WallStSmart

Saratoga Investment Corp (SAR)vsWells Fargo & Company (WFC)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Wells Fargo & Company generates 64440% more annual revenue ($81.14B vs $125.71M). SAR leads profitability with a 29.1% profit margin vs 26.7%. SAR trades at a lower P/E of 9.6x. WFC earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 74/100 (B).

SAR

Buy

54

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 4.7Profit: 8.0Value: 6.7Quality: 4.3
Piotroski: 4/9

WFC

Strong Buy

74

out of 100

Grade: B

Growth: 7.3Profit: 7.5Value: 6.3Quality: 3.0
Piotroski: 4/9Altman Z: -0.38

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

SAR4 strengths · Avg: 9.8/10
P/E RatioValuation
9.6x10/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

Price/BookValuation
0.9x10/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

Operating MarginProfitability
71.1%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 71.1%

Profit MarginProfitability
29.1%9/10

Keeps 29 of every $100 in revenue as profit

WFC6 strengths · Avg: 8.5/10
Market CapQuality
$256.63B10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

Profit MarginProfitability
26.7%9/10

Keeps 27 of every $100 in revenue as profit

P/E RatioValuation
13.0x8/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

Price/BookValuation
1.6x8/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

Operating MarginProfitability
29.4%8/10

Strong operational efficiency at 29.4%

Free Cash FlowQuality
$9.14B8/10

Generating 9.1B in free cash flow

Areas to Watch

SAR4 concerns · Avg: 2.5/10
Market CapQuality
$359.52M3/10

Smaller company, higher risk/reward

Debt/EquityHealth
1.843/10

Elevated debt levels

Revenue GrowthGrowth
-0.6%2/10

Revenue declined 0.6%

Free Cash FlowQuality
$-92.42M2/10

Negative free cash flow — burning cash

WFC2 concerns · Avg: 1.5/10
Altman Z-ScoreHealth
-0.382/10

Distress zone — elevated risk

Debt/EquityHealth
2.531/10

Elevated debt levels

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : SAR

The strongest argument for SAR centers on P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 29.1% and operating margin at 71.1%.

Bull Case : WFC

The strongest argument for WFC centers on Market Cap, Profit Margin, P/E Ratio. Profitability is solid with margins at 26.7% and operating margin at 29.4%. PEG of 1.49 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.

Bear Case : SAR

The primary concerns for SAR are Market Cap, Debt/Equity, Revenue Growth. Debt-to-equity of 1.84 is elevated, increasing financial risk.

Bear Case : WFC

The primary concerns for WFC are Altman Z-Score, Debt/Equity. Debt-to-equity of 2.53 is elevated, increasing financial risk.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

SAR profiles as a declining stock while WFC is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.

WFC carries more volatility with a beta of 0.93 — expect wider price swings.

WFC is growing revenue faster at 5.7% — sustainability is the question.

WFC generates stronger free cash flow (9.1B), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

WFC scores higher overall (74/100 vs 54/100), backed by strong 26.7% margins. Both earn "Strong 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.

Saratoga Investment Corp

FINANCIAL SERVICES · ASSET MANAGEMENT · USA

Saratoga Investment Corp (SAR) is a publicly traded business development company that focuses on delivering flexible debt and equity capital to middle-market enterprises across diverse sectors such as healthcare, technology, and consumer products. With a disciplined investment approach, Saratoga emphasizes thorough due diligence and rigorous risk management to protect capital while seeking to maximize shareholder returns. The firm’s proactive portfolio management and consistent track record of dividend distributions position it as an appealing opportunity for institutional investors looking to diversify within the alternative investment landscape.

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Wells Fargo & Company

FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - DIVERSIFIED · USA

Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with corporate headquarters in San Francisco, California, operational headquarters in Manhattan, and managerial offices throughout the United States and overseas.

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