COMPARE · Data as of August 21, 2026
PFSI vs SLM
Verdict: Side-by-side breakdown using the Bull Rankings model. PFSI scored 84.0, SLM scored 66.0 — PFSI leads.
Compare another set
PFSI
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
62.5Fin
$75.09 · $3.9B
fundamentals as of
Strength gap
21.2
SLM leads
SLM
SLM Corporation
83.7Fin
$26.46 · $5.0B
fundamentals as of
At a glance · who leads each dimension, on the model's own rules
- Fastest growthPFSI+55.3%
Side by side · every name on one set of axes
Fundamentals, head-to-head
PFSI
SLM
—
FCF
-$325mF
+55.3%A
Rev
+7.3%B
—
D/E
2.36C
10.3xA-
P/E
—
0.19A
PEG
0.51A-
—
P/S
3.0xB+
Winner per row is the stronger grade; where grades tie, the better figure breaks it. A true tie or a missing value shows no highlight.
The companies
PFSIPennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
Why now
Mortgage Finance · market cap $3.9b. Down 53% from 52-week high of $160.36 — deep drawdown territory. Revenue growing +55% — in hypergrowth territory. PEG 0.19 — paying under fair value for the growth rate. 7 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $90.57 (implying +21% upside).
Moat
Moat signals from the quantitative card are modest — profitability and capital efficiency are middle-of-pack. The thesis here depends on softer factors (switching costs, brand, distribution, regulatory protection) not captured by the quality-growth screen.
Risk
Down 53% from the 52-week high — the market is pricing in something the screen can't see; verify the bear case before sizing up. Beta 1.44 implies above-market volatility — position-size to the drawdowns this name will produce in a market correction, not to its bull-case return.
SLMSLM Corporation
Why now
Credit Services · market cap $5.0b. 17% off the 52-week high of $32.07. PEG 0.51 — paying under fair value for the growth rate. 11 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $28.55 (implying +8% upside).
Moat
Net margin 44% is exceptional — pricing-power territory rare outside premium software, branded staples, and specialty pharma. ROE 30% — top-decile capital efficiency. Either pricing leverage, low capital intensity, or aggressive buybacks; the durability story depends on which.
Risk
D/E 2.36 is elevated — limits strategic flexibility and raises refinancing exposure if rates stay higher for longer. Free cash flow is negative (-$325m) — capital raises or debt issuance likely required; dilution / leverage risk. Balance-sheet financial — book value, net interest margin, and credit loss provisions are the lever points; a rates regime change or a deterioration in the loan book moves the stock more than EPS does.
Verdict — model-derived comparison
Generating verdict… typically 5–10 seconds
Not investment advice. The Bull Rankings publishes a quantitative ranking model and accompanying analysis for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security; nothing is personalized to your circumstances, risk tolerance, or tax situation. Investing carries the risk of loss — invest at your own risk and consider consulting a licensed financial professional before acting on anything you read here. See terms and methodology for full disclosures.