BUSE vs BANF vs BOKF vs FFIN

For growth investors, First Busey Corporation (BUSE) is the stronger pick with 57.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 4% for BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF). BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF) offers the better valuation at 16. 4x trailing P/E (12. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate First Busey Corporation (BUSE) a "Hold" — based on 11 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, BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF) is the cheapest at 16.

4x versus First Financial Bankshares, Inc. at 20. 8x. On forward P/E, First Busey Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: BancFirst Corporation wins at 1. 59x versus BOK Financial Corporation's 4. 33x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, BancFirst Corporation (BANF) delivered a total return of +65.

3%, compared to -28. 2% for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (FFIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BANF returned +322. 3% versus BUSE's +77. 7%. 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), First Busey Corporation (BUSE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

90β versus BOK Financial Corporation's 1. 00β — meaning BOKF is approximately 12% more volatile than BUSE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, BancFirst Corporation (BANF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 80% for BOK Financial Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), First Busey Corporation (BUSE) is pulling ahead at 57.

6% versus 10. 4% for BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: First Financial Bankshares, Inc. grew EPS 12. 2% year-over-year, compared to -25. 8% for First Busey 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.

First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

(FFIN) is the more profitable company, earning 30. 2% net margin versus 13. 0% for First Busey Corporation — meaning it keeps 30. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FFIN leads at 36. 8% versus 17. 9% for BUSE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FFIN leads at 70. 8%, 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.

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, BancFirst Corporation (BANF) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 59x versus BOK Financial Corporation's 4. 33x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, First Busey Corporation (BUSE) trades at 10. 8x forward P/E versus 15. 9x for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. — 5. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FFIN: 21. 2% to $39. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

First Busey Corporation (BUSE) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 1. 5% for BancFirst Corporation (BANF).

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

92), 1. 5% yield, +322. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BANF: +322. 3%, BOKF: +166. 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: BUSE is a small-cap high-growth stock; BANF is a small-cap deep-value stock; BOKF is a mid-cap deep-value stock; FFIN is a small-cap high-growth 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.