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WBS vs FHN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Banks - Regional
WBS vs FHN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $11.88B | $12.16B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.42B | $4.99B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.02B | $982M |
| Gross Margin | 60.8% | 67.3% |
| Operating Margin | 28.5% | 25.7% |
| Forward P/E | 11.1x | 11.7x |
| Total Debt | $4.32B | $4.57B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.45B | $961M |
WBS vs FHN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webster Financial C… (WBS) | 100 | 259.2 | +159.2% |
| First Horizon Corpo… (FHN) | 100 | 268.1 | +168.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: WBS vs FHN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
WBS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 6.1%, EPS growth 35.2%
- 152.5% 10Y total return vs FHN's 123.2%
- 6.1% NII/revenue growth vs FHN's 1.0%
FHN is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 1.10, yield 2.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.10, Low D/E 50.0%, current ratio 0.96x
- Beta 1.10, yield 2.5%, current ratio 0.96x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 6.1% NII/revenue growth vs FHN's 1.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (11.1x vs 11.7x) | |
| Quality / Margins | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs FHN's 0.4% (lower = leaner) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.10 vs WBS's 1.12 | |
| Dividends | 2.5% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs WBS's 2.3% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +54.2% vs FHN's +38.3% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs FHN's 0.4% |
WBS vs FHN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
WBS vs FHN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WBS leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FHN and WBS operate at a comparable scale, with $5.0B and $4.4B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 22.7% (WBS) to 19.7% (FHN).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.4B | $5.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.3B | $1.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.0B | $982M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.2B | $628M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +60.8% | +67.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +28.5% | +25.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +22.7% | +19.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +22.8% | +12.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.4% | +79.3% |
Valuation Metrics
WBS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.4x trailing earnings, WBS trades at a 7% valuation discount to FHN's 13.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, WBS's 10.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than FHN's 11.8x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $11.9B | $12.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $13.8B | $15.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 12.41x | 13.34x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.11x | 11.69x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.61x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.91x | 11.80x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.69x | 2.44x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.24x | 1.36x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.78x | 19.36x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WBS leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WBS delivers a 10.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $11 for FHN. WBS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.45x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to FHN's 0.50x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FHN scores 7/9 vs WBS's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.8% | +10.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.2% | +1.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.2% | +7.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.7% | +10.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.45x | 0.50x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.9B | $3.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.4B | $961M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.3B | $4.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.77x | 0.82x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — WBS and FHN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in FHN five years ago would be worth $14,776 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,565 for WBS. Over the past 12 months, WBS leads with a +54.2% total return vs FHN's +38.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors FHN at 36.0% vs WBS's 32.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.5% | +4.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +54.2% | +38.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +134.5% | +151.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.7% | +47.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +152.5% | +123.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +32.9% | +36.0% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — WBS and FHN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FHN is the less volatile stock with a 1.10 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WBS's 1.12 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WBS currently trades 99.1% from its 52-week high vs FHN's 94.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.12x | 1.10x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $74.00 | $26.56 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $48.37 | $18.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.1% | +94.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.5 | 58.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.7M | 5.0M |
Analyst Outlook
FHN leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WBS as "Hold" and FHN as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 11.7% upside for FHN (target: $28) vs 1.3% for WBS (target: $74). For income investors, FHN offers the higher dividend yield at 2.53% vs WBS's 2.27%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $74.33 | $28.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 31 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.3% | +2.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.66 | $0.63 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.2% | +7.5% |
WBS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). FHN leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
WBS vs FHN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WBS or FHN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) is the stronger pick with 6.
1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 0% for First Horizon Corporation (FHN). Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) offers the better valuation at 12. 4x trailing P/E (11. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) a "Hold" — based on 31 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 — WBS or FHN?
On trailing P/E, Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) is the cheapest at 12.
4x versus First Horizon Corporation at 13. 3x. On forward P/E, Webster Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 11. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WBS or FHN?
Over the past 5 years, First Horizon Corporation (FHN) delivered a total return of +47.
8%, compared to +45. 7% for Webster Financial Corporation (WBS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WBS returned +152. 5% versus FHN's +123. 2%. 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 — WBS or FHN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), First Horizon Corporation (FHN) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
10β versus Webster Financial Corporation's 1. 12β — meaning WBS is approximately 2% more volatile than FHN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 45% versus 50% for First Horizon Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — WBS or FHN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) is pulling ahead at 6.
1% versus 1. 0% for First Horizon Corporation (FHN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: First Horizon Corporation grew EPS 38. 2% year-over-year, compared to 35. 2% for Webster 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 — WBS or FHN?
Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) is the more profitable company, earning 22.
7% net margin versus 19. 7% for First Horizon Corporation — meaning it keeps 22. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WBS leads at 28. 5% versus 25. 7% for FHN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FHN leads at 67. 3%, 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 WBS or FHN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) trades at 11.
1x forward P/E versus 11. 7x for First Horizon Corporation — 0. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FHN: 11. 7% to $28. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — WBS or FHN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
First Horizon Corporation (FHN) offers the highest yield at 2. 5%, versus 2. 3% for Webster Financial Corporation (WBS).
09Is WBS or FHN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, First Horizon Corporation (FHN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
10), 2. 5% yield, +123. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FHN: +123. 2%, WBS: +152. 5%), 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 WBS and FHN?
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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