RJF vs SF vs LPL

For growth investors, Raymond James Financial, Inc.

(RJF) is the stronger pick with 7. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 0% for LG Display Co. , Ltd. (LPL). Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) offers the better valuation at 13. 3x trailing P/E (12. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) 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.

On trailing P/E, Stifel Financial Corp.

(SF) is the cheapest at 13. 3x versus LG Display Co. , Ltd. at 29. 2x. On forward P/E, LG Display Co. , Ltd. is actually cheaper at 0. 0x — 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: Raymond James Financial, Inc. wins at 0. 62x versus Stifel Financial Corp. 's 1. 75x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Raymond James Financial, Inc.

(RJF) delivered a total return of +84. 5%, compared to -53. 9% for LG Display Co. , Ltd. (LPL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SF returned +522. 0% versus LPL's -45. 1%. 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), Raymond James Financial, Inc.

(RJF) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 05β versus LG Display Co. , Ltd. 's 1. 48β — meaning LPL is approximately 41% more volatile than RJF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Raymond James Financial, Inc. (RJF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 162% for LG Display Co. , Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Raymond James Financial, Inc.

(RJF) is pulling ahead at 7. 9% versus -3. 0% for LG Display Co. , Ltd. (LPL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LG Display Co. , Ltd. grew EPS 108. 3% year-over-year, compared to -5. 9% for Stifel Financial 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.

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

(RJF) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 4% net margin versus 0. 9% for LG Display Co. , Ltd. — meaning it keeps 13. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RJF leads at 28. 7% versus 2. 0% for LPL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RJF leads at 88. 2%, 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, Raymond James Financial, Inc. (RJF) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 62x versus Stifel Financial Corp. 's 1. 75x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, LG Display Co. , Ltd. (LPL) trades at 0. 0x forward P/E versus 13. 4x for Raymond James Financial, Inc. — 13. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SF: 19. 1% to $93. 44.

In this comparison, SF (2.

4% yield), RJF (1. 3% yield) pay a dividend. LPL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Raymond James Financial, Inc.

(RJF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 05), 1. 3% yield, +407. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RJF: +407. 4%, LPL: -45. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (RJF (Financial Services) and SF (Financial Services) and LPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: RJF is a mid-cap deep-value stock; SF is a mid-cap deep-value stock; LPL is a small-cap quality compounder stock. RJF, SF pay a dividend while LPL does 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.