DAVE vs UPST

For growth investors, Upstart Holdings, Inc.

(UPST) is the stronger pick with 58. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 47. 5% for Dave Inc. (DAVE). Dave Inc. (DAVE) offers the better valuation at 18. 4x trailing P/E (19. 1x 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, Dave Inc.

(DAVE) is the cheapest at 18. 4x versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. at 64. 4x. On forward P/E, Upstart Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Dave Inc.

(DAVE) delivered a total return of -20. 2%, compared to -69. 8% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UPST returned -1. 6% versus DAVE's -20. 5%. 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), Dave Inc.

(DAVE) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 69β versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 96β — meaning UPST is approximately 10% more volatile than DAVE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Dave Inc. (DAVE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% 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 47. 5% for Dave Inc. (DAVE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Dave Inc. grew EPS 222. 9% year-over-year, compared to 131. 3% for Upstart Holdings, Inc.. 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 5. 0% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 38. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DAVE leads at 8. 0% 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.

On forward earnings alone, Upstart Holdings, Inc.

(UPST) trades at 14. 7x forward P/E versus 19. 1x for Dave Inc. — 4. 4x 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, Upstart Holdings, Inc.

(UPST) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Dave Inc. (DAVE) carries a higher beta of 2. 69 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (UPST: -1. 6%, DAVE: -20. 5%), 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 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.