Dave vs. OppFi: Which Fintech Stock Is the Smarter Bet Right Now?

Core Insights - Both OppFi Inc. (OPFI) and Dave (DAVE) are key players in the fintech sector, focusing on digital lending solutions for customers [1] - DAVE offers interest-free cash advances, while OPFI collaborates with banks to serve the underbanked population [1] Group 1: Performance Metrics - DAVE's ExtraCash service allows customers to borrow up to $500 without interest, achieving a 49% year-over-year growth in originations in Q3 2025, resulting in a 63% increase in top-line growth and a 137% rise in adjusted EBITDA [3][9] - OPFI reported a 13.5% year-over-year revenue increase in Q3 2025, with adjusted net income growing by 41.4% and adjusted EPS rising by 39.1% [7][9] Group 2: Credit Risk Management - DAVE's average 28-day delinquency rate decreased by 7 basis points to 2.33% in Q3 2025, aided by the CashAI v5.5 rollout, which also improved the 28-day days past due metric [4][9] - OPFI's Model 6 led to a 430 basis point reduction in net charge-offs as a percentage of total revenues year-over-year, indicating effective credit risk management [8] Group 3: Financial Guidance and Estimates - DAVE raised its revenue guidance for the year to $544-$547 million, up from $505-$515 million, and adjusted EBITDA guidance to $215-$218 million from $180-$190 million [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DAVE's 2025 sales is $546.1 million, reflecting a 57.3% year-over-year increase, while OPFI's estimate is $597.6 million, suggesting a 13.6% growth [12][13] Group 4: Valuation Comparison - OPFI is trading at a forward P/E ratio of 6.47X, significantly lower than DAVE's 15.81X, making OPFI a more attractive investment option [14] - Both companies are rated Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong potential for investors [17]