CAC vs NBTB

For growth investors, Camden National Corporation (CAC) is the stronger pick with 26.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 4% for NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB). Camden National Corporation (CAC) offers the better valuation at 12. 7x trailing P/E (9. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Camden National Corporation (CAC) a "Buy" — based on 6 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Camden National Corporation (CAC) is the cheapest at 12.

7x versus NBT Bancorp Inc. at 13. 5x. On forward P/E, Camden National Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) delivered a total return of +29. 9%, compared to +19. 3% for Camden National Corporation (CAC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAC returned +122. 9% versus NBTB's +102. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 89β versus Camden National Corporation's 0. 99β — meaning CAC is approximately 12% more volatile than NBTB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 92% for Camden National Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Camden National Corporation (CAC) is pulling ahead at 26.

8% versus 10. 4% for NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NBT Bancorp Inc. grew EPS 12. 5% year-over-year, compared to 6. 1% for Camden National Corporation. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 5% net margin versus 17. 7% for Camden National Corporation — meaning it keeps 19. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NBTB leads at 25. 3% versus 22. 2% for CAC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NBTB leads at 72. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Camden National Corporation (CAC) trades at 9.

0x forward P/E versus 10. 8x for NBT Bancorp Inc. — 1. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CAC: 9. 0% to $53. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Camden National Corporation (CAC) offers the highest yield at 3. 5%, versus 3. 2% for NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB).

For long-horizon retirement investors, NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 89), 3. 2% yield, +102. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NBTB: +102. 2%, CAC: +122. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: CAC is a small-cap high-growth stock; NBTB is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.