MOGO vs ATLC vs AFRM vs UPST

For growth investors, Upstart Holdings, Inc.

(UPST) is the stronger pick with 58. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 2% for Mogo Inc. (MOGO). Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) offers the better valuation at 13. 1x trailing P/E (8. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) a "Buy" — based on 6 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, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the cheapest at 13.

1x versus Affirm Holdings, Inc. at 449. 1x. On forward P/E, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Atlanticus Holdings Corporation wins at 1. 01x versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 02x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) delivered a total return of +128.

9%, compared to -95. 7% for Mogo Inc. (MOGO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATLC returned +25. 1% versus MOGO's -83. 0%. 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), Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

81β versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 96β — meaning UPST is approximately 63% more volatile than ATLC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Mogo Inc. (MOGO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 105% versus 11% for Atlanticus Holdings Corporation — 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 9. 2% for Mogo Inc. (MOGO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Upstart Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 131. 3% year-over-year, compared to 22. 2% for Mogo Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AFRM leads at 33. 7% annualised revenue growth. 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.

Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

3% net margin versus -19. 2% for Mogo Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ATLC leads at 22. 7% versus -5. 2% for MOGO. 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, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 01x versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 02x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) trades at 8. 7x forward P/E versus 62. 5x for Affirm Holdings, Inc. — 53. 8x 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, ATLC (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. MOGO, AFRM, UPST do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0.

8% yield). 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 (ATLC: +25. 1%, 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 (MOGO (Technology) and ATLC (Financial Services) and AFRM (Technology) and UPST (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: MOGO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ATLC is a small-cap high-growth stock; AFRM is a mid-cap high-growth stock; UPST is a small-cap high-growth stock. ATLC pays a dividend while MOGO, AFRM, UPST 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.