LC vs OMF vs SLM vs UPST vs AFRM

For growth investors, Upstart Holdings, Inc.

(UPST) is the stronger pick with 58. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 1% for SLM Corporation (SLM). SLM Corporation (SLM) offers the better valuation at 6. 5x trailing P/E (7. 3x 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, SLM Corporation (SLM) is the cheapest at 6.

5x versus Affirm Holdings, Inc. at 449. 1x. On forward P/E, SLM Corporation is actually cheaper at 7. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: SLM Corporation wins at 0. 81x versus OneMain Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 92x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, OneMain Holdings, Inc.

(OMF) delivered a total return of +36. 4%, compared to -69. 8% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SLM returned +284. 8% versus AFRM's -30. 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), SLM Corporation (SLM) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

13β versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 96β — meaning UPST is approximately 161% more volatile than SLM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LendingClub Corporation (LC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 7% for OneMain 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 4. 1% for SLM Corporation (SLM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LendingClub Corporation grew EPS 155. 6% year-over-year, compared to 29. 1% for SLM 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.

SLM Corporation (SLM) is the more profitable company, earning 24.

0% net margin versus 1. 6% for Affirm Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 24. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SLM leads at 31. 9% versus -2. 7% for AFRM. 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.

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, SLM Corporation (SLM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 81x versus OneMain Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 92x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, SLM Corporation (SLM) trades at 7. 3x forward P/E versus 62. 5x for Affirm Holdings, Inc. — 55. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UPST: 55. 8% to $45. 17.

In this comparison, SLM (14.

9% yield), OMF (4. 7% yield) pay a dividend. LC, UPST, AFRM do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, SLM Corporation (SLM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

13), 14. 9% yield, +284. 8% 10Y return). Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) carries a higher beta of 2. 72 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SLM: +284. 8%, AFRM: -30. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (LC (Financial Services) and OMF (Financial Services) and SLM (Financial Services) and UPST (Financial Services) and AFRM (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: LC is a small-cap deep-value stock; OMF is a small-cap deep-value stock; SLM is a small-cap deep-value stock; UPST is a small-cap high-growth stock; AFRM is a mid-cap high-growth stock. OMF, SLM pay a dividend while LC, UPST, AFRM 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.