PROV
Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$109M
5Y Perf.+27.6%
Build Your Comparison
Side-by-side financial analysisPROV
WAFD
Try popular comparisons:
Stock Comparison
PROV vs WAFD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WAFD
WaFd, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$2.85B
5Y Perf.+38.1%
PROV vs WAFD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  PROV |  WAFD |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $109M | $2.85B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $60M | $1.39B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $7M | $243M |
| Gross Margin | 67.8% | 52.8% |
| Operating Margin | 16.2% | 22.4% |
| Forward P/E | 15.4x | 11.4x |
| Total Debt | $213M | $1.82B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $53M | $657M |
PROV vs WAFD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PROV
WAFD
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provident Financial… (PROV) | 100 | 127.6 | +27.6% |
| WaFd, Inc. (WAFD) | 100 | 138.1 | +38.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PROV vs WAFD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PROV leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. WaFd, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
🥇PROV emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
PROV
Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.
The Banking Pick
PROV carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.21, yield 3.3%
- Rev growth 2.5%, EPS growth -12.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.21, current ratio 0.06x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
WAFD
WaFd, Inc.
The Banking Pick
WAFD is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 91.9% 10Y total return vs PROV's 25.8%
- Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs PROV's 0.5% (lower = leaner)
- +32.5% vs PROV's +14.5%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  PROV | 2.5% NII/revenue growth vs WAFD's -1.6% |
| Value | PROV | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins |  WAFD | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs PROV's 0.5% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | PROV | Beta 0.21 vs WAFD's 0.66 |
| Dividends | PROV | 3.3% yield, vs WAFD's 2.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WAFD | +32.5% vs PROV's +14.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WAFD | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs PROV's 0.5% |
PROV vs WAFD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
Segment breakdown not available.
PROV vs WAFD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLWAFDLAGGINGPROV
PROVProvident Financial H…
0leads
WAFDWaFd, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PROVMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
WAFD3/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
WAFD7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WAFD4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WAFD leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WAFD is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.4B annually — 23.1x PROV's $60M. WAFD is the more profitable business, keeping 17.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PROV's 11.0%.
| Metric | PROVProvident Financi… | WAFDWaFd, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $60M | $1.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $12M | $277M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $7M | $243M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $9M | $215M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.8% | +52.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.2% | +22.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.0% | +17.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.3% | +15.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +69.2% | +46.3% |
WAFD leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — PROV and WAFD each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.1x trailing earnings, WAFD trades at a 23% valuation discount to PROV's 18.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, WAFD's 13.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PROV's 21.8x.
| Metric | PROVProvident Financi… | WAFDWaFd, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $109M | $2.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $269M | $4.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.40x | 14.10x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.41x | 11.35x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.58x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 21.77x | 13.41x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.81x | 2.02x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.90x | 0.98x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.38x | 13.71x |
Evenly matched — PROV and WAFD each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WAFD leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WAFD delivers a 8.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $5 for PROV. WAFD carries lower financial leverage with a 0.60x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PROV's 1.66x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WAFD scores 7/9 vs PROV's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | PROVProvident Financi… | WAFDWaFd, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.1% | +8.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.5% | +0.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.9% | +3.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.4% | +5.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.66x | 0.60x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $160M | $1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $53M | $657M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $213M | $1.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.47x | 0.48x |
WAFD leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WAFD leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WAFD five years ago would be worth $12,953 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,816 for PROV. Over the past 12 months, WAFD leads with a +32.5% total return vs PROV's +14.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PROV at 14.7% vs WAFD's 11.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PROVProvident Financi… | WAFDWaFd, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +8.8% | +17.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +14.5% | +32.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +50.9% | +37.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.2% | +29.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.8% | +91.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.7% | +11.2% |
WAFD leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — PROV and WAFD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PROV is the less volatile stock with a 0.21 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WAFD's 0.66 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | PROVProvident Financi… | WAFDWaFd, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.21x | 0.66x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.42 | $37.10 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.95 | $26.31 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.2% | +99.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.8 | 63.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8K | 525K |
Evenly matched — PROV and WAFD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — PROV and WAFD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PROV as "Hold" and WAFD as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply -5.6% upside for WAFD (target: $35) vs -6.5% for PROV (target: $16). For income investors, PROV offers the higher dividend yield at 3.26% vs WAFD's 2.84%.
| Metric | PROVProvident Financi… | WAFDWaFd, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $16.00 | $35.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 10 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.3% | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 16 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.56 | $1.05 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.1% | +3.6% |
Evenly matched — PROV and WAFD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
WAFD leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 3 categories are tied.
Best OverallWaFd, Inc. (WAFD)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
PROV vs WAFD: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PROV or WAFD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.
(PROV) is the stronger pick with 2. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 6% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD). WaFd, Inc. (WAFD) offers the better valuation at 14. 1x trailing P/E (11. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (PROV) a "Hold" — based on 10 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 — PROV or WAFD?
On trailing P/E, WaFd, Inc.
(WAFD) is the cheapest at 14. 1x versus Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. at 18. 4x. On forward P/E, WaFd, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PROV or WAFD?
Over the past 5 years, WaFd, Inc.
(WAFD) delivered a total return of +29. 5%, compared to +18. 2% for Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (PROV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WAFD returned +91. 9% versus PROV's +25. 8%. 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 — PROV or WAFD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.
(PROV) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 21β versus WaFd, Inc. 's 0. 66β — meaning WAFD is approximately 222% more volatile than PROV relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, WaFd, Inc. (WAFD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 60% versus 166% for Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PROV or WAFD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.
(PROV) is pulling ahead at 2. 5% versus -1. 6% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: WaFd, Inc. grew EPS 5. 2% year-over-year, compared to -12. 3% for Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.. 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 — PROV or WAFD?
WaFd, Inc.
(WAFD) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 0% net margin versus 10. 4% for Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WAFD leads at 20. 5% versus 14. 8% for PROV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PROV leads at 65. 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.
07Is PROV or WAFD more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, WaFd, Inc.
(WAFD) trades at 11. 4x forward P/E versus 15. 4x for Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. — 4. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WAFD: -5. 6% to $35. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — PROV or WAFD?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (PROV) offers the highest yield at 3. 3%, versus 2. 8% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD).
09Is PROV or WAFD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.
(PROV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 21), 3. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PROV: +25. 8%, WAFD: +91. 9%), 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 PROV and WAFD?
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: PROV is a small-cap income-oriented stock; WAFD 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.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.