LPLA vs RJF vs SF vs AMTD vs CSWC

For growth investors, LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

(LPLA) is the stronger pick with 37. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -55. 9% for AMTD IDEA Group (AMTD). AMTD IDEA Group (AMTD) offers the better valuation at 0. 3x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, AMTD IDEA Group (AMTD) is the cheapest at 0.

3x versus LPL Financial Holdings Inc. at 28. 4x. On forward P/E, Capital Southwest Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 1x — 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: Raymond James Financial, Inc. wins at 0. 60x versus Stifel Financial Corp. 's 1. 69x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

(LPLA) delivered a total return of +102. 1%, compared to -97. 4% for AMTD IDEA Group (AMTD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LPLA returned +1241% versus AMTD's -91. 4%. 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), AMTD IDEA Group (AMTD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

06β versus Stifel Financial Corp. 's 1. 23β — meaning SF is approximately 1850% more volatile than AMTD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AMTD IDEA Group (AMTD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 136% for LPL Financial Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

(LPLA) is pulling ahead at 37. 2% versus -55. 9% for AMTD IDEA Group (AMTD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Raymond James Financial, Inc. grew EPS 6. 2% year-over-year, compared to -68. 5% for AMTD IDEA Group. 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.

AMTD IDEA Group (AMTD) is the more profitable company, earning 94.

4% net margin versus 5. 1% for LPL Financial Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 94. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CSWC leads at 48. 5% versus 13. 4% for LPLA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RJF leads at 88. 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, Raymond James Financial, Inc. (RJF) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 60x versus Stifel Financial Corp. 's 1. 69x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Capital Southwest Corporation (CSWC) trades at 10. 1x forward P/E versus 13. 8x for LPL Financial Holdings Inc. — 3. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LPLA: 42. 4% to $441. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

AMTD IDEA Group (AMTD) offers the highest yield at 36. 7%, versus 0. 4% for LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA).

For long-horizon retirement investors, AMTD IDEA Group (AMTD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

06), 36. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AMTD: -91. 4%, SF: +509. 4%), 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: LPLA is a mid-cap high-growth stock; RJF is a mid-cap deep-value stock; SF is a mid-cap deep-value stock; AMTD is a small-cap deep-value stock; CSWC is a small-cap deep-value stock. RJF, SF, AMTD, CSWC pay a dividend while LPLA 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.