QD vs LU

For growth investors, Qudian Inc.

(QD) is the stronger pick with 71. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -32. 5% for Lufax Holding Ltd (LU). Qudian Inc. (QD) offers the better valuation at 38. 2x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Lufax Holding Ltd (LU) a "Buy" — based on 13 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.

Over the past 5 years, Qudian Inc.

(QD) delivered a total return of +48. 4%, compared to -83. 8% for Lufax Holding Ltd (LU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LU returned -87. 0% versus QD's -90. 6%. 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), Qudian Inc.

(QD) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 19β versus Lufax Holding Ltd's 1. 64β — meaning LU is approximately 37% more volatile than QD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Qudian Inc. (QD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 99% for Lufax Holding Ltd — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Qudian Inc.

(QD) is pulling ahead at 71. 3% versus -32. 5% for Lufax Holding Ltd (LU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Qudian Inc. grew EPS 172. 2% year-over-year, compared to -254. 5% for Lufax Holding Ltd. 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.

Qudian Inc.

(QD) is the more profitable company, earning 42. 4% net margin versus -7. 3% for Lufax Holding Ltd — meaning it keeps 42. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LU leads at -1. 6% versus -142. 4% for QD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LU leads at 74. 9%, 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.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Qudian Inc.

(QD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 19)). Lufax Holding Ltd (LU) carries a higher beta of 1. 64 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (QD: -90. 6%, LU: -87. 0%), 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: QD is a small-cap high-growth stock; LU is a small-cap quality compounder 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.