XYF vs LX

For growth investors, X Financial (XYF) is the stronger pick with 79.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 8% for LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (LX). X Financial (XYF) offers the better valuation at 0. 2x trailing P/E (0. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (LX) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, X Financial (XYF) is the cheapest at 0.

2x versus LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. at 2. 2x. On forward P/E, X Financial is actually cheaper at 0. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, X Financial (XYF) delivered a total return of +52.

1%, compared to -66. 4% for LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (LX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LX returned -74. 1% versus XYF's -81. 1%. 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), X Financial (XYF) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

06β versus LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. 's 1. 25β — meaning LX is approximately 18% more volatile than XYF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, X Financial (XYF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 49% for LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), X Financial (XYF) is pulling ahead at 79.

2% versus 8. 8% for LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (LX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: X Financial grew EPS 28. 7% year-over-year, compared to 2. 5% for LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.. 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.

X Financial (XYF) is the more profitable company, earning 26.

2% net margin versus 7. 7% for LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. — meaning it keeps 26. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: XYF leads at 31. 9% versus 16. 1% for LX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — XYF leads at 66. 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.

On forward earnings alone, X Financial (XYF) trades at 0.

3x forward P/E versus 0. 3x for LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. — 0. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (LX) offers the highest yield at 6. 9%, versus 6. 7% for X Financial (XYF).

For long-horizon retirement investors, X Financial (XYF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

06), 6. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (XYF: -81. 1%, LX: -74. 1%), 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: XYF is a small-cap high-growth stock; LX is a small-cap deep-value 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.