LX
LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$154M
5Y Perf.-67.8%
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Stock Comparison
LX vs UPST
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
UPST
Upstart Holdings, Inc.
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$2.74B
5Y Perf.-29.6%
LX vs UPST — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | LX | UPST |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Financial - Credit Services | Financial - Credit Services |
| Market Cap | $154M | $2.74B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $14.20B | $1.08B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.61B | $49M |
| Gross Margin | 35.4% | 95.2% |
| Operating Margin | 16.1% | 5.1% |
| Forward P/E | 0.4x | 14.5x |
| Total Debt | $5.27B | $1.85B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.25B | $657M |
LX vs UPST — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
LX
UPST
| Stock | Dec 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| LexinFintech Holdin… (LX) | 100 | 32.2 | -67.8% |
| Upstart Holdings, I… (UPST) | 100 | 70.4 | -29.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LX vs UPST
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: LX leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Upstart Holdings, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
LX
LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
The Banking Pick
LX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 1.25, yield 6.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.25, Low D/E 49.0%, current ratio 1.86x
- Beta 1.25, yield 6.6%, current ratio 1.86x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
UPST
Upstart Holdings, Inc.
The Banking Pick
UPST is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 58.9%, EPS growth 131.3%
- -2.7% 10Y total return vs LX's -73.2%
- 58.9% NII/revenue growth vs LX's 8.8%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | UPST | 58.9% NII/revenue growth vs LX's 8.8% |
| Value | LX | Lower P/E (0.4x vs 14.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | LX | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs UPST's 0.9% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | LX | Beta 1.25 vs UPST's 2.96, lower leverage |
| Dividends | LX | 6.6% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | UPST | -44.2% vs LX's -70.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LX | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs UPST's 0.9% |
LX vs UPST — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
LX vs UPST — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLXLAGGINGUPST
UPSTUpstart Holdings, Inc.
1leads
LXLexinFintech Holdings…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs UPSTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LX4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
LX5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LX7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
UPST4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LX leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LX is the larger business by revenue, generating $14.2B annually — 13.2x UPST's $1.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 7.7% (LX) to 5.0% (UPST).
| Metric | LXLexinFintech Hold… | UPSTUpstart Holdings,… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $14.2B | $1.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.8B | $68M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.6B | $49M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $0 | -$146M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +35.4% | +95.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.1% | +5.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.7% | +5.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.9% | -15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +110.3% | -169.2% |
LX leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
LX leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 2.3x trailing earnings, LX trades at a 96% valuation discount to UPST's 63.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, LX's 1.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than UPST's 49.7x.
| Metric | LXLexinFintech Hold… | UPSTUpstart Holdings,… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $154M | $2.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $596M | $3.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 2.27x | 63.73x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 0.36x | 14.53x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.44x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 1.67x | 49.74x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.07x | 2.55x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.23x | 3.86x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 1.26x | — |
LX leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LX leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LX delivers a 14.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $7 for UPST. LX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.49x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to UPST's 2.32x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LX scores 8/9 vs UPST's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | LXLexinFintech Hold… | UPSTUpstart Holdings,… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.7% | +6.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.2% | +1.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.0% | +1.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +19.5% | +2.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.49x | 2.32x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.0B | $1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.3B | $657M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.3B | $1.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 153.26x | 1.66x |
LX leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
UPST leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LX five years ago would be worth $3,460 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,116 for UPST. Over the past 12 months, UPST leads with a -44.2% total return vs LX's -70.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UPST at 28.9% vs LX's 3.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LXLexinFintech Hold… | UPSTUpstart Holdings,… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -28.7% | -37.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -70.8% | -44.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +12.0% | +114.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -65.4% | -68.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -73.2% | -2.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +3.9% | +28.9% |
UPST leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LX and UPST each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LX is the less volatile stock with a 1.25 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UPST's 2.96 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. UPST currently trades 32.9% from its 52-week high vs LX's 23.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | LXLexinFintech Hold… | UPSTUpstart Holdings,… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.25x | 2.96x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.35 | $87.30 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.02 | $23.96 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +23.1% | +32.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.7 | 50.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.5M | 4.7M |
Evenly matched — LX and UPST each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LX as "Buy" and UPST as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 62.0% upside for LX (target: $4) vs 57.5% for UPST (target: $45). LX is the only dividend payer here at 6.58% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | LXLexinFintech Hold… | UPSTUpstart Holdings,… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $3.50 | $45.17 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 22 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +6.6% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.97 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
LX leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). UPST leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallLexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (LX)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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LX vs UPST: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LX or UPST a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Upstart Holdings, Inc.
(UPST) is the stronger pick with 58. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 8% for LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (LX). LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (LX) offers the better valuation at 2. 3x trailing P/E (0. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (LX) a "Buy" — based on 12 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.
02Which has the better valuation — LX or UPST?
On trailing P/E, LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
(LX) is the cheapest at 2. 3x versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. at 63. 7x. On forward P/E, LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. is actually cheaper at 0. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LX or UPST?
Over the past 5 years, LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
(LX) delivered a total return of -65. 4%, compared to -68. 8% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UPST returned -2. 7% versus LX's -73. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — LX or UPST?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
(LX) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 25β versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 96β — meaning UPST is approximately 136% more volatile than LX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (LX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 2% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LX or UPST?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Upstart Holdings, Inc.
(UPST) is pulling ahead at 58. 9% versus 8. 8% for LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (LX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Upstart Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 131. 3% year-over-year, compared to 2. 5% for LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — LX or UPST?
LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
(LX) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 7% net margin versus 5. 0% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LX leads at 16. 1% 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.
07Is LX or UPST more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
(LX) trades at 0. 4x forward P/E versus 14. 5x for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — 14. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LX: 62. 0% to $3. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — LX or UPST?
In this comparison, LX (6.
6% yield) pays a dividend. UPST does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is LX or UPST better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
(LX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 25), 6. 6% yield). Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST) carries a higher beta of 2. 96 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LX: -73. 2%, UPST: -2. 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.
10What are the main differences between LX and UPST?
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: LX is a small-cap deep-value stock; UPST is a small-cap high-growth stock. LX pays a dividend while UPST 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(LX: 8.8% · UPST: 58.9%)Net Margin>
%
(LX: 7.7% · UPST: 5.0%)P/E Ratio<
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