CRCL vs SOFI vs HOOD vs AFRM vs UPST

For growth investors, Upstart Holdings, Inc.

(UPST) is the stronger pick with 58. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 15. 6% for Circle Internet Group (CRCL). Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD) offers the better valuation at 37. 2x trailing P/E (40. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Circle Internet Group (CRCL) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, Robinhood Markets, Inc.

(HOOD) is the cheapest at 37. 2x versus Affirm Holdings, Inc. at 449. 1x. On forward P/E, Upstart Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 7x — 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: Robinhood Markets, Inc. wins at 0. 16x 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, Circle Internet Group (CRCL) delivered a total return of +265.

6%, compared to -69. 8% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRCL returned +265. 6% versus AFRM's -30. 7%. 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), SoFi Technologies, Inc.

(SOFI) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 54β versus Robinhood Markets, Inc. 's 3. 05β — meaning HOOD is approximately 20% more volatile than SOFI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Circle Internet Group (CRCL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 3% for Affirm 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 15. 6% for Circle Internet Group (CRCL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Upstart Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 131. 3% year-over-year, compared to -46. 2% for Circle Internet Group. 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.

Robinhood Markets, Inc.

(HOOD) is the more profitable company, earning 42. 1% net margin versus 1. 6% for Affirm Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 42. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HOOD leads at 46. 8% versus -2. 7% for AFRM. 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, Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 16x 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, Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST) trades at 14. 7x forward P/E versus 122. 3x for Circle Internet Group — 107. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UPST: 55. 8% to $45. 17.

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, Circle Internet Group (CRCL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+265.

6% 10Y return). Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) carries a higher beta of 2. 72 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRCL: +265. 6%, AFRM: -30. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CRCL (Financial Services) and SOFI (Financial Services) and HOOD (Financial Services) and AFRM (Technology) and UPST (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.