FFBC vs WTFC

For growth investors, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) is the stronger pick with 6.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 7% for First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC). First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) offers the better valuation at 11. 4x trailing P/E (9. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, First Financial Bancorp.

(FFBC) is the cheapest at 11. 4x versus Wintrust Financial Corporation at 13. 1x. On forward P/E, First Financial Bancorp. is actually cheaper at 9. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Wintrust Financial Corporation wins at 0. 59x versus First Financial Bancorp. 's 0. 88x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) delivered a total return of +102.

9%, compared to +38. 8% for First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WTFC returned +224. 8% versus FFBC's +104. 6%. 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), First Financial Bancorp.

(FFBC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 98β versus Wintrust Financial Corporation's 1. 16β — meaning WTFC is approximately 18% more volatile than FFBC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 43% versus 62% for Wintrust Financial Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) is pulling ahead at 6.

7% versus 2. 7% for First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Wintrust Financial Corporation grew EPS 12. 1% year-over-year, compared to 10. 8% for First Financial Bancorp.. 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.

First Financial Bancorp.

(FFBC) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 3% net margin versus 19. 5% for Wintrust Financial Corporation — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WTFC leads at 26. 4% versus 25. 5% for FFBC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FFBC leads at 68. 4%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 59x versus First Financial Bancorp. 's 0. 88x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) trades at 9. 6x forward P/E versus 11. 6x for Wintrust Financial Corporation — 2. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WTFC: 15. 5% to $174. 57.

In this comparison, FFBC (3.

2% yield) pays a dividend. WTFC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, First Financial Bancorp.

(FFBC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 98), 3. 2% yield, +104. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FFBC: +104. 6%, WTFC: +224. 8%), 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.

FFBC pays a dividend while WTFC 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.