CNF vs LX vs QFIN vs FINV vs TREE

For growth investors, LendingTree, Inc.

(TREE) is the stronger pick with 24. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -60. 9% for CNFinance Holdings Limited (CNF). 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 LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (LX) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 FinVolution Group at 3. 9x. 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 FinVolution Group's 0. 19x — 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 -90. 9% for CNFinance Holdings Limited (CNF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: QFIN returned +16. 1% versus CNF's -95. 8%. 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), CNFinance Holdings Limited (CNF) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

09β versus LendingTree, Inc. 's 1. 55β — meaning TREE is approximately 1593% more volatile than CNF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, FinVolution Group (FINV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 152% for LendingTree, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), LendingTree, Inc.

(TREE) is pulling ahead at 24. 1% versus -60. 9% for CNFinance Holdings Limited (CNF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LendingTree, Inc. grew EPS 443. 3% year-over-year, compared to -122. 3% for CNFinance Holdings Limited. 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 -73. 1% for CNFinance Holdings Limited — 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 -11. 2% for CNF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TREE leads at 94. 3%, 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 FinVolution Group's 0. 19x. 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 7. 1x for LendingTree, Inc. — 6. 8x 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. CNF, TREE do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

09)). LendingTree, Inc. (TREE) 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 (CNF: -95. 8%, TREE: -45. 7%), 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: CNF is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LX is a small-cap deep-value stock; QFIN is a small-cap deep-value stock; FINV is a small-cap deep-value stock; TREE is a small-cap high-growth stock. LX, QFIN, FINV pay a dividend while CNF, TREE 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.