FNWD
Finward Bancorp
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$147M
5Y Perf.+3.6%
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Side-by-side financial analysisFNWD
NECB
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Stock Comparison
FNWD vs NECB
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NECB
Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$359M
5Y Perf.+338.1%
FNWD vs NECB — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  FNWD |  NECB |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $147M | $359M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $101M | $156M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $8M | $44M |
| Gross Margin | 65.6% | 65.9% |
| Operating Margin | 8.0% | 39.8% |
| Forward P/E | 12.8x | 8.3x |
| Total Debt | $85M | $75M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $18M | $81M |
FNWD vs NECB — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
FNWD
NECB
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finward Bancorp (FNWD) | 100 | 103.6 | +3.6% |
| Northeast Community… (NECB) | 100 | 438.1 | +338.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FNWD vs NECB
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NECB leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Finward Bancorp is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
🥇NECB emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
FNWD
Finward Bancorp
The Banking Pick
FNWD is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.41, Low D/E 48.5%, current ratio 1.77x
- Beta 0.41, yield 1.1%, current ratio 1.77x
- Beta 0.41 vs NECB's 0.71
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
NECB
Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.
The Banking Pick
NECB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.71, yield 3.8%
- Rev growth -1.6%, EPS growth -7.7%
- 5.0% 10Y total return vs FNWD's 49.1%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  NECB | -1.6% NII/revenue growth vs FNWD's -9.6% |
| Value | NECB | Lower P/E (8.3x vs 12.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | NECB | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs FNWD's 0.6% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety |  FNWD | Beta 0.41 vs NECB's 0.71 |
| Dividends | NECB | 3.8% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs FNWD's 1.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | FNWD | +18.7% vs NECB's +17.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NECB | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs FNWD's 0.6% |
FNWD vs NECB — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNECBLAGGINGFNWD
FNWDFinward Bancorp
0leads
NECBNortheast Community B…
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs FNWDMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NECB5/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NECB4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NECB8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NECB5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NECB2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NECB leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NECB is the larger business by revenue, generating $156M annually — 1.5x FNWD's $101M. NECB is the more profitable business, keeping 28.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to FNWD's 8.0%.
| Metric | FNWDFinward Bancorp | NECBNortheast Communi… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $101M | $156M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $13M | $63M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $8M | $44M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $9M | $51M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +65.6% | +65.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.0% | +39.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.0% | +28.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.6% | +32.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -6.1% | +6.8% |
NECB leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NECB leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 8.0x trailing earnings, NECB trades at a 56% valuation discount to FNWD's 18.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NECB's 5.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than FNWD's 26.3x.
| Metric | FNWDFinward Bancorp | NECBNortheast Communi… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $147M | $359M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $214M | $353M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.08x | 7.99x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.75x | 8.30x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.24x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 26.34x | 5.57x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.46x | 2.28x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.84x | 1.01x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.25x | 7.07x |
NECB leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NECB leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NECB delivers a 13.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $5 for FNWD. NECB carries lower financial leverage with a 0.21x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to FNWD's 0.48x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FNWD scores 6/9 vs NECB's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | FNWDFinward Bancorp | NECBNortheast Communi… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.0% | +13.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.4% | +2.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.4% | +12.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.3% | +16.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.48x | 0.21x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $66M | -$6M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $18M | $81M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $85M | $75M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.23x | 1.17x |
NECB leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NECB leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NECB five years ago would be worth $24,194 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,462 for FNWD. Over the past 12 months, FNWD leads with a +18.7% total return vs NECB's +17.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NECB at 25.6% vs FNWD's 18.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FNWDFinward Bancorp | NECBNortheast Communi… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -4.2% | +15.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.7% | +17.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +68.0% | +98.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -15.4% | +141.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +49.1% | +500.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.9% | +25.6% |
NECB leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — FNWD and NECB each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FNWD is the less volatile stock with a 0.41 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NECB's 0.71 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NECB currently trades 99.8% from its 52-week high vs FNWD's 85.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | FNWDFinward Bancorp | NECBNortheast Communi… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.41x | 0.71x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $39.88 | $26.02 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $26.46 | $19.27 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.2% | +99.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.5 | 67.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8K | 33K |
Evenly matched — FNWD and NECB each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
NECB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FNWD as "Buy" and NECB as "Hold". For income investors, NECB offers the higher dividend yield at 3.75% vs FNWD's 1.07%.
| Metric | FNWDFinward Bancorp | NECBNortheast Communi… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $41.00 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 1 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.1% | +3.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.36 | $0.98 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.4% |
NECB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
NECB leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallNortheast Community Bancorp… (NECB)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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FNWD vs NECB: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FNWD or NECB a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.
(NECB) is the stronger pick with -1. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 6% for Finward Bancorp (FNWD). Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. (NECB) offers the better valuation at 8. 0x trailing P/E (8. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Finward Bancorp (FNWD) a "Buy" — 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 — FNWD or NECB?
On trailing P/E, Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.
(NECB) is the cheapest at 8. 0x versus Finward Bancorp at 18. 1x. On forward P/E, Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FNWD or NECB?
Over the past 5 years, Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.
(NECB) delivered a total return of +141. 9%, compared to -15. 4% for Finward Bancorp (FNWD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NECB returned +500. 4% versus FNWD's +49. 1%. 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 — FNWD or NECB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Finward Bancorp (FNWD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
41β versus Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. 's 0. 71β — meaning NECB is approximately 75% more volatile than FNWD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. (NECB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 48% for Finward Bancorp — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — FNWD or NECB?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.
(NECB) is pulling ahead at -1. 6% versus -9. 6% for Finward Bancorp (FNWD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. grew EPS -7. 7% year-over-year, compared to -33. 8% for Finward 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.
06Which has better profit margins — FNWD or NECB?
Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.
(NECB) is the more profitable company, earning 28. 2% net margin versus 8. 0% for Finward Bancorp — meaning it keeps 28. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NECB leads at 39. 6% versus 8. 0% for FNWD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NECB leads at 66. 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 FNWD or NECB more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.
(NECB) trades at 8. 3x forward P/E versus 12. 8x for Finward Bancorp — 4. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — FNWD or NECB?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. (NECB) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 1. 1% for Finward Bancorp (FNWD).
09Is FNWD or NECB better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.
(NECB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 71), 3. 8% yield, +500. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NECB: +500. 4%, FNWD: +49. 1%), 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 FNWD and NECB?
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: FNWD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NECB 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.
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