SNEX vs PIPR vs IBKR vs LPLA

For growth investors, LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

(LPLA) is the stronger pick with 37. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 8% for Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR). Piper Sandler Companies (PIPR) offers the better valuation at 20. 3x trailing P/E (17. 0x 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, Piper Sandler Companies (PIPR) is the cheapest at 20.

3x versus Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. at 37. 7x. On forward P/E, LPL Financial Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 8x — 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: Piper Sandler Companies wins at 0. 40x versus StoneX Group Inc. 's 2. 33x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, StoneX Group Inc.

(SNEX) delivered a total return of +547. 9%, compared to +102. 1% for LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SNEX returned +1454% versus PIPR's +820. 3%. 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 Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. 's 1. 93β — meaning IBKR is approximately 79% more volatile than SNEX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% 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 9. 8% for Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Piper Sandler Companies grew EPS 54. 7% 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.

Piper Sandler Companies (PIPR) is the more profitable company, earning 14.

8% net margin versus 0. 2% for StoneX Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IBKR leads at 86. 0% versus 1. 6% for SNEX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PIPR leads at 93. 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, Piper Sandler Companies (PIPR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 40x versus StoneX Group Inc. 's 2. 33x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA) trades at 13. 8x forward P/E versus 33. 6x for Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. — 19. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LPLA: 42. 4% to $441. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

StoneX Group Inc. (SNEX) offers the highest yield at 2. 9%, versus 0. 4% for Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR).

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), 2. 9% yield, +1454% 10Y return). Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR) carries a higher beta of 1. 93 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SNEX: +1454%, IBKR: +823. 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: SNEX is a small-cap high-growth stock; PIPR is a small-cap high-growth stock; IBKR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; LPLA is a mid-cap high-growth stock. SNEX, PIPR pay a dividend while IBKR, LPLA do 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.