybrid, plug-in, battery-electric and hydrogen versions of key models, which matters as EV demand stalls in some markets and hybrids take more than a quarter of its U.S. sales.
Questions about American Express vs Hyundai
Which company has higher revenue — American Express Company or Hyundai Motor Company?
American Express Company reported $72.2B (FY2025), while Hyundai Motor Company reported ~$132.2B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, Hyundai Motor Company is the larger business, with American Express Company reporting a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of American Express Company vs Hyundai Motor Company?
American Express Company's market capitalisation stands at $205.8B, while Hyundai Motor Company's is $52.0B. American Express Company carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to Hyundai Motor Company.
Which is more financially efficient — American Express Company or Hyundai Motor Company?
American Express Company generates $940k / employee in revenue per employee, while Hyundai Motor Company generates $1.08M / employee. Hyundai Motor Company shows higher revenue efficiency per headcount, though this reflects business model differences — capital-light software companies routinely outperform labour-intensive manufacturers on this metric.
How do American Express Company and Hyundai Motor Company make money?
American Express Company and Hyundai Motor Company generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. American Express Company: American Express runs a closed-loop payments business: it issues the card, owns the network, underwrites the credit and contracts with the merchant. Hyundai Motor Company: Hyundai earns most of its revenue from wholesale vehicle sales to dealers and distributors across North America, Korea, Europe, India and emerging markets.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — American Express Company or Hyundai Motor Company?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, American Express Company trades at 2.8x P/S and Hyundai Motor Company at 0.4x P/S. American Express Company commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to Hyundai Motor Company. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is American Express Company bigger than Hyundai Motor Company?
By last reported revenue, Hyundai Motor Company (~$132.2B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to American Express Company ($72.2B (FY2025)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the American Express vs Hyundai overview