PFSI
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
Financial - Mortgages
Market Cap$4.56B
5Y Perf.+72.1%
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Stock Comparison
PFSI vs GHLD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
GHLD
Guild Holdings Company
Financial - Mortgages
Market Cap$439M
5Y Perf.+34.8%
PFSI vs GHLD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PFSI | GHLD |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Financial - Mortgages | Financial - Mortgages |
| Market Cap | $4.56B | $439M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.36B | $1.17B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $507M | $126M |
| Gross Margin | 91.4% | 90.6% |
| Operating Margin | 34.6% | 10.1% |
| Forward P/E | 7.1x | 10.2x |
| Total Debt | $23.06B | $3.03B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $302M | $118M |
PFSI vs GHLD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PFSI
GHLD
| Stock | Oct 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| PennyMac Financial … (PFSI) | 100 | 172.1 | +72.1% |
| Guild Holdings Comp… (GHLD) | 100 | 134.8 | +34.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PFSI vs GHLD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PFSI leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Guild Holdings Company is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PFSI
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
The Banking Pick
PFSI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 173.8%, EPS growth 59.2%
- 6.0% 10Y total return vs GHLD's 58.4%
- 173.8% NII/revenue growth vs GHLD's 60.9%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
GHLD
Guild Holdings Company
The Banking Pick
GHLD is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.04, yield 2.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.04, current ratio 0.09x
- Beta 0.04, yield 2.5%, current ratio 0.09x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PFSI | 173.8% NII/revenue growth vs GHLD's 60.9% |
| Value | PFSI | Lower P/E (7.1x vs 10.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | PFSI | Efficiency ratio 0.6% vs GHLD's 0.8% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | GHLD | Beta 0.04 vs PFSI's 0.93, lower leverage |
| Dividends | PFSI | 1.3% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs GHLD's 2.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | GHLD | +57.4% vs PFSI's -9.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PFSI | Efficiency ratio 0.6% vs GHLD's 0.8% |
PFSI vs GHLD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2024
PFSI vs GHLD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLGHLDLAGGINGPFSI
PFSIPennyMac Financial Se…
2leads
GHLDGuild Holdings Company
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PFSIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
PFSI4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
PFSI3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
GHLD5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
GHLD4/5
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
GHLD2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PFSI leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PFSI is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.4B annually — 3.7x GHLD's $1.2B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 11.5% (PFSI) to 8.3% (GHLD).
| Metric | PFSIPennyMac Financia… | GHLDGuild Holdings Co… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.4B | $1.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.0B | $199M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $507M | $126M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$3.8B | $25M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +91.4% | +90.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +34.6% | +10.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +8.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -32.4% | -56.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.7% | +148.6% |
PFSI leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
PFSI leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 9.4x trailing earnings, PFSI trades at a 27% valuation discount to GHLD's 12.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PFSI's 18.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GHLD's 21.4x.
| Metric | PFSIPennyMac Financia… | GHLDGuild Holdings Co… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.6B | $439M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $27.3B | $3.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 9.41x | 12.83x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.08x | 10.23x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.17x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.07x | 21.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.05x | 0.37x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.09x | 0.99x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
PFSI leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GHLD leads this category, winning 5 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 $10 for GHLD. GHLD carries lower financial leverage with a 2.42x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PFSI's 5.35x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PFSI scores 4/9 vs GHLD's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | PFSIPennyMac Financia… | GHLDGuild Holdings Co… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.0% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.8% | +2.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.4% | +2.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.4% | +5.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 5.35x | 2.42x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $22.8B | $2.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $302M | $118M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $23.1B | $3.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.96x | 1.47x |
GHLD leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
GHLD leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GHLD five years ago would be worth $15,499 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,353 for PFSI. Over the past 12 months, GHLD leads with a +57.4% total return vs PFSI's -9.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GHLD at 30.0% vs PFSI's 15.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PFSIPennyMac Financia… | GHLDGuild Holdings Co… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -33.3% | — |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -9.2% | +57.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +54.9% | +119.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +53.5% | +55.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +598.9% | +58.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.7% | +30.0% |
GHLD leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GHLD leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GHLD is the less volatile stock with a 0.04 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. GHLD currently trades 84.9% from its 52-week high vs PFSI's 54.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PFSIPennyMac Financia… | GHLDGuild Holdings Co… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.93x | 0.04x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $160.36 | $23.57 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $82.67 | $11.99 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +54.6% | +84.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 47.2 | 43.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 601K | 152K |
GHLD leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — PFSI and GHLD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PFSI as "Buy" and GHLD as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 63.5% upside for PFSI (target: $143) vs -11.9% for GHLD (target: $18). For income investors, GHLD offers the higher dividend yield at 2.47% vs PFSI's 1.33%.
| Metric | PFSIPennyMac Financia… | GHLDGuild Holdings Co… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $143.00 | $17.63 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 6 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.3% | +2.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.16 | $0.49 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | +0.3% |
Evenly matched — PFSI and GHLD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
GHLD leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). PFSI leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallGuild Holdings Company (GHLD)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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PFSI vs GHLD: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PFSI or GHLD 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 60. 9% for Guild Holdings Company (GHLD). PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (PFSI) offers the better valuation at 9. 4x trailing P/E (7. 1x 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 — PFSI or GHLD?
On trailing P/E, PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
(PFSI) is the cheapest at 9. 4x versus Guild Holdings Company at 12. 8x. On forward P/E, PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PFSI or GHLD?
Over the past 5 years, Guild Holdings Company (GHLD) delivered a total return of +55.
0%, compared to +53. 5% for PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (PFSI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PFSI returned +598. 9% versus GHLD's +58. 4%. 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 — PFSI or GHLD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Guild Holdings Company (GHLD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
04β versus PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. 's 0. 93β — meaning PFSI is approximately 2113% more volatile than GHLD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Guild Holdings Company (GHLD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 5% for PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PFSI or GHLD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
(PFSI) is pulling ahead at 173. 8% versus 60. 9% for Guild Holdings Company (GHLD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Guild Holdings Company grew EPS 343. 8% year-over-year, compared to 59. 2% for PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.. 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 — PFSI or GHLD?
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
(PFSI) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 5% net margin versus 8. 3% for Guild Holdings Company — meaning it keeps 11. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PFSI leads at 34. 6% versus 10. 1% for GHLD. 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 PFSI or GHLD more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
(PFSI) trades at 7. 1x forward P/E versus 10. 2x for Guild Holdings Company — 3. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PFSI: 63. 5% to $143. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — PFSI or GHLD?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Guild Holdings Company (GHLD) offers the highest yield at 2. 5%, versus 1. 3% for PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (PFSI).
09Is PFSI or GHLD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Guild Holdings Company (GHLD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
04), 2. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GHLD: +58. 4%, PFSI: +598. 9%), 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 PFSI and GHLD?
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.
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>
%
(PFSI: 173.8% · GHLD: 60.9%)Net Margin>
%
(PFSI: 11.5% · GHLD: 8.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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