LPLA vs. TOST: LPL Financial vs. Toast Stock Comparison
How do LPL Financial (LPLA) and Toast (TOST) 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 Toast (TOST) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but LPLA is classified in Capital Markets while TOST is classified in Financial Services.
| Profile Item | LPLA | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Name | LPL Financial Holdings Inc. | Toast, Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Financial Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage | Transaction & Payment Processing Services |
| Market Capitalization | 23.01 billion USD | 20.14 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 18, 2010 | September 22, 2021 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -17.27% | -5.92% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 11.10% | 35.73% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.92% | -10.54% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Toast (TOST) has an aggressive beta of 1.66, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while LPL Financial (LPLA) is defensive at 0.52 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | LPLA | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 39.22% | 45.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.52 | 1.66 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -33.18% | -79.13% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 855.76K | 8.73M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.55 | -0.23 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.70 | -0.31 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both LPL Financial (LPLA) at 25.66% and Toast (TOST) at 25.58% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
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%
TOST
Financial Services industry group
25.58%
- Max
- 44.78%
- TOST
- 25.58%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both LPL Financial (LPLA) at 6.97% and Toast (TOST) at 7.69% 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%
TOST
Financial Services industry group
7.69%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- TOST
- 7.69%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both LPL Financial (LPLA) at 10.85% and Toast (TOST) at 8.63% generate less operating profit per sales dollar than peers, sitting in the lower operating margin quartile of their industries.
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%
TOST
Financial Services industry group
8.63%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- TOST
- 8.63%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 25.66% | 25.58% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.35% | 10.30% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 6.97% | 7.69% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 10.85% | 8.63% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 37.18% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Toast (TOST) at 24.05% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for LPLA.
EPS Growth
Toast (TOST) at 1,766.67% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than LPL Financial (LPLA) at -22.17%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 37.18% | 24.05% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 25.47% | 31.10% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -22.17% | 1,766.67% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.64% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: LPL Financial (LPLA) in Financial Services and Toast (TOST) 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 Toast (TOST) 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 | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Toast (TOST) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile LPL Financial (LPLA) reports a yield of 0.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
TOST
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- TOST
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Toast (TOST) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile LPL Financial (LPLA) reports a payout of 6.88%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
TOST
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- TOST
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.40% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 6.88% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 16.93 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Toast (TOST) at 38.10 sits in the richer quartile — TOST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
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
TOST
Financial Services industry group
38.10
- Max
- 45.85
- TOST
- 38.10
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- 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 Toast (TOST) at 2.82 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
TOST
Financial Services industry group
2.82
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- TOST
- 2.82
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: LPL Financial (LPLA) at 3.98 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Toast (TOST) at 8.79 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
TOST
Financial Services industry group
8.79
- TOST
- 8.79
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 16.93 | 38.10 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.15 | 2.82 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.98 | 8.79 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |