LPLA vs. SF: LPL Financial vs. Stifel Financial Stock Comparison
How do LPL Financial (LPLA) and Stifel Financial (SF) 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
LPL Financial (LPLA) and Stifel Financial (SF) are both classified in the Investment Banking & Brokerage sub-industry within the broader Capital Markets industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | LPLA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | LPL Financial Holdings Inc. | Stifel Financial Corp. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Market Capitalization | 23.01 billion USD | 10.65 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 18, 2010 | July 19, 1983 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -17.27% | -8.12% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 11.10% | 24.91% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.92% | 9.74% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 39.22% | 27.41% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.52 | 0.98 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -33.18% | -36.25% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 855.76K | 1.29M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.55 | -0.45 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.70 | -0.62 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 25.66% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Stifel Financial (SF) at 16.55% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LPLA.
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
25.66%
- Max
- 44.78%
- LPLA
- 25.66%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
SF
Financial Services industry group
16.55%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- SF
- 16.55%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both LPL Financial (LPLA) at 6.97% and Stifel Financial (SF) at 16.73% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
6.97%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- LPLA
- 6.97%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
SF
Financial Services industry group
16.73%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- SF
- 16.73%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Stifel Financial (SF) at 22.49% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while LPL Financial (LPLA) at 10.85% operates in the bottom quartile.
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
10.85%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- LPLA
- 10.85%
- Min
- -44.34%
SF
Financial Services industry group
22.49%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- SF
- 22.49%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 25.66% | 16.55% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.35% | 2.25% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 6.97% | 16.73% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 10.85% | 22.49% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 37.18% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Stifel Financial (SF) at 11.33% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for LPLA.
EPS Growth
Both LPL Financial (LPLA) at -22.17% and Stifel Financial (SF) at -6.08% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 37.18% | 11.33% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 25.47% | 8.03% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -22.17% | -6.08% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.64% | 3.33% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: LPL Financial (LPLA) in Financial Services and Stifel Financial (SF) 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: LPL Financial (LPLA) in Financial Services and Stifel Financial (SF) 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 | LPLA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both LPL Financial (LPLA) at 0.40% and Stifel Financial (SF) at 1.83% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
0.40%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- LPLA
- 0.40%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SF
Financial Services industry group
1.83%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- SF
- 1.83%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both LPL Financial (LPLA) at 6.88% and Stifel Financial (SF) at 22.98% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
6.88%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- LPLA
- 6.88%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SF
Financial Services industry group
22.98%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- SF
- 22.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.40% | 1.83% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 6.88% | 22.98% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both LPL Financial (LPLA) at 16.93 and Stifel Financial (SF) at 12.37 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
16.93
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- LPLA
- 16.93
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
SF
Financial Services industry group
12.37
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- SF
- 12.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 1.15 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Stifel Financial (SF) at 1.82 prices around its industry’s middle — LPLA costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
1.15
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- LPLA
- 1.15
- Min
- -0.55
SF
Financial Services industry group
1.82
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- SF
- 1.82
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Stifel Financial (SF) at 2.00 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while LPL Financial (LPLA) at 3.98 carries an above-peer premium to book — LPLA is pricier on assets.
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
3.98
- Max
- 7.79
- LPLA
- 3.98
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
SF
Financial Services industry group
2.00
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- SF
- 2.00
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 16.93 | 12.37 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.15 | 1.82 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.98 | 2.00 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |