Compare SLM Corporation (SLM) vs SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SOFI) Stock

SLM Corporation (SLM) offers the better valuation at 7.0x trailing P/E (6.8x 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 7.0x versus SoFi Technologies, Inc. at 45.5x. On forward P/E, SLM Corporation is actually cheaper at 6.8x.

Over the past 5 years, SLM Corporation (SLM) delivered a total return of +30.6%, compared to -8.2% for SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SOFI). A $10,000 investment in SLM five years ago would be worth approximately $13K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SLM returned +260.3% versus SOFI's +69.5%. 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), SLM Corporation (SLM) is the lower-risk stock at 1.16β versus SoFi Technologies, Inc.'s 2.35β — meaning SOFI is approximately 103% more volatile than SLM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SOFI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 3% for SLM Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

SLM Corporation (SLM) is the more profitable company, earning 20.4% net margin versus 13.5% for SoFi Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 20.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SLM leads at 26.7% versus 6.3% for SOFI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SOFI leads at 69.7%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, SLM Corporation (SLM) trades at 6.8x forward P/E versus 29.7x for SoFi Technologies, Inc. — 22.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SLM: 69.9% to $31.83.

In this comparison, SLM (2.4% yield) pays a dividend. SOFI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, SLM Corporation (SLM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.16), 2.4% yield, +260.3% 10Y return). SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SOFI) carries a higher beta of 2.35 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SLM: +260.3%, SOFI: +69.5%), 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: SLM is a small-cap deep-value stock; SOFI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. SLM pays a dividend while SOFI 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.