UPST
Upstart Holdings, Inc.
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$2.74B
5Y Perf.-29.6%
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Stock Comparison
UPST vs LC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LC
LendingClub Corporation
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$1.96B
5Y Perf.+61.6%
UPST vs LC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | UPST | LC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Financial - Credit Services | Financial - Credit Services |
| Market Cap | $2.74B | $1.96B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.08B | $1.33B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $49M | $136M |
| Gross Margin | 95.2% | 64.7% |
| Operating Margin | 5.1% | 25.0% |
| Forward P/E | 14.5x | 9.8x |
| Total Debt | $1.85B | $16M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $657M | $918M |
UPST vs LC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
UPST
LC
| Stock | Dec 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upstart Holdings, I… (UPST) | 100 | 70.4 | -29.6% |
| LendingClub Corpora… (LC) | 100 | 161.6 | +61.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: UPST vs LC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: LC leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Upstart Holdings, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
UPST
Upstart Holdings, Inc.
The Banking Pick
UPST is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 58.9%, EPS growth 131.3%
- -2.7% 10Y total return vs LC's -51.9%
- 58.9% NII/revenue growth vs LC's 15.0%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
LC
LendingClub Corporation
The Banking Pick
LC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 2.36
- Lower volatility, beta 2.36, Low D/E 1.1%, current ratio 466.38x
- Beta 2.36, current ratio 466.38x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | UPST | 58.9% NII/revenue growth vs LC's 15.0% |
| Value | LC | Lower P/E (9.8x vs 14.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | LC | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs UPST's 0.9% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | LC | Beta 2.36 vs UPST's 2.96, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LC | +70.6% vs UPST's -44.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LC | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs UPST's 0.9% |
UPST vs LC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
UPST vs LC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLCLAGGINGUPST
UPSTUpstart Holdings, Inc.
0leads
LCLendingClub Corporati…
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs UPSTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LC3/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
LC5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LC7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LC5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
LC2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LC leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LC and UPST operate at a comparable scale, with $1.3B and $1.1B in trailing revenue. LC is the more profitable business, keeping 10.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to UPST's 5.0%.
| Metric | UPSTUpstart Holdings,… | LCLendingClub Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.1B | $1.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $68M | $287M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $49M | $136M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$146M | -$2.9B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +95.2% | +64.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.1% | +25.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +5.0% | +10.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -15.4% | -2.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -169.2% | +3.2% |
LC leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
LC leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.8x trailing earnings, LC trades at a 77% valuation discount to UPST's 63.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, LC's 2.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than UPST's 49.7x.
| Metric | UPSTUpstart Holdings,… | LCLendingClub Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.7B | $2.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.9B | $1.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 63.73x | 14.83x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.53x | 9.77x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 4.44x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 49.74x | 2.68x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.55x | 1.47x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.86x | 1.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
LC leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LC leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LC delivers a 9.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $7 for UPST. LC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to UPST's 2.32x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LC scores 6/9 vs UPST's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | UPSTUpstart Holdings,… | LCLendingClub Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.6% | +9.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.7% | +1.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.7% | +17.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.4% | +3.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.32x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.2B | -$902M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $657M | $918M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.9B | $16M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.66x | 0.67x |
LC leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LC five years ago would be worth $12,082 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,116 for UPST. Over the past 12 months, LC leads with a +70.6% total return vs UPST's -44.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LC at 35.4% vs UPST's 28.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | UPSTUpstart Holdings,… | LCLendingClub Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -37.4% | -10.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -44.2% | +70.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +114.3% | +148.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -68.8% | +20.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -2.7% | -51.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +28.9% | +35.4% |
LC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LC is the less volatile stock with a 2.36 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UPST's 2.96 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LC currently trades 78.7% from its 52-week high vs UPST's 32.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | UPSTUpstart Holdings,… | LCLendingClub Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.96x | 2.36x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $87.30 | $21.67 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $23.96 | $9.70 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +32.9% | +78.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.5 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.7M | 2.1M |
LC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates UPST as "Buy" and LC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 57.5% upside for UPST (target: $45) vs 33.4% for LC (target: $23).
| Metric | UPSTUpstart Holdings,… | LCLendingClub Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $45.17 | $22.75 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
LC leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics.
Best OverallLendingClub Corporation (LC)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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UPST vs LC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is UPST or LC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Upstart Holdings, Inc.
(UPST) is the stronger pick with 58. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 15. 0% for LendingClub Corporation (LC). LendingClub Corporation (LC) offers the better valuation at 14. 8x trailing P/E (9. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST) 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 — UPST or LC?
On trailing P/E, LendingClub Corporation (LC) is the cheapest at 14.
8x versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. at 63. 7x. On forward P/E, LendingClub Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — UPST or LC?
Over the past 5 years, LendingClub Corporation (LC) delivered a total return of +20.
8%, compared to -68. 8% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UPST returned -2. 7% versus LC's -51. 9%. 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 — UPST or LC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), LendingClub Corporation (LC) is the lower-risk stock at 2.
36β versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 96β — meaning UPST is approximately 25% more volatile than LC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LendingClub Corporation (LC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 2% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — UPST or LC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Upstart Holdings, Inc.
(UPST) is pulling ahead at 58. 9% versus 15. 0% for LendingClub Corporation (LC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LendingClub Corporation grew EPS 155. 6% year-over-year, compared to 131. 3% for Upstart Holdings, 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.
06Which has better profit margins — UPST or LC?
LendingClub Corporation (LC) is the more profitable company, earning 10.
2% net margin versus 5. 0% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LC leads at 25. 0% versus 5. 1% for UPST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UPST leads at 95. 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.
07Is UPST or LC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, LendingClub Corporation (LC) trades at 9.
8x forward P/E versus 14. 5x for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — 4. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UPST: 57. 5% to $45. 17.
08Which pays a better dividend — UPST or LC?
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 UPST or LC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Upstart Holdings, Inc.
(UPST) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. LendingClub Corporation (LC) carries a higher beta of 2. 36 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (UPST: -2. 7%, LC: -51. 9%), 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 UPST and LC?
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: UPST is a small-cap high-growth stock; LC is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(UPST: 58.9% · LC: 15.0%)Net Margin>
%
(UPST: 5.0% · LC: 10.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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