BOH vs WAFD

For growth investors, Bank of Hawaii Corporation (BOH) is the stronger pick with 6.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 6% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD). WaFd, Inc. (WAFD) offers the better valuation at 13. 6x trailing P/E (10. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Bank of Hawaii Corporation (BOH) a "Hold" — based on 15 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, WaFd, Inc.

(WAFD) is the cheapest at 13. 6x versus Bank of Hawaii Corporation at 23. 1x. On forward P/E, WaFd, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, WaFd, Inc.

(WAFD) delivered a total return of +22. 5%, compared to -0. 6% for Bank of Hawaii Corporation (BOH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WAFD returned +84. 4% versus BOH's +56. 2%. 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), WaFd, Inc.

(WAFD) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 81β versus Bank of Hawaii Corporation's 0. 98β — meaning BOH is approximately 20% more volatile than WAFD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Bank of Hawaii Corporation (BOH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 45% versus 60% for WaFd, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Bank of Hawaii Corporation (BOH) is pulling ahead at 6.

6% 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 -16. 4% for Bank of Hawaii 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.

WaFd, Inc.

(WAFD) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 0% net margin versus 14. 6% for Bank of Hawaii Corporation — 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 19. 2% for BOH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BOH leads at 60. 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, WaFd, Inc.

(WAFD) trades at 10. 9x forward P/E versus 13. 3x for Bank of Hawaii Corporation — 2. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BOH: -0. 3% to $79. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Bank of Hawaii Corporation (BOH) offers the highest yield at 3. 5%, versus 3. 0% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD).

For long-horizon retirement investors, WaFd, Inc.

(WAFD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 81), 3. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WAFD: +84. 4%, BOH: +56. 2%), 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: BOH 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.