Compensation and benefits
American Express Compensation and benefits decreased by 0.9% to $2.48B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 17.1%, from $2.12B to $2.48B. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Compensation and benefits shows an upward trend with a 9.6% CAGR. This increase may warrant attention — for this metric, lower values are generally preferred.
Analysis
How to read this metric
An increase often reflects headcount growth or higher performance-based incentives, while a decrease may indicate efficiency initiatives or workforce reductions.
Detailed definition
Includes all salaries, wages, bonuses, stock-based compensation, and employee benefit costs for the workforce. This is t...
Peer comparison
Highly comparable across all sectors; usually found under 'Personnel' or 'Staffing' expenses.
compensation_and_benefitsHistorical Data
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $1.54B | $1.50B | $1.65B | $1.65B | $1.82B | $1.75B | $2.03B | $2.01B | $1.88B | $2.05B | $2.13B | $2.10B | $1.95B | $2.05B | $2.10B | $2.12B | $2.15B | $2.24B | $2.51B | $2.48B |
| QoQ Change | — | -2.7% | +10.5% | +0.0% | +9.8% | -3.7% | +16.4% | -1.0% | -6.9% | +9.2% | +4.1% | -1.5% | -7.1% | +5.1% | +2.6% | +0.9% | +1.5% | +4.0% | +11.9% | -0.9% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +18.0% | +16.8% | +23.0% | +21.8% | +3.2% | +17.1% | +4.8% | +4.2% | +3.9% | +0.1% | -1.4% | +1.0% | +10.4% | +9.3% | +19.2% | +17.1% |
Compensation and benefits at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is American Express's compensation and benefits?
- American Express (AXP) reported compensation and benefits of $2.48B in Q1 2026.
- How has American Express's compensation and benefits changed year-over-year?
- American Express's compensation and benefits increased by 17.1% year-over-year, from $2.12B to $2.48B.
- What is the long-term trend for American Express's compensation and benefits?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), American Express's compensation and benefits has grown at a 9.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $6.24B to $9.02B.
- What does compensation and benefits mean?
- The total cost of employee salaries, bonuses, and benefits.