SNEX vs LPLA

For growth investors, LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

(LPLA) is the stronger pick with 37. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 32. 5% for StoneX Group Inc. (SNEX). StoneX Group Inc. (SNEX) offers the better valuation at 18. 0x trailing P/E (18. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate StoneX Group Inc. (SNEX) a "Buy" — based on 2 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, StoneX Group Inc.

(SNEX) is the cheapest at 18. 0x versus LPL Financial Holdings Inc. at 29. 8x. On forward P/E, LPL Financial Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: LPL Financial Holdings Inc. wins at 1. 09x versus StoneX Group Inc. 's 35. 65x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, StoneX Group Inc.

(SNEX) delivered a total return of +462. 0%, compared to +111. 1% for LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LPLA returned +1298% versus SNEX's +1239%. 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), StoneX Group Inc.

(SNEX) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 08β versus LPL Financial Holdings Inc. 's 1. 10β — meaning LPLA is approximately 2% more volatile than SNEX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 136% versus 8% for StoneX Group Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

(LPLA) is pulling ahead at 37. 2% versus 32. 5% for StoneX Group Inc. (SNEX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: StoneX Group Inc. grew EPS 10. 9% year-over-year, compared to -22. 2% for LPL Financial 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.

LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

(LPLA) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 1% net margin versus 0. 2% for StoneX Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LPLA leads at 13. 4% versus 1. 6% for SNEX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LPLA leads at 25. 6%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 09x versus StoneX Group Inc. 's 35. 65x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA) trades at 14. 5x forward P/E versus 18. 4x for StoneX Group Inc. — 4. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

StoneX Group Inc. (SNEX) offers the highest yield at 3. 3%, versus 0. 4% for LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA).

For long-horizon retirement investors, StoneX Group Inc.

(SNEX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 08), 3. 3% yield, +1239% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SNEX: +1239%, LPLA: +1298%), 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.

SNEX pays a dividend while LPLA 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.