NNI vs SLM vs NAVI vs SOFI vs LC

For growth investors, SoFi Technologies, Inc.

(SOFI) is the stronger pick with 28. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 7% for Navient Corporation (NAVI). SLM Corporation (SLM) offers the better valuation at 6. 5x trailing P/E (7. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SLM Corporation (SLM) a "Buy" — based on 25 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, SLM Corporation (SLM) is the cheapest at 6.

5x versus SoFi Technologies, Inc. at 41. 0x. On forward P/E, SLM Corporation is actually cheaper at 7. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, Nelnet, Inc.

(NNI) delivered a total return of +95. 7%, compared to -30. 9% for Navient Corporation (NAVI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NNI returned +299. 4% versus LC's -27. 7%. 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), Nelnet, Inc.

(NNI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 59β versus SoFi Technologies, Inc. 's 2. 54β — meaning SOFI is approximately 331% more volatile than NNI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LendingClub Corporation (LC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 19% for Navient Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), SoFi Technologies, Inc.

(SOFI) is pulling ahead at 28. 8% versus -23. 7% for Navient Corporation (NAVI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LendingClub Corporation grew EPS 155. 6% 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.

SLM Corporation (SLM) is the more profitable company, earning 24.

0% net margin versus -2. 5% for Navient Corporation — meaning it keeps 24. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NAVI leads at 77. 1% versus 11. 0% for SOFI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NNI leads at 87. 0%, 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, SLM Corporation (SLM) trades at 7.

3x forward P/E versus 26. 5x for SoFi Technologies, Inc. — 19. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LC: 36. 3% to $22. 75.

In this comparison, SLM (14.

9% yield), NAVI (7. 2% yield), NNI (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. SOFI, LC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Nelnet, Inc.

(NNI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 59), 0. 8% yield, +299. 4% 10Y return). LendingClub Corporation (LC) carries a higher beta of 2. 36 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NNI: +299. 4%, LC: -27. 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.

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: NNI is a small-cap high-growth stock; SLM is a small-cap deep-value stock; NAVI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SOFI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LC is a small-cap deep-value stock. NNI, SLM, NAVI pay a dividend while SOFI, LC 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.