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HOOD vs. TW: Which Digital Trading Platform is the Smarter Pick?

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Key Takeaways

  • Robinhood has surged 207.7% YTD, far outpacing Tradeweb's 3.5% gain in the same period.
  • Analysts see HOOD's 2025 earnings growing 39.5%, versus TW's projected 17.8% rise.
  • Robinhood's 17.48% ROE exceeds Tradeweb's 11.90%, showing stronger profit efficiency.

Robinhood Markets (HOOD - Free Report) and Tradeweb Markets (TW - Free Report) are fintech innovators reshaping the landscape of electronic trading. HOOD is revolutionizing retail investing through its mobile-first trading platform, while TW is modernizing institutional markets for fixed income, ETFs and derivatives. 

Both leverage cutting-edge technology to disrupt traditional finance and capture growing market share. Hence, a question arises: which stock is better positioned to lead the future of finance? Let’s break down the fundamentals, growth prospects and strategic moves that could determine whether HOOD or TW has upside potential.

The Case for Robinhood

Robinhood became immensely popular among younger generations in early 2021, riding on the meme stock wave. Nonetheless, since its IPO in July 2021, a lot has happened on the business front. It has evolved from a brokerage firm primarily trading in digital assets to a more mature and diversified entity, striving to become a one-stop shop for building generational wealth. 

In this context, HOOD has launched several initiatives to attract more clients and strengthen its market share. Some notable ones are Robinhood Legend (desktop trading platform) aimed at retail investors seeking more advanced trading tools; Robinhood Strategies, Robinhood Banking and Robinhood Cortex to boost the wealth management offerings, the prediction markets hub and a credit card to expand in the consumer finance space. 

Also, Robinhood is expanding aggressively through acquisitions to grow and diversify its business. Recent deals include Bitstamp for crypto, WonderFi for Canadian digital assets, TradePMR for Registered Investment Advisors services and Pluto Capital for artificial intelligence (AI)-driven investing. These moves support its goal of becoming a global, full-spectrum financial services provider, with ambitions to expand into the lucrative Asia-Pacific region.

However, the recent launch of stock tokens in the European Union (EU), offering tokenized access to firms like OpenAI and SpaceX, has triggered regulatory scrutiny. Lithuania’s central bank, Robinhood’s primary EU regulator, is seeking clarity on the product’s structure, while OpenAI has distanced itself. Regulators are questioning the transparency and legality of offering such tokens to retail investors.

The Case for Tradeweb

Tradeweb operates global electronic marketplaces for trading fixed income, derivatives, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), money markets and equities. Its client base spans institutional investors such as banks, asset managers, central banks and pension funds. 

Under CEO Billy Hult, TW continues pushing the "electronification" of bond markets, having expanded beyond government bonds into mortgages, interest-rate swaps, ETFs and emerging markets, plus a new frontier in private credit. It is investing in blockchain and distributed ledger technology to improve settlement and collateral management. AI is another strategic focus, with machine learning tools enhancing trade execution and dealer-client matching.

Additionally, Tradeweb is deepening its presence in Europe and Asia, capitalizing on regulatory shifts such as MiFID II and increased adoption of electronic trading in emerging markets. It is intensifying connectivity in Asia-Pacific bond markets and adding localized trading solutions for Latin America. Strategic acquisitions, like ICD for short-term investments and r8fin for emerging markets, are strengthening TW’s international footprint and product offering.

Tradeweb’s growth faces potential headwinds if the market volatility that recently fueled trading volumes begins to subside, potentially slowing near-term revenue momentum. In addition, its forward-looking initiatives, such as blockchain integration and expansion into private credit, carry inherent execution risks, regulatory hurdles and the uncertainty that often accompanies disruptive fintech innovations.

How Do Earnings Estimates Compare for HOOD & TW?

Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for HOOD’s 2025 and 2026 earnings has been revised upward.  The earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 imply 39.5% and 21.5% growth, respectively.

Earnings Estimates for HOOD
 

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Additionally, analysts are bullish on Tradeweb’s prospects. The earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 have been revised upward over the past month. The consensus mark for TW’s 2025 and 2026 earnings suggests 17.8% and 12.9% growth, respectively. 

Earnings Estimates for TW
 

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

HOOD & TW: Price Performance, Valuation & Other Comparisons

This year, shares of Robinhood have performed extremely well given the bullish investor sentiments. The stock has soared 207.7%, while Tradeweb gained just 3.5% so far this year. Further, HOOD has outpaced the industry, with TW lagging. In terms of investor sentiments, HOOD has the edge.

YTD Price Performance
 

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Valuation-wise, HOOD is currently trading at the 12-month trailing price-to-tangible book (P/TB) of 13.9X. The TW stock, on the other hand, is currently trading at the 12-month trailing P/TB of 12.31X. 

HOOD & TW P/TB Ratio
 

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Thus, Tradeweb is inexpensive compared with HOOD. 

Robinhood’s return on equity (ROE) of 17.48% is higher than TW’s 11.90%. This reflects HOOD’s efficient use of shareholder funds in generating profits.

ROE

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Robinhood or Tradeweb: Which Fintech Stock to Bet on Now?

Given its robust year-to-date rally, higher earnings growth outlook and stronger return on equity, Robinhood stands out as the more compelling growth play. The company’s aggressive expansion into wealth management, AI-driven investing, crypto markets and international territories positions it to capture diverse revenue streams and broaden its customer base beyond retail trading. These strategic moves, backed by successful acquisitions, suggest that HOOD is evolving into a well-rounded fintech powerhouse.

While Tradeweb offers steady institutional market strength, Robinhood’s rapid innovation, expanding product ecosystem and accelerating earnings trajectory make it an attractive option for investors seeking higher upside potential in the evolving fintech landscape.

Currently, Robinhood sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Tradeweb has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.


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