PGC vs WSFS

For growth investors, Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (PGC) is the stronger pick with 9.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 1% for WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS). WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) offers the better valuation at 14. 8x trailing P/E (12. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (PGC) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) is the cheapest at 14.

8x versus Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation at 21. 9x. On forward P/E, WSFS Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 12. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: WSFS Financial Corporation wins at 0. 69x versus Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation's 1. 38x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) delivered a total return of +52.

7%, compared to +46. 6% for Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (PGC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PGC returned +155. 7% versus WSFS's +129. 1%. 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), WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

73β versus Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation's 0. 89β — meaning PGC is approximately 21% more volatile than WSFS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 40% for Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (PGC) is pulling ahead at 9.

5% versus -3. 1% for WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: WSFS Financial Corporation grew EPS 15. 4% year-over-year, compared to 14. 1% for Peapack-Gladstone 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.

WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) is the more profitable company, earning 21.

1% net margin versus 8. 5% for Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation — 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 11. 9% for PGC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WSFS leads at 74. 7%, 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, WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 69x versus Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation's 1. 38x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) trades at 12. 0x forward P/E versus 12. 5x for Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation — 0. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PGC: 5. 9% to $49. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) offers the highest yield at 0. 9%, versus 0. 4% for Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (PGC).

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

73), 0. 9% yield, +129. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WSFS: +129. 1%, PGC: +155. 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.

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: PGC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; WSFS is a small-cap deep-value stock. WSFS pays a dividend while PGC 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.