ENVA vs WRLD vs RM

For growth investors, Enova International, Inc.

(ENVA) is the stronger pick with 18. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 5% for World Acceptance Corporation (WRLD). Regional Management Corp. (RM) offers the better valuation at 7. 8x trailing P/E (6. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Enova International, Inc. (ENVA) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, Regional Management Corp.

(RM) is the cheapest at 7. 8x versus Enova International, Inc. at 14. 6x. On forward P/E, Regional Management Corp. is actually cheaper at 6. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Regional Management Corp. wins at 0. 48x versus World Acceptance Corporation's 0. 56x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Enova International, Inc.

(ENVA) delivered a total return of +382. 3%, compared to -5. 2% for Regional Management Corp. (RM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENVA returned +20. 1% versus RM's +159. 4%. 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), World Acceptance Corporation (WRLD) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

27β versus Enova International, Inc. 's 1. 48β — meaning ENVA is approximately 17% more volatile than WRLD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, World Acceptance Corporation (WRLD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 120% versus 5% for Regional Management Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Enova International, Inc.

(ENVA) is pulling ahead at 18. 6% versus -1. 5% for World Acceptance Corporation (WRLD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Enova International, Inc. grew EPS 55. 9% year-over-year, compared to 7. 5% for Regional Management Corp.. 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.

World Acceptance Corporation (WRLD) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

9% net margin versus 6. 9% for Regional Management Corp. — meaning it keeps 15. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WRLD leads at 28. 1% versus 12. 4% for RM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WRLD leads at 70. 0%, 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, Regional Management Corp. (RM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 48x versus World Acceptance Corporation's 0. 56x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Regional Management Corp. (RM) trades at 6. 3x forward P/E versus 20. 0x for World Acceptance Corporation — 13. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, RM (3.

3% yield) pays a dividend. ENVA, WRLD do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Regional Management Corp.

(RM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (3. 3% yield, +159. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RM: +159. 4%, ENVA: +20. 1%), 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: ENVA is a small-cap high-growth stock; WRLD is a small-cap deep-value stock; RM is a small-cap deep-value stock. RM pays a dividend while ENVA, WRLD 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.