Reviewing FirstCash and Green Dot Financial Firms

Comparing the business services and financial offerings of two publicly traded companies.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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FirstCash (NASDAQ:FCFS) and Green Dot (NYSE:GDOT) are both business services companies operating in the financial technology and banking sectors. This article compares the two firms across various metrics including valuation, risk, earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, and dividends to determine which is the better investment.

Why it matters

Analyzing the performance and prospects of FirstCash and Green Dot provides insight into the competitive landscape of the financial services industry, particularly the trends and challenges facing companies that provide banking, payment processing, and lending solutions to consumers and businesses.

The details

The analysis finds that FirstCash has a lower stock price volatility compared to the broader market, while Green Dot has a higher percentage of institutional and insider ownership. FirstCash also has stronger net margins, return on equity, and return on assets. However, analysts currently see more upside potential in Green Dot's stock price compared to FirstCash.

  • The article was published on February 15, 2026.

The players

FirstCash Holdings, Inc.

A retail pawn store operator in the United States, Mexico, and Latin America that also provides retail point-of-sale payment solutions.

Green Dot Corporation

A financial technology and registered bank holding company that offers deposit account programs, money processing services, and tax refund-related lending and services.

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The takeaway

The analysis suggests that while FirstCash has stronger financial metrics, Green Dot may have more upside potential according to analyst projections. Investors evaluating the two financial services firms will need to weigh their relative strengths, growth prospects, and risk profiles to determine the better long-term investment.