EQH vs. VIRT: Equitable vs. Virtu Financial Stock Comparison
How do Equitable (EQH) and Virtu Financial (VIRT) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Equitable (EQH) and Virtu Financial (VIRT) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but EQH is classified in Financial Services while VIRT is classified in Capital Markets.
| Profile Item | EQH | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Equitable Holdings Inc. | Virtu Financial Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Financial Services | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Financial Services | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Market Capitalization | 14.04 billion USD | 11.67 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 10, 2018 | April 16, 2015 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | EQH | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 26.35% | 57.98% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 32.07% | 51.24% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.88% | 19.25% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | EQH | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 33.44% | 37.43% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.04 | 0.69 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -35.85% | -54.52% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.71M | 1.26M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | EQH | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.66 | 1.43 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.94 | 2.27 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Equitable (EQH) at 171.08% and Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 57.03% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
171.08%
- EQH
- 171.08%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
57.03%
- VIRT
- 57.03%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Equitable (EQH) at 11.52% and Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 17.96% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
11.52%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- EQH
- 11.52%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
17.96%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- VIRT
- 17.96%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Equitable (EQH) at 37.18% and Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 36.32% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
37.18%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- EQH
- 37.18%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
36.32%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- VIRT
- 36.32%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | EQH | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 171.08% | 57.03% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.45% | 5.01% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.52% | 17.96% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 37.18% | 36.32% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 26.25% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Equitable (EQH) at -6.12% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 72.73% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Equitable (EQH) at -227.78% falls below its industry range — a large difference in per-share earnings trajectories.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | EQH | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -6.12% | 26.25% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -2.65% | 15.38% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -227.78% | 72.73% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 28.11% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Equitable (EQH) in Financial Services and Virtu Financial (VIRT) in Financial Services both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Equitable (EQH) in Financial Services and Virtu Financial (VIRT) in Financial Services run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | EQH | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Equitable (EQH) at 0.51% and Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 1.78% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
0.51%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- EQH
- 0.51%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
1.78%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- VIRT
- 1.78%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Equitable (EQH) at 22.49% and Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 15.95% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
22.49%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- EQH
- 22.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
15.95%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- VIRT
- 15.95%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | EQH | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.51% | 1.78% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 22.49% | 15.95% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 7.92 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Equitable (EQH) at 10.39 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for VIRT, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
10.39
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- EQH
- 10.39
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
7.92
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- VIRT
- 7.92
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Equitable (EQH) at 1.08 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 3.35 prices around its industry’s middle — EQH costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
1.08
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- EQH
- 1.08
- Min
- -0.55
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
3.35
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- VIRT
- 3.35
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Equitable (EQH) reports a negative P/B ratio of -4.92, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Virtu Financial (VIRT) reports 1.92, ranking against industry peers normally.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
-4.92
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
- EQH
- -4.92
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
1.92
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- VIRT
- 1.92
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | EQH | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 10.39 | 7.92 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.08 | 3.35 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -4.92 | 1.92 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |