Upstart (UPST) vs Western Union (WU)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Western Union (WU) has outperformed Upstart (UPST) over the past year, losing 21.8% versus a loss of 53.3%. Over five years, WU leads with a -70.2% price change compared with -93.8% for UPST. Upstart is the larger company by market cap ($2.35 billion vs $1.97 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Western Union trades at a lower forward P/E (4.2x vs 7.0x for Upstart). Western Union pays a dividend yielding 14.85%, while Upstart does not currently pay one. Western Union converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 12.3% versus 5.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | UPST | WU |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $24.19 | $6.33 |
| Market cap | $2.35B | $1.97B |
| 1-day change | +0.71% | +3.60% |
| YTD return | -44.68% | -32.01% |
| 1-year return | -53.27% | -21.76% |
| 5-year return | -93.80% | -70.23% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 48.38 | 5.15 |
| Forward P/E | 6.96 | 4.20 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.50 | $1.23 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 14.85% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.94 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.04B | $4.05B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +63.99% | -3.78% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $53.60M | $499.60M |
| Gross margin | — | 37.03% |
| Operating margin | 4.08% | 18.70% |
| Net margin | 5.13% | 12.33% |
| 52-week high | $55.22 | $10.35 |
| 52-week low | $22.56 | $5.87 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -56.19% | -38.84% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | underperform |
| Avg. price target upside | +65.36% | +7.42% |
| Average volume | 4.27M | 9.97M |
| Shares outstanding | 97.31M | 311.88M |
| Employees | 1,405 | 9,600 |
| Sector | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| Industry | Credit Services | Credit Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- WU has outperformed UPST by 31.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Upstart trades at a higher earnings multiple (48.4x vs 5.1x trailing P/E).
- Western Union offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (14.85% vs 0.00%).
- Western Union is more profitable, keeping 12.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 5.1 cents for Upstart.
- Upstart grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+63.99% vs -3.78%).
About Upstart
UPST stock →Upstart Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates a cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) lending platform in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Personal Lending, Auto Lending, and Other.
Financial Services · Credit Services · 1,405 employees
About Western Union
WU stock →The Western Union Company provides money movement payments, and digital financial services in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Consumer Money Transfer and Consumer Services.
Financial Services · Credit Services · 9,600 employees
UPST vs WU FAQ
Which is bigger, Upstart or Western Union?
Upstart (UPST) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.35B compared with $1.97B for Western Union (WU).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, UPST or WU?
WU returned -21.76% over the past 12 months, compared with -53.27% for UPST (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, UPST or WU?
WU has the lower trailing P/E at 5.1, versus 48.4 for UPST. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Upstart or Western Union?
Western Union pays a dividend yielding 14.85%, while Upstart does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Upstart and Western Union in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Credit Services industry within the Financial Services sector.