ATLO vs MOFG

For growth investors, Ames National Corporation (ATLO) is the stronger pick with 6.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 1% for MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (MOFG). Ames National Corporation (ATLO) offers the better valuation at 13. 4x trailing P/E (10. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (MOFG) a "Buy" — based on 8 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, Ames National Corporation is actually cheaper at 10.

6x.

Over the past 5 years, MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc.

(MOFG) delivered a total return of +72. 2%, compared to +31. 6% for Ames National Corporation (ATLO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MOFG returned +109. 8% versus ATLO's +48. 5%. 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), Ames National Corporation (ATLO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

64β versus MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. 's 1. 29β — meaning MOFG is approximately 103% more volatile than ATLO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (MOFG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 29% for Ames National Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ames National Corporation (ATLO) is pulling ahead at 6.

3% versus -23. 1% for MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (MOFG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ames National Corporation grew EPS 87. 7% year-over-year, compared to -366. 2% for MidWestOne Financial Group, 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.

Ames National Corporation (ATLO) is the more profitable company, earning 19.

4% net margin versus -29. 3% for MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ATLO leads at 23. 6% versus -40. 8% for MOFG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATLO leads at 66. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Ames National Corporation (ATLO) trades at 10.

6x forward P/E versus 13. 8x for MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. — 3. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATLO: 8. 4% to $31. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Ames National Corporation (ATLO) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 2. 0% for MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (MOFG).

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

64), 2. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATLO: +48. 5%, MOFG: +109. 8%), 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: ATLO is a small-cap deep-value stock; MOFG is a small-cap quality compounder 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.