LexinFintech (NASDAQ:LX – Get Free Report) and Nelnet (NYSE:NNI – Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation and earnings.
Risk and Volatility
LexinFintech has a beta of 0.43, indicating that its share price is 57% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Nelnet has a beta of 0.95, indicating that its share price is 5% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of recent ratings for LexinFintech and Nelnet, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| LexinFintech | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3.00 |
| Nelnet | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 |
Insider & Institutional Ownership
33.5% of Nelnet shares are held by institutional investors. 27.8% of LexinFintech shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 50.9% of Nelnet shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Profitability
This table compares LexinFintech and Nelnet’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| LexinFintech | 9.44% | 12.52% | 5.88% |
| Nelnet | 9.44% | 6.00% | 1.39% |
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares LexinFintech and Nelnet”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| LexinFintech | $1.95 billion | 0.66 | $150.76 million | $1.06 | 7.24 |
| Nelnet | $1.18 billion | 3.65 | $184.04 million | $5.29 | 22.54 |
Nelnet has lower revenue, but higher earnings than LexinFintech. LexinFintech is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Nelnet, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Dividends
LexinFintech pays an annual dividend of $0.18 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.3%. Nelnet pays an annual dividend of $1.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. LexinFintech pays out 17.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Nelnet pays out 21.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. LexinFintech is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.
Summary
LexinFintech beats Nelnet on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About LexinFintech
LexinFintech Holdings Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides online consumer finance services in the People's Republic of China. The company operates Fenqile.com, an online consumption and consumer finance platform that offers installment purchase and personal installment loans, as well as online direct sales with installment payment terms; and Le Hua Card, a scenario-based lending. It also provides technology-driven platform services for financial institution customers and partners to increase revenues, manage financial risks, enhance operating efficiency and service quality, enhance collections, and reduce overall costs; Maiya application, a location-based services shopping experience with buy-now and pay-later options; and Juzi Licai, an online investment platform. In addition, the company offers technical support and consulting, software development, financing guarantee, and financial technology services. The company was formerly known as Staging Finance Holding Ltd. and changed its name to LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. in March 2017. LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, the People's Republic of China.
About Nelnet
Nelnet, Inc. engages in loan servicing, communications, education technology, services, and payment processing businesses worldwide. The Loan Servicing and Systems segment provides loan conversion, application processing, borrower updates, customer service, payment processing, due diligence procedures, funds management reconciliation, and claim processing services. This segment also offers student loan servicing software; business process outsourcing services specialized in contact center management, such as inbound calls, outreach campaigns and sales, and interacting with customers through multi-channels, and processing and technology services. The Education Technology Services and Payments segment provides financial management services; school information system software; website design and cost-effective admissions software; FACTS Giving, a donation platform; and customized professional development and coaching services, educational instruction services, and technology products that aid in teacher and student evaluations. This segment also offers tuition payment plans, and service and technology for student billings, payments, and refunds; solutions for in-person, online, and mobile payment experiences on campus; payment processing services, such as credit card and electronic transfer; faith community, giving, and learning management services and technologies; and an integrated commerce payment platform, financial management, and tuition payment plan services, as well as a school management platform that provides administrative, information and financial management, and communication functions for K-12 schools. The Asset Generation and Management segment acquires, manages, and owns loan assets. The Nelnet Bank segment operates as an internet industrial bank. It also offers investment advisory, insurance, and reinsurance services, as well as engages in real estate investment business. The company was incorporated in 1977 and is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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