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WAFU vs TAL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Education & Training Services
WAFU vs TAL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Education & Training Services | Education & Training Services |
| Market Cap | $2M | $771M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $15M | $2.66B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-844K | $171M |
| Gross Margin | 49.0% | 54.4% |
| Operating Margin | 0.5% | 2.7% |
| Forward P/E | — | 18.1x |
| Total Debt | $132K | $333M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $10M | $1.77B |
WAFU vs TAL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wah Fu Education Gr… (WAFU) | 100 | 78.7 | -21.3% |
| TAL Education Group (TAL) | 100 | 20.2 | -79.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: WAFU vs TAL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
WAFU is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 0.87
- Lower volatility, beta 0.87, Low D/E 1.1%, current ratio 3.88x
- Beta 0.87, current ratio 3.88x
TAL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 51.2%, EPS growth 24.7%, 3Y rev CAGR -20.0%
- 27.3% 10Y total return vs WAFU's -60.7%
- 51.2% revenue growth vs WAFU's -14.4%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 51.2% revenue growth vs WAFU's -14.4% | |
| Quality / Margins | 6.5% margin vs WAFU's -5.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.87 vs TAL's 0.96, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +23.9% vs WAFU's +14.4% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 3.1% ROA vs WAFU's -5.4%, ROIC -0.3% vs -18.4% |
WAFU vs TAL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
WAFU vs TAL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TAL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TAL is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.7B annually — 174.0x WAFU's $15M. TAL is the more profitable business, keeping 6.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WAFU's -5.5%. On growth, TAL holds the edge at +38.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15M | $2.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $347,097 | $72M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$843,675 | $171M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$776,871 | $441M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +49.0% | +54.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +0.5% | +2.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -5.5% | +6.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -5.1% | +16.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -23.3% | +38.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.3% | -21.4% |
Valuation Metrics
TAL leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2M | $771M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | -$8M | -$667M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -14.67x | 9.05x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 18.12x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | -16.38x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.39x | 0.34x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.61x | 0.20x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 2.70x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TAL leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
TAL delivers a 4.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $5 in annual profit, vs $-7 for WAFU. WAFU carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TAL's 0.09x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), TAL scores 5/9 vs WAFU's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -7.1% | +4.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -5.4% | +3.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -18.4% | -0.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -3.3% | -0.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.01x | 0.09x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$10M | -$1.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $10M | $1.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $132,250 | $333M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
TAL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WAFU five years ago would be worth $2,345 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,033 for TAL. Over the past 12 months, TAL leads with a +23.9% total return vs WAFU's +14.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TAL at 26.7% vs WAFU's -8.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -0.4% | -0.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +14.4% | +23.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -22.4% | +103.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -76.6% | -79.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -60.7% | +27.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -8.1% | +26.7% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — WAFU and TAL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WAFU is the less volatile stock with a 0.87 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TAL's 0.96 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. TAL currently trades 85.3% from its 52-week high vs WAFU's 47.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.87x | 0.96x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $3.39 | $13.37 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1.30 | $9.04 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +47.6% | +85.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.7 | 52.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8K | 3.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $18.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.7% |
TAL leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
WAFU vs TAL: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WAFU or TAL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, TAL Education Group (TAL) is the stronger pick with 51.
2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 4% for Wah Fu Education Group Limited (WAFU). TAL Education Group (TAL) offers the better valuation at 9. 0x trailing P/E (18. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate TAL Education Group (TAL) a "Hold" — based on 28 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — WAFU or TAL?
Over the past 5 years, Wah Fu Education Group Limited (WAFU) delivered a total return of -76.
6%, compared to -79. 7% for TAL Education Group (TAL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TAL returned +27. 3% versus WAFU's -60. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — WAFU or TAL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Wah Fu Education Group Limited (WAFU) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
87β versus TAL Education Group's 0. 96β — meaning TAL is approximately 10% more volatile than WAFU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Wah Fu Education Group Limited (WAFU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 9% for TAL Education Group — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — WAFU or TAL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), TAL Education Group (TAL) is pulling ahead at 51.
2% versus -14. 4% for Wah Fu Education Group Limited (WAFU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TAL Education Group grew EPS 24. 7% year-over-year, compared to -780. 0% for Wah Fu Education Group Limited. Over a 3-year CAGR, WAFU leads at -18. 6% annualised revenue growth. 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.
05Which has better profit margins — WAFU or TAL?
TAL Education Group (TAL) is the more profitable company, earning 3.
8% net margin versus -7. 5% for Wah Fu Education Group Limited — meaning it keeps 3. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TAL leads at -0. 3% versus -6. 3% for WAFU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TAL leads at 53. 3%, 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — WAFU or TAL?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
07Is WAFU or TAL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Wah Fu Education Group Limited (WAFU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
87)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WAFU: -60. 7%, TAL: +27. 3%), 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.
08What are the main differences between WAFU and TAL?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Defensive sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: WAFU is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TAL 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.
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