SHFS vs MFIN

For growth investors, Medallion Financial Corp.

(MFIN) is the stronger pick with 21. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 2% for SHF Holdings, Inc. (SHFS). Medallion Financial Corp. (MFIN) offers the better valuation at 5. 4x trailing P/E (8. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Medallion Financial Corp. (MFIN) a "Hold" — based on 9 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, Medallion Financial Corp.

(MFIN) delivered a total return of +23. 2%, compared to -99. 8% for SHF Holdings, Inc. (SHFS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MFIN returned +60. 3% versus SHFS's -99. 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), Medallion Financial Corp.

(MFIN) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 15β versus SHF Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 87β — meaning SHFS is approximately 63% more volatile than MFIN relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Medallion Financial Corp.

(MFIN) is pulling ahead at 21. 1% versus -9. 2% for SHF Holdings, Inc. (SHFS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Medallion Financial Corp. grew EPS 17. 1% year-over-year, compared to -114. 7% for SHF Holdings, 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.

Medallion Financial Corp.

(MFIN) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 2% net margin versus -262. 5% for SHF Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MFIN leads at 50. 5% versus -24. 2% for SHFS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SHFS leads at 104. 7%, 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.

In this comparison, MFIN (4.

7% yield) pays a dividend. SHFS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Medallion Financial Corp.

(MFIN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 15), 4. 7% yield). SHF Holdings, Inc. (SHFS) carries a higher beta of 1. 87 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MFIN: +60. 3%, SHFS: -99. 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.

In terms of investment character: SHFS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MFIN is a small-cap high-growth stock. MFIN pays a dividend while SHFS 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.