CLIK vs QFIN vs LX vs FINV vs UPST

For growth investors, Upstart Holdings, Inc.

(UPST) is the stronger pick with 58. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 7% for FinVolution Group (FINV). Qfin Holdings, Inc. (QFIN) offers the better valuation at 2. 1x trailing P/E (0. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Qfin Holdings, Inc. (QFIN) a "Buy" — based on 4 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, Qfin Holdings, Inc.

(QFIN) is the cheapest at 2. 1x versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. at 64. 4x. On forward P/E, LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. is actually cheaper at 0. 3x — 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: Qfin Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 02x versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 02x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, FinVolution Group (FINV) delivered a total return of -2.

3%, compared to -97. 2% for Click Holdings Limited (CLIK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: QFIN returned +16. 1% versus CLIK's -97. 2%. 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), FinVolution Group (FINV) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

12β versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 96β — meaning UPST is approximately 164% more volatile than FINV relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, FinVolution Group (FINV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 2% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Upstart Holdings, Inc.

(UPST) is pulling ahead at 58. 9% versus 3. 7% for FinVolution Group (FINV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Upstart Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 131. 3% year-over-year, compared to 2. 5% for LexinFintech 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.

Qfin Holdings, Inc.

(QFIN) is the more profitable company, earning 36. 5% net margin versus 5. 0% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 36. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: QFIN leads at 43. 9% 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.

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, Qfin Holdings, Inc. (QFIN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 02x versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 02x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (LX) trades at 0. 3x forward P/E versus 14. 7x for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — 14. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for QFIN: 113. 1% to $28. 15.

In this comparison, QFIN (9.

3% yield), LX (6. 9% yield), FINV (4. 8% yield) pay a dividend. CLIK, UPST do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, FinVolution Group (FINV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

12), 4. 8% yield). Click Holdings Limited (CLIK) carries a higher beta of 2. 54 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FINV: -47. 5%, CLIK: -97. 2%), 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 (CLIK (Industrials) and QFIN (Financial Services) and LX (Financial Services) and FINV (Financial Services) and UPST (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CLIK is a small-cap high-growth stock; QFIN is a small-cap deep-value stock; LX is a small-cap deep-value stock; FINV is a small-cap deep-value stock; UPST is a small-cap high-growth stock. QFIN, LX, FINV pay a dividend while CLIK, UPST do 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.