CBSH vs BOKF

For growth investors, BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF) is the stronger pick with 10.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 2% for Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH). Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH) offers the better valuation at 12. 8x trailing P/E (12. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH) 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, Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

(CBSH) is the cheapest at 12. 8x versus BOK Financial Corporation at 16. 6x. On forward P/E, Commerce Bancshares, Inc. is actually cheaper at 12. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Commerce Bancshares, Inc. wins at 1. 14x versus BOK Financial Corporation's 4. 43x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF) delivered a total return of +62.

8%, compared to -13. 3% for Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BOKF returned +171. 3% versus CBSH's +104. 6%. 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), Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

(CBSH) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 70β versus BOK Financial Corporation's 1. 03β — meaning BOKF is approximately 47% more volatile than CBSH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 79% versus 80% for BOK Financial Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF) is pulling ahead at 10.

4% versus 2. 2% for Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Commerce Bancshares, Inc. grew EPS 5. 4% year-over-year, compared to 1. 5% for BOK 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.

Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

(CBSH) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 5% net margin versus 15. 6% for BOK Financial Corporation — meaning it keeps 26. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CBSH leads at 34. 2% versus 19. 8% for BOKF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CBSH leads at 80. 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.

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, Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 14x versus BOK Financial Corporation's 4. 43x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH) trades at 12. 9x forward P/E versus 13. 2x for BOK Financial Corporation — 0. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CBSH: 12. 2% to $58. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH) offers the highest yield at 2. 1%, versus 1. 7% for BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

(CBSH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 70), 2. 1% yield, +104. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CBSH: +104. 6%, BOKF: +171. 3%), 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.

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.