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BANR vs WAFD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Banks - Regional
BANR vs WAFD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $2.20B | $2.71B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $819M | $1.41B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $195M | $243M |
| Gross Margin | 79.0% | 50.9% |
| Operating Margin | 29.5% | 20.5% |
| Forward P/E | 10.4x | 10.9x |
| Total Debt | $373M | $1.82B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $183M | $657M |
BANR vs WAFD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banner Corporation (BANR) | 100 | 173.0 | +73.0% |
| WaFd, Inc. (WAFD) | 100 | 137.3 | +37.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BANR vs WAFD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
BANR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.80, yield 3.0%
- Rev growth -0.9%, EPS growth 15.6%
- 101.5% 10Y total return vs WAFD's 85.0%
WAFD is the clearest fit if your priority is quality and momentum.
- Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs BANR's 0.5% (lower = leaner)
- +26.7% vs BANR's +7.9%
- Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs BANR's 0.5%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | -0.9% NII/revenue growth vs WAFD's -1.6% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (10.4x vs 10.9x), PEG 0.90 vs 3.53 | |
| Quality / Margins | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs BANR's 0.5% (lower = leaner) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.80 vs WAFD's 0.81, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 3.0% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs WAFD's 3.0% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +26.7% vs BANR's +7.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs BANR's 0.5% |
BANR vs WAFD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
BANR vs WAFD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BANR leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WAFD is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.4B annually — 1.7x BANR's $819M. BANR is the more profitable business, keeping 23.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WAFD's 16.0%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $819M | $1.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $253M | $277M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $195M | $243M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $248M | $226M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +79.0% | +50.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +29.5% | +20.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +23.8% | +16.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +30.3% | +14.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.2% | +46.3% |
Valuation Metrics
BANR leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 11.5x trailing earnings, BANR trades at a 15% valuation discount to WAFD's 13.5x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), BANR offers better value at 0.99x vs WAFD's 4.39x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.2B | $2.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.4B | $3.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 11.52x | 13.50x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.37x | 10.88x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.99x | 4.39x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.47x | 12.94x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.69x | 1.93x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.15x | 0.94x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.88x | 13.04x |
Profitability & Efficiency
BANR leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BANR delivers a 10.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $8 for WAFD. BANR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.19x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WAFD's 0.60x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.3% | +8.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.2% | +1.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.7% | +3.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.1% | +5.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.19x | 0.60x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $190M | $1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $183M | $657M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $373M | $1.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.11x | 0.48x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
BANR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in BANR five years ago would be worth $13,055 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,303 for WAFD. Over the past 12 months, WAFD leads with a +26.7% total return vs BANR's +7.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BANR at 16.2% vs WAFD's 13.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +5.7% | +11.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +7.9% | +26.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.8% | +47.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +30.5% | +23.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +101.5% | +85.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.2% | +13.8% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — BANR and WAFD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BANR is the less volatile stock with a 0.80 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WAFD's 0.81 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WAFD currently trades 98.6% from its 52-week high vs BANR's 93.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.80x | 0.81x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $69.83 | $36.02 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $57.05 | $26.31 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.1% | +98.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 52.2 | 65.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 296K | 664K |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — BANR and WAFD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BANR as "Hold" and WAFD as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 7.7% upside for BANR (target: $70) vs -1.4% for WAFD (target: $35). For income investors, BANR offers the higher dividend yield at 3.02% vs WAFD's 2.97%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $70.00 | $35.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.0% | +3.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 7 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.96 | $1.05 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.6% | +3.8% |
BANR leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 2 categories are tied.
BANR vs WAFD: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BANR or WAFD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Banner Corporation (BANR) is the stronger pick with -0.
9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 6% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD). Banner Corporation (BANR) offers the better valuation at 11. 5x trailing P/E (10. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Banner Corporation (BANR) a "Hold" — based on 13 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 — BANR or WAFD?
On trailing P/E, Banner Corporation (BANR) is the cheapest at 11.
5x versus WaFd, Inc. at 13. 5x. On forward P/E, Banner Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Banner Corporation wins at 0. 90x versus WaFd, Inc. 's 3. 53x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BANR or WAFD?
Over the past 5 years, Banner Corporation (BANR) delivered a total return of +30.
5%, compared to +23. 0% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BANR returned +101. 5% versus WAFD's +85. 0%. 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 — BANR or WAFD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Banner Corporation (BANR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
80β versus WaFd, Inc. 's 0. 81β — meaning WAFD is approximately 2% more volatile than BANR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Banner Corporation (BANR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 60% for WaFd, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — BANR or WAFD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Banner Corporation (BANR) is pulling ahead at -0.
9% versus -1. 6% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Banner Corporation grew EPS 15. 6% year-over-year, compared to 5. 2% for WaFd, 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 — BANR or WAFD?
Banner Corporation (BANR) is the more profitable company, earning 23.
8% net margin versus 16. 0% for WaFd, Inc. — meaning it keeps 23. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BANR leads at 29. 5% versus 20. 5% for WAFD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BANR leads at 79. 0%, 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 BANR or WAFD more undervalued right now?
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, Banner Corporation (BANR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 90x versus WaFd, Inc. 's 3. 53x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Banner Corporation (BANR) trades at 10. 4x forward P/E versus 10. 9x for WaFd, Inc. — 0. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BANR: 7. 7% to $70. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — BANR or WAFD?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Banner Corporation (BANR) offers the highest yield at 3. 0%, versus 3. 0% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD).
09Is BANR or WAFD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Banner Corporation (BANR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
80), 3. 0% yield, +101. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BANR: +101. 5%, WAFD: +85. 0%), 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 BANR 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.
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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