DAVE vs AFRM vs OMF vs UPST vs LC

For growth investors, Upstart Holdings, Inc.

(UPST) is the stronger pick with 58. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 1% for OneMain Holdings, Inc. (OMF). OneMain Holdings, Inc. (OMF) offers the better valuation at 8. 5x trailing P/E (7. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Dave Inc. (DAVE) a "Buy" — based on 11 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, OneMain Holdings, Inc.

(OMF) is the cheapest at 8. 5x versus Affirm Holdings, Inc. at 449. 1x. On forward P/E, OneMain Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Upstart Holdings, Inc. wins at 1. 02x versus OneMain Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 92x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, OneMain Holdings, Inc.

(OMF) delivered a total return of +36. 4%, compared to -69. 8% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: OMF returned +189. 2% 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), OneMain Holdings, Inc.

(OMF) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 30β versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 96β — meaning UPST is approximately 127% more volatile than OMF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LendingClub Corporation (LC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 7% for OneMain 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 9. 1% for OneMain Holdings, Inc. (OMF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Dave Inc. grew EPS 222. 9% year-over-year, compared to 54. 7% for OneMain Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, DAVE leads at 35. 7% 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.

Dave Inc.

(DAVE) is the more profitable company, earning 38. 3% net margin versus 1. 6% for Affirm Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 38. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LC leads at 25. 0% 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, Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 02x versus OneMain Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 92x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, OneMain Holdings, Inc. (OMF) trades at 7. 5x forward P/E versus 62. 5x for Affirm Holdings, Inc. — 54. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UPST: 55. 8% to $45. 17.

In this comparison, OMF (4.

7% yield) pays a dividend. DAVE, AFRM, UPST, LC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

(OMF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (4. 7% yield, +189. 2% 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 (OMF: +189. 2%, 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 (DAVE (Technology) and AFRM (Technology) and OMF (Financial Services) and UPST (Financial Services) and LC (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: DAVE is a small-cap high-growth stock; AFRM is a mid-cap high-growth stock; OMF is a small-cap deep-value stock; UPST is a small-cap high-growth stock; LC is a small-cap deep-value stock. OMF pays a dividend while DAVE, AFRM, UPST, LC 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.