Upstart vs. Pagaya Technologies: Which Financial Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

Upstart and Pagaya Technologies both use AI to revolutionize lending by replacing traditional credit scores. Upstart generated $1.1B in revenue with $53.6M net income but faces risks from high customer concentration and negative free cash flow of -$166.1M. Pagaya achieved $1.3B revenue with $81.4M net income and positive free cash flow of $224.7M, trading at lower valuations. For long-term investors, Pagaya appears to offer a more balanced opportunity due to its superior financial health and less direct exposure to borrower defaults.