CASH vs NAVI vs SLM vs OMF vs COF

For growth investors, Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) is the stronger pick with 28.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 7% for Navient Corporation (NAVI). SLM Corporation (SLM) offers the better valuation at 6. 5x trailing P/E (7. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Pathward Financial, Inc. (CASH) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, SLM Corporation (SLM) is the cheapest at 6.

5x versus Capital One Financial Corporation at 47. 0x. On forward P/E, SLM Corporation is actually cheaper at 7. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Pathward Financial, Inc. wins at 0. 46x versus OneMain Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 94x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Pathward Financial, Inc.

(CASH) delivered a total return of +77. 1%, compared to -31. 9% for Navient Corporation (NAVI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CASH returned +443. 5% versus NAVI's +13. 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), Pathward Financial, Inc.

(CASH) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 86β versus Capital One Financial Corporation's 1. 55β — meaning COF is approximately 81% more volatile than CASH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Pathward Financial, Inc. (CASH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 19% for Navient Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) is pulling ahead at 28.

4% versus -23. 7% for Navient Corporation (NAVI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: OneMain Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 54. 7% year-over-year, compared to -168. 6% for Navient Corporation. 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.

Pathward Financial, Inc.

(CASH) is the more profitable company, earning 27. 1% net margin versus -2. 5% for Navient Corporation — meaning it keeps 27. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NAVI leads at 77. 1% versus 3. 3% for COF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CASH leads at 90. 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, Pathward Financial, Inc. (CASH) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 46x versus OneMain Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 94x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, SLM Corporation (SLM) trades at 7. 1x forward P/E versus 11. 9x for Navient Corporation — 4. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COF: 41. 0% to $267. 18.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

SLM Corporation (SLM) offers the highest yield at 15. 0%, versus 0. 2% for Pathward Financial, Inc. (CASH).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Navient Corporation (NAVI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

87), 7. 5% yield). Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) carries a higher beta of 1. 55 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NAVI: +13. 4%, COF: +201. 3%), 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: CASH is a small-cap deep-value stock; NAVI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SLM is a small-cap deep-value stock; OMF is a small-cap deep-value stock; COF is a mid-cap high-growth stock. NAVI, SLM, OMF, COF pay a dividend while CASH 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.