CLBK
Columbia Financial, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$2.02B
5Y Perf.+37.0%
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Stock Comparison
CLBK vs KRNY
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KRNY
Kearny Financial Corp.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$508M
5Y Perf.-5.7%
CLBK vs KRNY — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CLBK | KRNY |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $2.02B | $508M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $453M | $344M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $15M | $32M |
| Gross Margin | 36.5% | 44.1% |
| Operating Margin | -3.5% | 9.0% |
| Forward P/E | 26.1x | 12.9x |
| Total Debt | $1.08B | $1.26B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $289M | $167M |
CLBK vs KRNY — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CLBK
KRNY
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Financial,… (CLBK) | 100 | 137.0 | +37.0% |
| Kearny Financial Co… (KRNY) | 100 | 94.3 | -5.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CLBK vs KRNY
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: KRNY leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Columbia Financial, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CLBK
Columbia Financial, Inc.
The Banking Pick
CLBK is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 7.3%, EPS growth -131.4%
- 25.2% 10Y total return vs KRNY's -9.0%
- 7.3% NII/revenue growth vs KRNY's 5.1%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
KRNY
Kearny Financial Corp.
The Banking Pick
KRNY carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.83, yield 5.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.83, current ratio 1.20x
- Beta 0.83, yield 5.5%, current ratio 1.20x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CLBK | 7.3% NII/revenue growth vs KRNY's 5.1% |
| Value | KRNY | Lower P/E (12.9x vs 26.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | KRNY | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs CLBK's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | KRNY | Beta 0.83 vs CLBK's 0.90 |
| Dividends | KRNY | 5.5% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | KRNY | +37.9% vs CLBK's +26.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | KRNY | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs CLBK's 0.4% |
CLBK vs KRNY — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
CLBK vs KRNY — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLKRNYLAGGINGCLBK
CLBKColumbia Financial, I…
0leads
KRNYKearny Financial Corp.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CLBKMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
KRNY4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
KRNY4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
KRNY6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KRNY leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CLBK and KRNY operate at a comparable scale, with $453M and $344M in trailing revenue. KRNY is the more profitable business, keeping 7.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CLBK's -2.6%.
| Metric | CLBKColumbia Financia… | KRNYKearny Financial … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $453M | $344M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $26M | $43M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $15M | $32M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $64M | $40M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +36.5% | +44.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -3.5% | +9.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -2.6% | +7.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.7% | +6.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +147.1% | +50.0% |
KRNY leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
KRNY leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CLBKColumbia Financia… | KRNYKearny Financial … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.0B | $508M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.8B | $1.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -175.55x | 19.24x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 26.09x | 12.93x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 44.52x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.46x | 1.48x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.82x | 0.68x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 78.17x | 23.76x |
KRNY leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KRNY leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KRNY delivers a 4.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $4 in annual profit, vs $1 for CLBK. CLBK carries lower financial leverage with a 1.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KRNY's 1.68x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KRNY scores 7/9 vs CLBK's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CLBKColumbia Financia… | KRNYKearny Financial … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.3% | +4.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.1% | +0.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.5% | +1.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.6% | +1.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.00x | 1.68x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $791M | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $289M | $167M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.1B | $1.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.06x | 0.22x |
KRNY leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — CLBK and KRNY each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CLBK five years ago would be worth $10,657 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,946 for KRNY. Over the past 12 months, KRNY leads with a +37.9% total return vs CLBK's +26.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KRNY at 9.9% vs CLBK's 7.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CLBKColumbia Financia… | KRNYKearny Financial … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +25.2% | +12.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +26.3% | +37.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +22.6% | +32.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +6.6% | -20.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.2% | -9.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.0% | +9.9% |
Evenly matched — CLBK and KRNY each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CLBK and KRNY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KRNY is the less volatile stock with a 0.83 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CLBK's 0.90 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | CLBKColumbia Financia… | KRNYKearny Financial … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.90x | 0.83x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $19.74 | $8.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $13.66 | $5.76 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.8% | +95.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.7 | 55.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 257K | 298K |
Evenly matched — CLBK and KRNY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CLBK as "Hold" and KRNY as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 17.6% upside for KRNY (target: $10) vs -12.0% for CLBK (target: $17). KRNY is the only dividend payer here at 5.45% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CLBKColumbia Financia… | KRNYKearny Financial … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $17.00 | $9.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 5 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +5.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.44 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.3% | +0.1% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
KRNY leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 2 categories are tied.
Best OverallKearny Financial Corp. (KRNY)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CLBK vs KRNY: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CLBK or KRNY a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Columbia Financial, Inc.
(CLBK) is the stronger pick with 7. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 1% for Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY). Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY) offers the better valuation at 19. 2x trailing P/E (12. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Columbia Financial, Inc. (CLBK) a "Hold" — based on 2 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.
02Which has the better valuation — CLBK or KRNY?
On forward P/E, Kearny Financial Corp.
is actually cheaper at 12. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CLBK or KRNY?
Over the past 5 years, Columbia Financial, Inc.
(CLBK) delivered a total return of +6. 6%, compared to -20. 5% for Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CLBK returned +25. 2% versus KRNY's -9. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CLBK or KRNY?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kearny Financial Corp.
(KRNY) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 83β versus Columbia Financial, Inc. 's 0. 90β — meaning CLBK is approximately 8% more volatile than KRNY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Columbia Financial, Inc. (CLBK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 100% versus 168% for Kearny Financial Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CLBK or KRNY?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Columbia Financial, Inc.
(CLBK) is pulling ahead at 7. 3% versus 5. 1% for Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kearny Financial Corp. grew EPS 130. 2% year-over-year, compared to -131. 4% for Columbia Financial, Inc.. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — CLBK or KRNY?
Kearny Financial Corp.
(KRNY) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 6% net margin versus -2. 6% for Columbia Financial, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KRNY leads at 9. 0% versus -3. 5% for CLBK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KRNY leads at 44. 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.
07Is CLBK or KRNY more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Kearny Financial Corp.
(KRNY) trades at 12. 9x forward P/E versus 26. 1x for Columbia Financial, Inc. — 13. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KRNY: 17. 6% to $9. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — CLBK or KRNY?
In this comparison, KRNY (5.
5% yield) pays a dividend. CLBK does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is CLBK or KRNY better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Kearny Financial Corp.
(KRNY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 83), 5. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KRNY: -9. 0%, CLBK: +25. 2%), 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.
10What are the main differences between CLBK and KRNY?
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: CLBK is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KRNY is a small-cap income-oriented stock. KRNY pays a dividend while CLBK does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
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