HOOD vs SCHW vs IBKR vs RJF vs LPLA

For growth investors, Robinhood Markets, Inc.

(HOOD) is the stronger pick with 51. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 9% for The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW). Raymond James Financial, Inc. (RJF) offers the better valuation at 14. 9x trailing P/E (12. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD) a "Buy" — based on 25 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, Raymond James Financial, Inc.

(RJF) is the cheapest at 14. 9x versus Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. at 37. 7x. On forward P/E, Raymond James Financial, Inc. is actually cheaper at 12. 9x. 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 The Charles Schwab Corporation's 6. 49x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.

(IBKR) delivered a total return of +386. 1%, compared to +31. 4% for The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LPLA returned +1241% versus HOOD's +119. 1%. 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), The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

72β versus Robinhood Markets, Inc. 's 3. 05β — meaning HOOD is approximately 322% more volatile than SCHW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 168% for Robinhood Markets, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Robinhood Markets, Inc.

(HOOD) is pulling ahead at 51. 6% versus 1. 9% for The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Robinhood Markets, Inc. grew EPS 31. 4% year-over-year, compared to -22. 2% for LPL Financial 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.

Robinhood Markets, Inc.

(HOOD) is the more profitable company, earning 42. 1% net margin versus 5. 1% for LPL Financial Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 42. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IBKR leads at 86. 0% versus 13. 4% for LPLA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IBKR leads at 89. 8%, 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 The Charles Schwab Corporation's 6. 49x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Raymond James Financial, Inc. (RJF) trades at 12. 9x forward P/E versus 40. 5x for Robinhood Markets, Inc. — 27. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HOOD: 53. 6% to $117. 14.

In this comparison, SCHW (1.

4% yield), RJF (1. 3% yield), LPLA (0. 4% yield), IBKR (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. HOOD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

72), 1. 4% yield, +255. 2% 10Y return). Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD) carries a higher beta of 3. 05 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SCHW: +255. 2%, HOOD: +119. 1%), 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: HOOD is a mid-cap high-growth stock; SCHW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; IBKR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; RJF is a mid-cap deep-value stock; LPLA is a mid-cap high-growth stock. SCHW, RJF pay a dividend while HOOD, IBKR, LPLA 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.