SEZL vs ATLC

For growth investors, Sezzle Inc.

(SEZL) is the stronger pick with 66. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 53. 3% for Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC). 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 Sezzle Inc. (SEZL) a "Buy" — based on 5 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 Sezzle Inc. at 26. 8x. On forward P/E, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 7x.

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

9%, compared to +117. 4% for Sezzle Inc. (SEZL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATLC returned +25. 1% versus SEZL's +687. 8%. 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 Sezzle Inc. 's 2. 39β — meaning SEZL is approximately 32% more volatile than ATLC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Sezzle Inc. (SEZL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 83% versus 11% for Atlanticus Holdings Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(SEZL) is pulling ahead at 66. 1% versus 53. 3% for Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sezzle Inc. grew EPS 69. 9% year-over-year, compared to 24. 9% for Atlanticus Holdings 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.

Sezzle Inc.

(SEZL) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 6% net margin versus 17. 3% for Atlanticus Holdings Corporation — meaning it keeps 29. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SEZL leads at 39. 3% versus 22. 7% for ATLC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SEZL leads at 85. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) trades at 8.

7x forward P/E versus 21. 2x for Sezzle Inc. — 12. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATLC: -10. 6% to $70. 00.

In this comparison, ATLC (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. SEZL does 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). Sezzle Inc. (SEZL) carries a higher beta of 2. 39 — 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%, SEZL: +687. 8%), 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.

ATLC pays a dividend while SEZL does 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.