Banks - Regional
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HTH vs WSFS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Banks - Regional
HTH vs WSFS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $2.27B | $3.80B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.63B | $1.36B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $162M | $287M |
| Gross Margin | 78.4% | 74.7% |
| Operating Margin | 13.6% | 28.0% |
| Forward P/E | 16.0x | 11.8x |
| Total Debt | $927M | $303M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.23B | $1.33B |
HTH vs WSFS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilltop Holdings In… (HTH) | 100 | 204.0 | +104.0% |
| WSFS Financial Corp… (WSFS) | 100 | 260.6 | +160.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HTH vs WSFS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
HTH is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 10 yrs, beta 0.72, yield 1.9%
- Rev growth 5.5%, EPS growth 51.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.72, Low D/E 42.2%, current ratio 0.24x
WSFS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding and bank quality.
- 128.7% 10Y total return vs HTH's 122.3%
- NIM 3.4% vs HTH's 2.8%
- Lower P/E (11.8x vs 16.0x)
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 5.5% NII/revenue growth vs WSFS's -3.1% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (11.8x vs 16.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | Efficiency ratio 0.5% vs HTH's 0.6% (lower = leaner) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.72 vs WSFS's 0.89 | |
| Dividends | 1.9% yield, 10-year raise streak, vs WSFS's 0.9% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +37.4% vs HTH's +29.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | Efficiency ratio 0.5% vs HTH's 0.6% |
HTH vs WSFS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
HTH vs WSFS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WSFS leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HTH and WSFS operate at a comparable scale, with $1.6B and $1.4B in trailing revenue. WSFS is the more profitable business, keeping 21.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to HTH's 10.2%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.6B | $1.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $172M | $408M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $162M | $287M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$140M | $214M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +78.4% | +74.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.6% | +28.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.2% | +21.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -5.9% | +15.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.5% | +22.9% |
Valuation Metrics
WSFS leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.2x trailing earnings, WSFS trades at a 2% valuation discount to HTH's 14.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, WSFS's 6.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HTH's 8.9x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.3B | $3.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.0B | $2.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.44x | 14.17x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.02x | 11.80x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.81x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.87x | 6.81x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.39x | 2.80x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.09x | 1.44x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 17.80x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WSFS leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WSFS delivers a 10.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $7 for HTH. WSFS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.11x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to HTH's 0.42x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.4% | +10.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.0% | +1.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.0% | +9.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.2% | +10.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.42x | 0.11x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$305M | -$1.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.2B | $1.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $927M | $303M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.50x | 1.30x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WSFS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WSFS five years ago would be worth $14,308 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,561 for HTH. Over the past 12 months, WSFS leads with a +37.4% total return vs HTH's +29.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WSFS at 33.0% vs HTH's 9.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +13.0% | +31.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +29.9% | +37.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +30.4% | +135.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +15.6% | +43.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +122.3% | +128.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.2% | +33.0% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — HTH and WSFS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HTH is the less volatile stock with a 0.72 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WSFS's 0.89 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WSFS currently trades 98.5% from its 52-week high vs HTH's 94.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.72x | 0.89x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $40.41 | $73.22 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $28.92 | $49.92 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.3% | +98.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 54.7 | 63.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 329K | 385K |
Analyst Outlook
HTH leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HTH as "Hold" and WSFS as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 3.6% upside for WSFS (target: $75) vs -5.6% for HTH (target: $36). For income investors, HTH offers the higher dividend yield at 1.90% vs WSFS's 0.95%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $36.00 | $74.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.9% | +0.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 10 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.72 | $0.68 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +8.1% | +7.6% |
WSFS leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). HTH leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
HTH vs WSFS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HTH or WSFS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Hilltop Holdings Inc.
(HTH) is the stronger pick with 5. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 1% for WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS). WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) offers the better valuation at 14. 2x trailing P/E (11. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hilltop Holdings Inc. (HTH) a "Hold" — based on 12 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 — HTH or WSFS?
On trailing P/E, WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) is the cheapest at 14.
2x versus Hilltop Holdings Inc. at 14. 4x. On forward P/E, WSFS Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 11. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HTH or WSFS?
Over the past 5 years, WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) delivered a total return of +43.
1%, compared to +15. 6% for Hilltop Holdings Inc. (HTH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WSFS returned +128. 7% versus HTH's +122. 3%. 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 — HTH or WSFS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Hilltop Holdings Inc.
(HTH) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 72β versus WSFS Financial Corporation's 0. 89β — meaning WSFS is approximately 24% more volatile than HTH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 42% for Hilltop Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HTH or WSFS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hilltop Holdings Inc.
(HTH) is pulling ahead at 5. 5% versus -3. 1% for WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hilltop Holdings Inc. grew EPS 51. 7% year-over-year, compared to 15. 4% for WSFS Financial 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.
06Which has better profit margins — HTH or WSFS?
WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) is the more profitable company, earning 21.
1% net margin versus 10. 2% for Hilltop Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WSFS leads at 28. 0% versus 13. 6% for HTH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HTH leads at 78. 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.
07Is HTH or WSFS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) trades at 11.
8x forward P/E versus 16. 0x for Hilltop Holdings Inc. — 4. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WSFS: 3. 6% to $74. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — HTH or WSFS?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Hilltop Holdings Inc. (HTH) offers the highest yield at 1. 9%, versus 0. 9% for WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS).
09Is HTH or WSFS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Hilltop Holdings Inc.
(HTH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 72), 1. 9% yield, +122. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HTH: +122. 3%, WSFS: +128. 7%), 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 HTH and WSFS?
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.
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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