JFU vs LX vs QFIN vs FINV

For growth investors, LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.

(LX) is the stronger pick with 8. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -24. 8% for 9F Inc. (JFU). 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 9F Inc. at 5. 3x. 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 -88. 7% for 9F Inc. (JFU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: QFIN returned +16. 1% versus JFU's -98. 3%. 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), 9F Inc.

(JFU) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 46β versus LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. 's 1. 25β — meaning LX is approximately 174% more volatile than JFU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, FinVolution Group (FINV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 49% for LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.

(LX) is pulling ahead at 8. 8% versus -24. 8% for 9F Inc. (JFU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: 9F Inc. grew EPS 135. 0% year-over-year, compared to 2. 5% for LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.. 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 7. 7% for LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. — 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 -14. 7% for JFU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FINV leads at 79. 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 0. 6x for FinVolution Group — 0. 3x 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. JFU does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, 9F Inc.

(JFU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 46)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (JFU: -98. 3%, LX: -74. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (JFU (Technology) and LX (Financial Services) and QFIN (Financial Services) and FINV (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

LX, QFIN, FINV pay a dividend while JFU does 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.