WallStSmart

Bank of America Corp (BAC)vsUpstart Holdings Inc (UPST)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Bank of America Corp generates 10089% more annual revenue ($109.59B vs $1.08B). BAC leads profitability with a 29.0% profit margin vs 5.0%. BAC trades at a lower P/E of 13.2x. BAC earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 82/100 (A-).

BAC

Exceptional Buy

82

out of 100

Grade: A-

Growth: 8.0Profit: 7.5Value: 7.0Quality: 3.5
Piotroski: 5/9Altman Z: -0.27

UPST

Buy

51

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 8.7Profit: 4.5Value: 4.0Quality: 5.8
Piotroski: 5/9Altman Z: 0.83

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

BAC6 strengths · Avg: 9.2/10
Market CapQuality
$377.03B10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

Price/BookValuation
1.4x10/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

Operating MarginProfitability
36.0%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 36.0%

Profit MarginProfitability
29.0%9/10

Keeps 29 of every $100 in revenue as profit

PEG RatioValuation
0.948/10

Growing faster than its price suggests

P/E RatioValuation
13.2x8/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

UPST2 strengths · Avg: 10.0/10
Revenue GrowthGrowth
34.4%10/10

Revenue surging 34.4% year-over-year

EPS GrowthGrowth
209.1%10/10

Earnings expanding 209.1% YoY

Areas to Watch

BAC3 concerns · Avg: 2.3/10
Debt/EquityHealth
1.213/10

Elevated debt levels

Free Cash FlowQuality
$-22.95B2/10

Negative free cash flow — burning cash

Altman Z-ScoreHealth
-0.272/10

Distress zone — elevated risk

UPST4 concerns · Avg: 2.5/10
Return on EquityProfitability
7.5%3/10

ROE of 7.5% — below average capital efficiency

Profit MarginProfitability
5.0%3/10

5.0% margin — thin

P/E RatioValuation
67.7x2/10

Premium valuation, high expectations priced in

Altman Z-ScoreHealth
0.832/10

Distress zone — elevated risk

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : BAC

The strongest argument for BAC centers on Market Cap, Price/Book, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 29.0% and operating margin at 36.0%. Revenue growth of 11.8% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bull Case : UPST

The strongest argument for UPST centers on Revenue Growth, EPS Growth. Revenue growth of 34.4% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bear Case : BAC

The primary concerns for BAC are Debt/Equity, Free Cash Flow, Altman Z-Score.

Bear Case : UPST

The primary concerns for UPST are Return on Equity, Profit Margin, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 67.7x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 5.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

BAC profiles as a mature stock while UPST is a hypergrowth play — different risk/reward profiles.

UPST carries more volatility with a beta of 2.16 — expect wider price swings.

UPST is growing revenue faster at 34.4% — sustainability is the question.

UPST generates stronger free cash flow (105M), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

BAC scores higher overall (82/100 vs 51/100), backed by strong 29.0% margins and 11.8% revenue growth. Both earn "Exceptional Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

Bank of America Corp

FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - DIVERSIFIED · USA

The Bank of America Corporation is an American multinational investment bank and financial services holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in San Francisco, Bank of America was formed through NationsBank's acquisition of BankAmerica in 1998. It is the second largest banking institution in the United States, after JPMorgan Chase, and the eighth largest bank in the world. Bank of America is one of the Big Four banking institutions of the United States. It services approximately 10 percent of all American bank deposits, in direct competition with JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Wells Fargo. Its primary financial services revolve around commercial banking, wealth management, and investment banking.

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Upstart Holdings Inc

FINANCIAL SERVICES · CREDIT SERVICES · USA

Upstart Holdings, Inc. operates a cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) lending platform. The company is headquartered in San Mateo, California.

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