LC vs ATLC

For growth investors, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the stronger pick with 53.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 15. 0% for LendingClub Corporation (LC). Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) offers the better valuation at 13. 1x trailing P/E (8. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate LendingClub Corporation (LC) a "Buy" — based on 29 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, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the cheapest at 13.

1x versus LendingClub Corporation at 14. 5x. On forward P/E, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 7x.

Over the past 5 years, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) delivered a total return of +128.

9%, compared to +15. 1% for LendingClub Corporation (LC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATLC returned +25. 1% versus LC's -27. 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), Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

81β versus LendingClub Corporation's 2. 36β — meaning LC is approximately 30% more volatile than ATLC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LendingClub Corporation (LC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 11% for Atlanticus Holdings Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is pulling ahead at 53.

3% versus 15. 0% for LendingClub Corporation (LC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LendingClub Corporation grew EPS 155. 6% year-over-year, compared to 24. 9% for Atlanticus Holdings Corporation. 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.

Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

3% net margin versus 10. 2% for LendingClub Corporation — meaning it keeps 17. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LC leads at 25. 0% versus 22. 7% for ATLC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LC leads at 64. 7%, 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, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) trades at 8.

7x forward P/E versus 9. 6x for LendingClub Corporation — 0. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LC: 36. 3% to $22. 75.

In this comparison, ATLC (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. LC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0.

8% yield). LendingClub Corporation (LC) carries a higher beta of 2. 36 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATLC: +25. 1%, LC: -27. 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.

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: LC is a small-cap deep-value stock; ATLC is a small-cap high-growth stock. ATLC pays a dividend while LC 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.