Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Medallion Financial Corp. (MFIN) vs Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MFIN | 14.6% revenue growth vs CACC's 13.5% |
| Value | MFIN | Lower P/E (7.1x vs 10.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | MFIN | 12.3% net margin vs CACC's 11.6% |
| Stability / Safety | MFIN | Beta 0.57 vs CACC's 1.13, lower leverage |
| Dividends | MFIN | 3.9% yield; 3-year raise streak; CACC pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | MFIN | +25.3% vs CACC's -3.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CACC | 5.3% ROA vs MFIN's 1.5%, ROIC 3.3% vs 6.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Medallion Financial is a specialty finance company that provides loans for recreational vehicles, home improvements, commercial businesses, and taxi medallions. It generates revenue primarily through interest income from its lending segments — recreation lending, home improvement lending, commercial lending, and medallion lending — with the recreation segment being its largest. The company's competitive advantage lies in its specialized expertise in niche lending markets where traditional banks are less active, particularly in taxi medallion financing where it has deep industry knowledge.
Credit Acceptance Corporation is a specialty finance company that provides auto loan financing programs to independent and franchised car dealers across the United States. It makes money primarily through interest income from consumer auto loans — which it either purchases from dealers or services for them — and secondarily through reinsurance premiums from vehicle service contracts. The company's key advantage is its proprietary credit scoring technology and extensive dealer network, which allow it to profitably serve subprime borrowers that traditional lenders often avoid.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
MFIN leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CACC leads in 1 (Financial Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CACC is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.1B annually — 7.3x MFIN's $292M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.3% (MFIN) to 11.6% (CACC).
| Metric | MFINMedallion Financi… | CACCCredit Acceptance… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $292M | $2.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $86M | $598M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $45M | $454M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $121M | $1.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +43.6% | +62.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +21.6% | +15.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.3% | +11.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +39.6% | +53.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -13.5% | +48.5% |
Valuation Metrics
At 6.6x trailing earnings, MFIN trades at a 72% valuation discount to CACC's 23.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MFIN's 7.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CACC's 30.4x.
| Metric | MFINMedallion Financi… | CACCCredit Acceptance… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $298M | $5.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $489M | $10.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 6.64x | 23.80x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.08x | 10.24x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.07x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.07x | 30.41x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.02x | 2.45x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.54x | 3.37x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 2.58x | 4.60x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CACC delivers a 28.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $29 in annual profit, vs $9 for MFIN. MFIN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.66x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CACC's 3.63x.
| Metric | MFINMedallion Financi… | CACCCredit Acceptance… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.0% | +28.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.5% | +5.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.8% | +3.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.2% | +3.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.66x | 3.63x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $190M | $5.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $98M | $845M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $289M | $6.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.80x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in MFIN five years ago would be worth $16,112 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,502 for CACC. Over the past 12 months, MFIN leads with a +25.3% total return vs CACC's -3.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MFIN at 9.8% vs CACC's 2.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | MFINMedallion Financi… | CACCCredit Acceptance… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -0.9% | +4.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +25.3% | -3.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +32.5% | +6.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +61.1% | +25.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +50.0% | +140.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.8% | +2.1% |
Risk & Volatility
MFIN is the less volatile stock with a 0.57 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CACC's 1.13 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MFIN currently trades 91.7% from its 52-week high vs CACC's 86.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | MFINMedallion Financi… | CACCCredit Acceptance… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.57x | 1.13x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $11.00 | $549.75 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.78 | $401.90 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.7% | +86.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 47.8 | 50.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 35K | 151K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MFIN as "Hold" and CACC as "Hold". MFIN is the only dividend payer here at 3.94% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | MFINMedallion Financi… | CACCCredit Acceptance… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $480.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.9% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.40 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | +6.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medallion Financial… (MFIN) | 100 | 186.33 | +86.3% |
| Credit Acceptance C… (CACC) | 100 | 128.57 | +28.6% |
Medallion Financial… (MFIN) returned +61% over 5 years vs Credit Acceptance C… (CACC)'s +25%. A $10,000 investment in MFIN 5 years ago would be worth $16,112 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medallion Financial… (MFIN) | $56M | $292M | +425.5% |
| Credit Acceptance C… (CACC) | $824M | $2.1B | +159.1% |
Medallion Financial Corp.'s revenue grew from $56M (2015) to $292M (2024) — a 20.2% CAGR. Credit Acceptance Corporation's revenue grew from $824M (2015) to $2.1B (2024) — a 11.2% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medallion Financial… (MFIN) | 52.9% | 12.3% | -76.8% |
| Credit Acceptance C… (CACC) | 36.4% | 11.6% | -68.1% |
Medallion Financial Corp.'s net margin went from 53% (2015) to 12% (2024). Credit Acceptance Corporation's net margin went from 36% (2015) to 12% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medallion Financial… (MFIN) | 353 | 6.2 | -98.2% |
| Credit Acceptance C… (CACC) | 13.5 | 23.6 | +74.8% |
Medallion Financial Corp. has traded in a 3x–353x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~7x. Credit Acceptance Corporation has traded in a 12x–24x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~24x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medallion Financial… (MFIN) | 1.2 | 1.52 | +26.7% |
| Credit Acceptance C… (CACC) | 14.28 | 19.88 | +39.2% |
Medallion Financial Corp.'s EPS grew from $1.20 (2015) to $1.52 (2024) — a 3% CAGR. Credit Acceptance Corporation's EPS grew from $14.28 (2015) to $19.88 (2024) — a 4% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Medallion Financial Corp. generated $116M FCF in 2024 (+47% vs 2021). Credit Acceptance Corporation generated $1B FCF in 2024 (+7% vs 2021).
MFIN vs CACC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MFIN or CACC a better buy right now?
Medallion Financial Corp. (MFIN) offers the better valuation at 6.6x trailing P/E (7.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Medallion Financial Corp. (MFIN) a "Hold" — based on 9 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 — MFIN or CACC?
On trailing P/E, Medallion Financial Corp. (MFIN) is the cheapest at 6.6x versus Credit Acceptance Corporation at 23.8x. On forward P/E, Medallion Financial Corp. is actually cheaper at 7.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MFIN or CACC?
Over the past 5 years, Medallion Financial Corp. (MFIN) delivered a total return of +61.1%, compared to +25.0% for Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC). A $10,000 investment in MFIN five years ago would be worth approximately $16K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CACC returned +140.1% versus MFIN's +50.0%. 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 — MFIN or CACC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Medallion Financial Corp. (MFIN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.57β versus Credit Acceptance Corporation's 1.13β — meaning CACC is approximately 98% more volatile than MFIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Medallion Financial Corp. (MFIN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 66% versus 4% for Credit Acceptance Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — MFIN or CACC?
Medallion Financial Corp. (MFIN) is the more profitable company, earning 12.3% net margin versus 11.6% for Credit Acceptance Corporation — meaning it keeps 12.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MFIN leads at 21.6% versus 15.2% for CACC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CACC leads at 62.4%, 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.
06Is MFIN or CACC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Medallion Financial Corp. (MFIN) trades at 7.1x forward P/E versus 10.2x for Credit Acceptance Corporation — 3.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — MFIN or CACC?
In this comparison, MFIN (3.9% yield) pays a dividend. CACC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is MFIN or CACC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Medallion Financial Corp. (MFIN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.57), 3.9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MFIN: +50.0%, CACC: +140.1%), 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.
09What are the main differences between MFIN and CACC?
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: MFIN is a small-cap deep-value stock; CACC is a small-cap quality compounder stock. MFIN pays a dividend while CACC 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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