NAVI
Navient Corporation
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$821M
5Y Perf.+17.3%
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Stock Comparison
NAVI vs PFSI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
PFSI
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
Financial - Mortgages
Market Cap$4.54B
5Y Perf.+158.9%
NAVI vs PFSI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NAVI | PFSI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Financial - Credit Services | Financial - Mortgages |
| Market Cap | $821M | $4.54B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.23B | $4.36B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-60M | $507M |
| Gross Margin | 87.0% | 91.4% |
| Operating Margin | 77.1% | 34.6% |
| Forward P/E | 12.2x | 7.0x |
| Total Debt | $45.71B | $23.06B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.10B | $302M |
NAVI vs PFSI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NAVI
PFSI
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navient Corporation (NAVI) | 100 | 117.3 | +17.3% |
| PennyMac Financial … (PFSI) | 100 | 258.9 | +158.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NAVI vs PFSI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NAVI leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
NAVI
Navient Corporation
The Banking Pick
NAVI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.92, yield 7.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.92, current ratio 0.41x
- Beta 0.92, yield 7.3%, current ratio 0.41x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
PFSI
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
The Banking Pick
PFSI is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 173.8%, EPS growth 59.2%
- 6.2% 10Y total return vs NAVI's 15.3%
- 173.8% NII/revenue growth vs NAVI's -23.7%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PFSI | 173.8% NII/revenue growth vs NAVI's -23.7% |
| Value | PFSI | Lower P/E (7.0x vs 12.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | NAVI | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs PFSI's 0.6% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | NAVI | Beta 0.92 vs PFSI's 0.93 |
| Dividends | NAVI | 7.3% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs PFSI's 1.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | PFSI | -8.0% vs NAVI's -25.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NAVI | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs PFSI's 0.6% |
NAVI vs PFSI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
NAVI vs PFSI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNAVILAGGINGPFSI
PFSIPennyMac Financial Se…
2leads
NAVINavient Corporation
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PFSIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NAVI3/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NAVI4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
PFSI8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
PFSI5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
NAVI2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NAVI leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PFSI and NAVI operate at a comparable scale, with $4.4B and $3.2B in trailing revenue. PFSI is the more profitable business, keeping 11.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NAVI's -2.5%.
| Metric | NAVINavient Corporati… | PFSIPennyMac Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.2B | $4.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $544M | $1.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$60M | $507M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $323M | -$3.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +87.0% | +91.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +77.1% | +34.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -2.5% | +11.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +13.7% | -32.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.7% | +7.7% |
NAVI leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NAVI leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, NAVI's 17.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PFSI's 18.1x.
| Metric | NAVINavient Corporati… | PFSIPennyMac Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $821M | $4.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $44.4B | $27.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -10.78x | 9.35x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.21x | 7.04x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.81x | 18.05x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.25x | 1.04x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.36x | 1.09x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 1.86x | — |
NAVI leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PFSI leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PFSI delivers a 12.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $-2 for NAVI. PFSI carries lower financial leverage with a 5.35x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NAVI's 19.05x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NAVI scores 5/9 vs PFSI's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | NAVINavient Corporati… | PFSIPennyMac Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.5% | +12.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.1% | +1.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.8% | +4.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.5% | +10.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 19.05x | 5.35x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $43.6B | $22.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.1B | $302M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $45.7B | $23.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.21x | 0.96x |
PFSI leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PFSI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PFSI five years ago would be worth $15,907 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,022 for NAVI. Over the past 12 months, PFSI leads with a -8.0% total return vs NAVI's -25.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PFSI at 16.0% vs NAVI's -10.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NAVINavient Corporati… | PFSIPennyMac Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -30.4% | -33.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -25.4% | -8.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -28.2% | +56.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -29.8% | +59.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +15.3% | +624.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -10.5% | +16.0% |
PFSI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NAVI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NAVI is the less volatile stock with a 0.92 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PFSI's 0.93 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | NAVINavient Corporati… | PFSIPennyMac Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.92x | 0.93x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $16.07 | $160.36 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.80 | $82.67 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +54.3% | +54.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.0 | 41.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 924K | 609K |
NAVI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — NAVI and PFSI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NAVI as "Hold" and PFSI as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 64.5% upside for PFSI (target: $143) vs -0.7% for NAVI (target: $9). For income investors, NAVI offers the higher dividend yield at 7.29% vs PFSI's 1.34%.
| Metric | NAVINavient Corporati… | PFSIPennyMac Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $8.67 | $143.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 20 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +7.3% | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.64 | $1.16 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +13.5% | +0.1% |
Evenly matched — NAVI and PFSI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
NAVI leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). PFSI leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallNavient Corporation (NAVI)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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NAVI vs PFSI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NAVI or PFSI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
(PFSI) is the stronger pick with 173. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 7% for Navient Corporation (NAVI). PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (PFSI) offers the better valuation at 9. 3x trailing P/E (7. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (PFSI) a "Buy" — based on 20 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 — NAVI or PFSI?
On forward P/E, PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 7. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NAVI or PFSI?
Over the past 5 years, PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
(PFSI) delivered a total return of +59. 1%, compared to -29. 8% for Navient Corporation (NAVI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PFSI returned +624. 6% versus NAVI's +15. 3%. 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 — NAVI or PFSI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Navient Corporation (NAVI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
92β versus PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. 's 0. 93β — meaning PFSI is approximately 1% more volatile than NAVI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (PFSI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 19% for Navient Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NAVI or PFSI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
(PFSI) is pulling ahead at 173. 8% versus -23. 7% for Navient Corporation (NAVI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. grew EPS 59. 2% year-over-year, compared to -168. 6% for Navient 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.
06Which has better profit margins — NAVI or PFSI?
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
(PFSI) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 5% net margin versus -2. 5% for Navient Corporation — meaning it keeps 11. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NAVI leads at 77. 1% versus 34. 6% for PFSI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PFSI leads at 91. 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.
07Is NAVI or PFSI more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
(PFSI) trades at 7. 0x forward P/E versus 12. 2x for Navient Corporation — 5. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PFSI: 64. 5% to $143. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — NAVI or PFSI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Navient Corporation (NAVI) offers the highest yield at 7. 3%, versus 1. 3% for PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (PFSI).
09Is NAVI or PFSI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
(PFSI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 93), 1. 3% yield, +624. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PFSI: +624. 6%, NAVI: +15. 3%), 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 NAVI and PFSI?
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: NAVI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; PFSI 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.
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