BH vs LMFA vs MARA vs FRPH vs RIOT

For growth investors, LM Funding America, Inc.

(LMFA) is the stronger pick with 77. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 9% for Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH). FRP Holdings, Inc. (FRPH) offers the better valuation at 62. 5x trailing P/E (17. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) a "Buy" — based on 2 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.

Over the past 5 years, Biglari Holdings Inc.

(BH) delivered a total return of +103. 2%, compared to -99. 1% for LM Funding America, Inc. (LMFA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RIOT returned +787. 3% versus MARA's -51. 6%. 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), FRP Holdings, Inc.

(FRPH) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 66β versus Riot Platforms, Inc. 's 3. 87β — meaning RIOT is approximately 487% more volatile than FRPH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 105% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), LM Funding America, Inc.

(LMFA) is pulling ahead at 77. 7% versus -0. 9% for Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LM Funding America, Inc. grew EPS 62. 6% year-over-year, compared to -673. 5% for Riot Platforms, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FRPH leads at 10. 2% annualised revenue growth. 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.

FRP Holdings, Inc.

(FRPH) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 3% net margin versus -144. 6% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FRPH leads at 28. 0% versus -90. 6% for MARA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FRPH leads at 91. 8%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MARA: 27.

0% to $16. 13.

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.

For long-horizon retirement investors, FRP Holdings, Inc.

(FRPH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 66)). Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (MARA) carries a higher beta of 3. 11 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FRPH: +26. 8%, MARA: -51. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (BH (Consumer Cyclical) and LMFA (Financial Services) and MARA (Financial Services) and FRPH (Real Estate) and RIOT (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: BH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LMFA is a small-cap high-growth stock; MARA is a small-cap high-growth stock; FRPH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; RIOT is a small-cap high-growth 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.