XZO vs TREE vs UPST vs SOFI vs LC

For growth investors, Exzeo Group, Inc.

(XZO) is the stronger pick with 62. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 15. 0% for LendingClub Corporation (LC). LendingTree, Inc. (TREE) offers the better valuation at 3. 5x trailing P/E (6. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate LendingTree, Inc. (TREE) a "Buy" — based on 23 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, LendingTree, Inc.

(TREE) is the cheapest at 3. 5x versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. at 61. 9x. On forward P/E, LendingTree, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, LendingClub Corporation (LC) delivered a total return of +34.

5%, compared to -77. 4% for LendingTree, Inc. (TREE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SOFI returned +51. 7% versus TREE's -43. 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), LendingTree, Inc.

(TREE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 63β versus Upstart Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 87β — meaning UPST is approximately 76% more volatile than TREE 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), Exzeo Group, Inc.

(XZO) is pulling ahead at 62. 0% versus 15. 0% for LendingClub Corporation (LC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LendingTree, Inc. grew EPS 443. 3% year-over-year, compared to 0. 0% for SoFi Technologies, 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.

Exzeo Group, Inc.

(XZO) is the more profitable company, earning 38. 1% net margin versus 5. 0% for Upstart Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 38. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: XZO leads at 48. 8% versus 5. 1% for UPST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UPST leads at 95. 2%, 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, LendingTree, Inc.

(TREE) trades at 6. 8x forward P/E versus 26. 4x for SoFi Technologies, Inc. — 19. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TREE: 82. 7% to $69. 00.

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.

For long-horizon retirement investors, LendingTree, Inc.

(TREE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. LendingClub Corporation (LC) carries a higher beta of 2. 32 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TREE: -43. 7%, LC: -13. 4%), 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: XZO is a small-cap high-growth stock; TREE is a small-cap high-growth stock; UPST is a small-cap high-growth stock; SOFI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LC 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.