CPSS vs CAC vs CACC

For growth investors, Camden National Corporation (CAC) is the stronger pick with 26.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 6% for Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC). Camden National Corporation (CAC) offers the better valuation at 12. 7x trailing P/E (9. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPSS) a "Buy" — based on 4 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Camden National Corporation (CAC) is the cheapest at 12.

7x versus Credit Acceptance Corporation at 13. 9x. On forward P/E, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 4. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. wins at 0. 14x versus Credit Acceptance Corporation's 1. 15x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.

(CPSS) delivered a total return of +138. 8%, compared to +19. 3% for Camden National Corporation (CAC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CACC returned +184. 8% versus CAC's +122. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.

(CPSS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 70β versus Credit Acceptance Corporation's 1. 61β — meaning CACC is approximately 129% more volatile than CPSS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Camden National Corporation (CAC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 92% versus 11% for Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Camden National Corporation (CAC) is pulling ahead at 26.

8% versus 8. 6% for Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Credit Acceptance Corporation grew EPS 88. 9% year-over-year, compared to 1. 3% for Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC) is the more profitable company, earning 18.

3% net margin versus 4. 5% for Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CPSS leads at 60. 8% versus 22. 2% for CAC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CPSS leads at 99. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPSS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 14x versus Credit Acceptance Corporation's 1. 15x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPSS) trades at 4. 2x forward P/E versus 11. 3x for Credit Acceptance Corporation — 7. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CAC: 9. 0% to $53. 00.

In this comparison, CAC (3.

5% yield) pays a dividend. CPSS, CACC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Camden National Corporation (CAC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

99), 3. 5% yield, +122. 9% 10Y return). Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC) carries a higher beta of 1. 61 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAC: +122. 9%, CACC: +184. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: CPSS is a small-cap deep-value stock; CAC is a small-cap high-growth stock; CACC is a small-cap deep-value stock. CAC pays a dividend while CPSS, CACC do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.