LKFN vs SFNC

For growth investors, Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) is the stronger pick with -1.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -56. 7% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) offers the better valuation at 15. 5x trailing P/E (14. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 forward P/E, Simmons First National Corporation is actually cheaper at 10.

5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) delivered a total return of +9.

5%, compared to -14. 9% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LKFN returned +143. 0% versus SFNC's +26. 4%. 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), Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

79β versus Simmons First National Corporation's 1. 02β — meaning SFNC is approximately 30% more volatile than LKFN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 24% for Lakeland Financial Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) is pulling ahead at -1.

9% versus -56. 7% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Lakeland Financial Corporation grew EPS 10. 5% year-over-year, compared to -343. 8% for Simmons First 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.

Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) is the more profitable company, earning 24.

5% net margin versus -63. 4% for Simmons First National Corporation — meaning it keeps 24. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LKFN leads at 29. 8% versus -84. 2% for SFNC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LKFN leads at 61. 0%, 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, Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) trades at 10.

5x forward P/E versus 14. 4x for Lakeland Financial Corporation — 3. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LKFN: 5. 9% to $66. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) offers the highest yield at 4. 0%, versus 3. 2% for Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

79), 3. 2% yield, +143. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LKFN: +143. 0%, SFNC: +26. 4%), 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: LKFN is a small-cap deep-value stock; SFNC is a small-cap income-oriented 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.