VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing Value Investors Club (VIC) and Variant will find that Both Value Investors Club (VIC) and Variant concentrate on Stock Ideas, and Forums workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. Variant stands out with Market Sentiment, and AI that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
Value Investors Club (VIC) vs Variant
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- Variant includes Market Sentiment, and AI categories that Value Investors Club (VIC) omits.
- Value Investors Club (VIC) highlights: Highly selective membership: applicants must submit a current idea to be considered; only a few hundred active members at any time., Members are required to post at least two ideas per year (up to six) and rate 20 ideas annually to maintain access., and Each idea has its own discussion thread, with members able to mark certain comments as private (visible to members only)..
- Variant is known for: AI Catalyst Finder scans filings, transcripts, and other documents to surface potential catalysts in public-company situations., Buyside discussion area with differentiated views and thousands of investor comments., and Predictions marketplace where users forecast outcomes and track sentiment on upcoming earnings events..
- Value Investors Club (VIC) has a free tier, while Variant requires a paid plan.
Value Investors Club (VIC)
valueinvestorsclub.com
A legendary forum for deep-dive investment write-ups, founded in 1999 by Joel Greenblatt and John Petry. Membership is free but extremely selective, with obligations to contribute original ideas to stay active. Guests can read older ideas on a delayed basis, while full members have real-time access and can join discussions. Twice a month, the best write-up earns a $5,000 prize. The site carries no ads and no paid subscriptions, emphasizing community quality over monetization.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Highly selective membership: applicants must submit a current idea to be considered; only a few hundred active members at any time.
- Members are required to post at least two ideas per year (up to six) and rate 20 ideas annually to maintain access.
- Each idea has its own discussion thread, with members able to mark certain comments as private (visible to members only).
- Guest users can browse delayed content: free signup grants access to 45-day-old ideas, while non-logged visitors see ideas after 90 days.
- Robust search and filters for idea discovery, including long/short orientation, performance, ratings, and geography.
Variant
variantinsights.com
Invite- and approval-based platform for professional and student investors. Variant combines an AI-powered “Catalyst Finder” with buyside discussions and a predictions marketplace focused on public-company outcomes and earnings sentiment. All content is user-generated (never investment advice), with strict prohibitions against material non-public information. Access is available via professional approval, student programs at select universities, or invite-only flows.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- AI Catalyst Finder scans filings, transcripts, and other documents to surface potential catalysts in public-company situations.
- Buyside discussion area with differentiated views and thousands of investor comments.
- Predictions marketplace where users forecast outcomes and track sentiment on upcoming earnings events.
- Structured prediction markets focused on company-specific outcomes and event-driven scenarios.
- Access models include professional approval-based signup, student signup at partner universities, and invite-only admission.
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
Where they differ
Variant
Distinct strengths include:
- AI Catalyst Finder scans filings, transcripts, and other documents to surface potential catalysts in public-company situations.
- Buyside discussion area with differentiated views and thousands of investor comments.
- Predictions marketplace where users forecast outcomes and track sentiment on upcoming earnings events.
- Structured prediction markets focused on company-specific outcomes and event-driven scenarios.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Value Investors Club (VIC) | Variant |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Stock Ideas, Forums | Shared: Stock Ideas, Forums Unique: Market Sentiment, AI |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, Bonds | Stocks |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web | Web |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free | Other |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Yes | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do Value Investors Club (VIC) and Variant both support?
Both platforms cover Stock Ideas, and Forums workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Which tool offers a free plan?
Value Investors Club (VIC) offers a free entry point, while Variant requires a paid subscription. Review the pricing table to see how the paid tiers compare.
How can you access Value Investors Club (VIC) and Variant?
Both Value Investors Club (VIC) and Variant prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
Value Investors Club (VIC) differentiates itself with Highly selective membership: applicants must submit a current idea to be considered; only a few hundred active members at any time., Members are required to post at least two ideas per year (up to six) and rate 20 ideas annually to maintain access., and Each idea has its own discussion thread, with members able to mark certain comments as private (visible to members only)., whereas Variant stands out for AI Catalyst Finder scans filings, transcripts, and other documents to surface potential catalysts in public-company situations., Buyside discussion area with differentiated views and thousands of investor comments., and Predictions marketplace where users forecast outcomes and track sentiment on upcoming earnings events..
Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.