Bank of America vs American Express: Only One Financial Stock Deserves Your Money

Bank of America (BAC) posted strong Q2 2026 results driven by a surge in trading and investment banking, while American Express (AXP) showed best-in-class credit quality but faced rising expenses and a slight revenue miss. Despite AXP's premium economics, the author favors BAC due to its diversified segments, quarterly shareholder returns, and a lower P/E ratio, making it a "cleaner setup" for investors.