LOB vs FFIN vs TCBK

For growth investors, First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

(FFIN) is the stronger pick with 18. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 8% for TriCo Bancshares (TCBK). TriCo Bancshares (TCBK) offers the better valuation at 13. 7x trailing P/E (12. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (LOB) 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 trailing P/E, TriCo Bancshares (TCBK) is the cheapest at 13.

7x versus First Financial Bankshares, Inc. at 20. 8x. On forward P/E, TriCo Bancshares is actually cheaper at 12. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: TriCo Bancshares wins at 1. 05x versus First Financial Bankshares, Inc. 's 3. 05x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, TriCo Bancshares (TCBK) delivered a total return of +21.

6%, compared to -43. 1% for Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (LOB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FFIN returned +145. 4% versus TCBK's +129. 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), TriCo Bancshares (TCBK) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

93β versus Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. 's 1. 44β — meaning LOB is approximately 55% more volatile than TCBK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, TriCo Bancshares (TCBK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 12% for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

(FFIN) is pulling ahead at 18. 8% versus 1. 8% for TriCo Bancshares (TCBK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. grew EPS 31. 4% year-over-year, compared to 6. 9% for TriCo Bancshares. 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 Bankshares, Inc.

(FFIN) is the more profitable company, earning 30. 2% net margin versus 10. 0% for Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. — meaning it keeps 30. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FFIN leads at 36. 8% versus 15. 5% for LOB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TCBK leads at 75. 9%, 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, TriCo Bancshares (TCBK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 05x versus First Financial Bankshares, Inc. 's 3. 05x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, TriCo Bancshares (TCBK) trades at 12. 0x forward P/E versus 15. 9x for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. — 3. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FFIN: 21. 2% to $39. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

TriCo Bancshares (TCBK) offers the highest yield at 2. 7%, versus 0. 3% for Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (LOB).

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

93), 2. 7% yield, +129. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TCBK: +129. 4%, LOB: +142. 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: LOB is a small-cap deep-value stock; FFIN is a small-cap high-growth stock; TCBK is a small-cap deep-value stock. FFIN, TCBK pay a dividend while LOB 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.