LPLA vs. VIRT: LPL Financial vs. Virtu Financial Stock Comparison
How do LPL Financial (LPLA) 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
LPL Financial (LPLA) and Virtu Financial (VIRT) 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 | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | LPL Financial 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 | Capital Markets | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Market Capitalization | 23.01 billion USD | 11.67 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 18, 2010 | April 16, 2015 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -17.27% | 57.98% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 11.10% | 51.24% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.92% | 19.25% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 39.22% | 37.43% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.52 | 0.69 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -33.18% | -54.52% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 855.76K | 1.26M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.55 | 1.43 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.70 | 2.27 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 57.03% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; LPL Financial (LPLA) at 25.66% also sits in the top quartile.
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%
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 LPL Financial (LPLA) at 6.97% 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.
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%
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)
Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 36.32% 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%
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 | LPLA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 25.66% | 57.03% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.35% | 5.01% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 6.97% | 17.96% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 10.85% | 36.32% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 37.18% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 26.25% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for LPLA.
EPS Growth
Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 72.73% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while LPL Financial (LPLA) at -22.17% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for VIRT.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | LPLA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 37.18% | 26.25% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 25.47% | 15.38% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -22.17% | 72.73% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.64% | 28.11% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: LPL Financial (LPLA) 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: LPL Financial (LPLA) 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 | LPLA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both LPL Financial (LPLA) at 0.40% and Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 1.78% 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%
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 LPL Financial (LPLA) at 6.88% 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.
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%
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 | LPLA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.40% | 1.78% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 6.88% | 15.95% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 7.92 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while LPL Financial (LPLA) at 16.93 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for VIRT, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
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
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)
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 1.15 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 3.35 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
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)
Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 1.92 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
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 | LPLA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 16.93 | 7.92 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.15 | 3.35 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.98 | 1.92 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |