CBSH vs WTFC

For growth investors, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) is the stronger pick with 6.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 2% for Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH). Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH) offers the better valuation at 12. 9x trailing P/E (13. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) a "Buy" — based on 22 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. 9x versus Wintrust Financial Corporation at 13. 3x. On forward P/E, Wintrust Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 11. 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: Wintrust Financial Corporation wins at 0. 59x versus Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 's 1. 15x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) delivered a total return of +106.

0%, compared to -13. 6% for Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WTFC returned +227. 7% versus CBSH's +104. 0%. 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 Wintrust Financial Corporation's 1. 16β — meaning WTFC is approximately 65% more volatile than CBSH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 62% versus 79% for Commerce Bancshares, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) is pulling ahead at 6.

7% versus 2. 2% for Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Wintrust Financial Corporation grew EPS 12. 1% year-over-year, compared to 5. 4% for Commerce Bancshares, 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.

Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

(CBSH) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 5% net margin versus 19. 5% for Wintrust 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 26. 4% for WTFC. 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, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 59x versus Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 's 1. 15x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) trades at 11. 8x forward P/E versus 13. 0x for Commerce Bancshares, Inc. — 1. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WTFC: 13. 9% to $174. 57.

In this comparison, CBSH (2.

1% yield) pays a dividend. WTFC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CBSH: +104. 0%, WTFC: +227. 7%), 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.

CBSH pays a dividend while WTFC does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.