LPRO vs UPST vs LC vs TREE

For growth investors, Open Lending Corporation (LPRO) is the stronger pick with 288.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 15. 0% for LendingClub Corporation (LC). LendingTree, Inc. (TREE) offers the better valuation at 3. 7x trailing P/E (7. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST) 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, LendingTree, Inc.

(TREE) is the cheapest at 3. 7x versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. at 64. 4x. On forward P/E, LendingTree, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, LendingClub Corporation (LC) delivered a total return of +15.

1%, compared to -95. 8% for Open Lending Corporation (LPRO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UPST returned -1. 6% versus LPRO's -83. 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), LendingTree, Inc.

(TREE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 55β versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 96β — meaning UPST is approximately 91% more volatile than TREE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LendingClub Corporation (LC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 2% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Open Lending Corporation (LPRO) is pulling ahead at 288.

0% versus 15. 0% for LendingClub Corporation (LC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LendingTree, Inc. grew EPS 443. 3% year-over-year, compared to 96. 8% for Open Lending 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.

LendingTree, Inc.

(TREE) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 5% net margin versus -4. 5% for Open Lending Corporation — meaning it keeps 13. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LC leads at 25. 0% versus 5. 1% for UPST. 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, LendingTree, Inc.

(TREE) trades at 7. 1x forward P/E versus 14. 9x for Open Lending Corporation — 7. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LPRO: 146. 9% to $4. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, LendingTree, Inc.

(TREE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Open Lending Corporation (LPRO) carries a higher beta of 2. 27 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TREE: -45. 7%, LPRO: -83. 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.

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: LPRO is a small-cap high-growth stock; UPST is a small-cap high-growth stock; LC is a small-cap deep-value stock; TREE is a small-cap high-growth stock. 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.