Banks - Diversified
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2 / 10Stock Comparison
NU vs AFRM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Software - Infrastructure
NU vs AFRM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Diversified | Software - Infrastructure |
| Market Cap | $55.36B | $21.85B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $11.10B | $3.72B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.53B | $282M |
| Gross Margin | 45.9% | 67.7% |
| Operating Margin | 25.2% | 6.2% |
| Forward P/E | 16.7x | 60.8x |
| Total Debt | $887M | $7.85B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $13.64B | $1.35B |
NU vs AFRM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Dec 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nu Holdings Ltd. (NU) | 100 | 154.4 | +54.4% |
| Affirm Holdings, In… (AFRM) | 100 | 65.2 | -34.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NU vs AFRM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
NU carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 1.37
- Rev growth 44.8%, EPS growth 90.5%
- 40.2% 10Y total return vs AFRM's -32.6%
AFRM is the clearest fit if your priority is momentum.
- +28.6% vs NU's +16.4%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 44.8% NII/revenue growth vs AFRM's 38.8% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (16.7x vs 60.8x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 17.8% margin vs AFRM's 7.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.37 vs AFRM's 2.72, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +28.6% vs NU's +16.4% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 3.7% ROA vs AFRM's 2.5%, ROIC 26.0% vs -0.7% |
NU vs AFRM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
NU vs AFRM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NU leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NU is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.1B annually — 3.0x AFRM's $3.7B. NU is the more profitable business, keeping 17.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AFRM's 7.6%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $11.1B | $3.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.6B | $495M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.5B | $282M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3.7B | $619M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +45.9% | +67.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +25.2% | +6.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +17.8% | +7.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +20.0% | +16.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +29.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +45.5% | +60.9% |
Valuation Metrics
NU leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 36.2x trailing earnings, NU trades at a 92% valuation discount to AFRM's 437.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NU's 14.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AFRM's 205.7x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $55.4B | $21.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $42.6B | $28.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 36.20x | 437.20x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.69x | 60.83x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.83x | 205.69x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.99x | 6.78x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 9.26x | 7.29x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.89x | 36.30x |
Profitability & Efficiency
NU leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NU delivers a 24.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $24 in annual profit, vs $9 for AFRM. NU carries lower financial leverage with a 0.12x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AFRM's 2.56x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NU scores 7/9 vs AFRM's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +24.0% | +8.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.7% | +2.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +26.0% | -0.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +27.4% | -0.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.12x | 2.56x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$12.8B | $6.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $13.6B | $1.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $887M | $7.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.90x | 1.67x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AFRM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NU five years ago would be worth $14,017 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,046 for AFRM. Over the past 12 months, AFRM leads with a +28.6% total return vs NU's +16.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AFRM at 76.4% vs NU's 34.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -14.9% | -11.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.4% | +28.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +144.6% | +449.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +40.2% | +20.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +40.2% | -32.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +34.7% | +76.4% |
Risk & Volatility
NU leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NU is the less volatile stock with a 1.37 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AFRM's 2.72 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NU currently trades 76.3% from its 52-week high vs AFRM's 65.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.37x | 2.72x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $18.98 | $100.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.71 | $42.09 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +76.3% | +65.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 43.4 | 66.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 49.2M | 5.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NU as "Buy" and AFRM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 41.4% upside for NU (target: $20) vs 23.2% for AFRM (target: $81).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $20.48 | $80.77 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 33 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.1% |
NU leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). AFRM leads in 1 (Total Returns).
NU vs AFRM: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NU or AFRM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Nu Holdings Ltd.
(NU) is the stronger pick with 44. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 38. 8% for Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM). Nu Holdings Ltd. (NU) offers the better valuation at 36. 2x trailing P/E (16. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nu Holdings Ltd. (NU) a "Buy" — based on 22 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.
02Which has the better valuation — NU or AFRM?
On trailing P/E, Nu Holdings Ltd.
(NU) is the cheapest at 36. 2x versus Affirm Holdings, Inc. at 437. 2x. On forward P/E, Nu Holdings Ltd. is actually cheaper at 16. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NU or AFRM?
Over the past 5 years, Nu Holdings Ltd.
(NU) delivered a total return of +40. 2%, compared to +20. 5% for Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NU returned +40. 2% versus AFRM's -32. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — NU or AFRM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Nu Holdings Ltd.
(NU) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 37β versus Affirm Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 72β — meaning AFRM is approximately 99% more volatile than NU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Nu Holdings Ltd. (NU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 3% for Affirm Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NU or AFRM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nu Holdings Ltd.
(NU) is pulling ahead at 44. 8% versus 38. 8% for Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Affirm Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 109. 0% year-over-year, compared to 90. 5% for Nu Holdings Ltd.. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — NU or AFRM?
Nu Holdings Ltd.
(NU) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 8% net margin versus 1. 6% for Affirm Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NU leads at 25. 2% versus -2. 7% for AFRM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AFRM leads at 67. 5%, 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.
07Is NU or AFRM more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Nu Holdings Ltd.
(NU) trades at 16. 7x forward P/E versus 60. 8x for Affirm Holdings, Inc. — 44. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NU: 41. 4% to $20. 48.
08Which pays a better dividend — NU or AFRM?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
09Is NU or AFRM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Nu Holdings Ltd.
(NU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) carries a higher beta of 2. 72 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NU: +40. 2%, AFRM: -32. 6%), 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.
10What are the main differences between NU and AFRM?
These companies operate in different sectors (NU (Financial Services) and AFRM (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
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.
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