Been looking at XP Inc.A and Blackstone lately, and there's actually an interesting contrast here if you care about value investing. Most people know both these companies operate in financial services, but the valuation story is pretty different between them.

So here's what caught my attention: XP has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) while Blackstone is sitting at 3 (Hold). That ranking difference matters because it reflects how analysts are adjusting their earnings expectations. XP's been seeing more positive revisions, which suggests the outlook is improving. That's usually a green flag.

But beyond the rankings, let's talk actual numbers. If you're into value metrics like I am, the P/E ratio tells you a lot. XP is trading at a forward P/E of 11.18, while Blackstone is at 18.51. That's a pretty meaningful gap. Then there's the PEG ratio, which factors in growth expectations. XP comes in at 0.79 versus Blackstone's 1.01. Lower is generally better here.

The P/B ratio is another one worth considering. XP sits at 2.78 compared to Blackstone's 4.25. That's looking at book value versus market price, and again XP looks more attractive from a valuation standpoint.

When you stack all this together, XP grades out as an A for value while Blackstone gets a D. The earnings outlook is stronger, and those valuation metrics paint a pretty clear picture. If you're hunting for undervalued plays in the financial services space, XP seems like the more compelling opportunity right now. The numbers just line up better on the value side.