KLAR vs AFRM vs SEZL vs UPST vs FOUR

For growth investors, Sezzle Inc.

(SEZL) is the stronger pick with 66. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 21. 2% for Klarna Group plc (KLAR). Sezzle Inc. (SEZL) offers the better valuation at 26. 8x trailing P/E (19. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Klarna Group plc (KLAR) a "Buy" — based on 8 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, Sezzle Inc.

(SEZL) is the cheapest at 26. 8x versus Klarna Group plc at 2109. 0x. On forward P/E, Shift4 Payments, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Sezzle Inc.

(SEZL) delivered a total return of +104. 3%, compared to -69. 7% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SEZL returned +686. 3% versus KLAR's -69. 2%. 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), Shift4 Payments, Inc.

(FOUR) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 45β versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 87β — meaning UPST is approximately 98% more volatile than FOUR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Klarna Group plc (KLAR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 3% for Affirm Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sezzle Inc.

(SEZL) is pulling ahead at 66. 1% versus 21. 2% for Klarna Group plc (KLAR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Upstart Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 131. 3% year-over-year, compared to -64. 4% for Shift4 Payments, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AFRM leads at 33. 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.

Sezzle Inc.

(SEZL) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 6% net margin versus 0. 1% for Klarna Group plc — meaning it keeps 29. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SEZL leads at 39. 3% versus -4. 5% for KLAR. 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, Shift4 Payments, Inc.

(FOUR) trades at 7. 3x forward P/E versus 543. 5x for Klarna Group plc — 536. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FOUR: 78. 5% to $72. 79.

In this comparison, FOUR (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. KLAR, AFRM, SEZL, UPST do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Shift4 Payments, Inc.

(FOUR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0. 8% yield). Klarna Group plc (KLAR) carries a higher beta of 2. 34 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FOUR: +21. 6%, KLAR: -69. 2%), 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 (KLAR (Technology) and AFRM (Technology) and SEZL (Financial Services) and UPST (Financial Services) and FOUR (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

FOUR pays a dividend while KLAR, AFRM, SEZL, UPST 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.