VBNK vs SOFI vs LC vs UPST

For growth investors, Upstart Holdings, Inc.

(UPST) is the stronger pick with 58. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 7% for VersaBank (VBNK). LendingClub Corporation (LC) offers the better valuation at 14. 5x trailing P/E (9. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate VersaBank (VBNK) 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, LendingClub Corporation (LC) is the cheapest at 14.

5x versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. at 64. 4x. On forward P/E, LendingClub Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Upstart Holdings, Inc. wins at 1. 02x versus VersaBank's 6. 16x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, VersaBank (VBNK) delivered a total return of +52.

9%, compared to -69. 8% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VBNK returned +446. 7% versus LC's -27. 7%. 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), VersaBank (VBNK) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

73β versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 96β — meaning UPST is approximately 304% more volatile than VBNK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LendingClub Corporation (LC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 2% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(UPST) is pulling ahead at 58. 9% versus 7. 7% for VersaBank (VBNK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LendingClub Corporation grew EPS 155. 6% year-over-year, compared to -39. 6% for VersaBank. 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.

VersaBank (VBNK) is the more profitable company, earning 23.

7% net margin versus 5. 0% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 23. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VBNK leads at 34. 5% versus 5. 1% for UPST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VBNK leads at 100. 0%, 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, Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 02x versus VersaBank's 6. 16x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, LendingClub Corporation (LC) trades at 9. 6x forward P/E versus 26. 5x for SoFi Technologies, Inc. — 16. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UPST: 55. 8% to $45. 17.

In this comparison, VBNK (0.

4% yield) pays a dividend. SOFI, LC, UPST do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, VersaBank (VBNK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

73), +446. 7% 10Y return). LendingClub Corporation (LC) carries a higher beta of 2. 36 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (VBNK: +446. 7%, LC: -27. 7%), 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: VBNK is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SOFI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LC is a small-cap deep-value stock; UPST is a small-cap high-growth stock. 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.