CBU vs NBTB vs TRMK vs CNOB vs FIS

For growth investors, Trustmark Corporation (TRMK) is the stronger pick with 34.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 3% for Community Bank System, Inc. (CBU). Trustmark Corporation (TRMK) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E (11. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB) a "Buy" — 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, Trustmark Corporation (TRMK) is the cheapest at 12.

1x versus Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. at 63. 0x. On forward P/E, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 5x — 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: Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. wins at 0. 31x versus Community Bank System, Inc. 's 2. 57x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Trustmark Corporation (TRMK) delivered a total return of +47.

6%, compared to -63. 2% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TRMK returned +127. 7% versus FIS's -13. 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), Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

(FIS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 76β versus ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. 's 1. 10β — meaning CNOB is approximately 45% more volatile than FIS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 74% for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Trustmark Corporation (TRMK) is pulling ahead at 34.

8% versus -1. 3% for Community Bank System, Inc. (CBU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Community Bank System, Inc. grew EPS 15. 7% year-over-year, compared to -47. 2% for Fidelity National Information Services, 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.

Community Bank System, Inc.

(CBU) is the more profitable company, earning 22. 7% net margin versus 3. 6% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 22. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CBU leads at 31. 4% versus 16. 5% for FIS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CBU leads at 73. 4%, 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, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 31x versus Community Bank System, Inc. 's 2. 57x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) trades at 7. 5x forward P/E versus 13. 5x for Community Bank System, Inc. — 6. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FIS: 42. 6% to $67. 38.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) offers the highest yield at 3. 5%, versus 2. 1% for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

(FIS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 76), 3. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FIS: -13. 2%, CNOB: +109. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CBU (Financial Services) and NBTB (Financial Services) and TRMK (Financial Services) and CNOB (Financial Services) and FIS (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CBU is a small-cap deep-value stock; NBTB is a small-cap deep-value stock; TRMK is a small-cap high-growth stock; CNOB is a small-cap quality compounder stock; FIS is a mid-cap income-oriented 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.