CFFN vs TRST vs WAFD vs NBTB

For growth investors, NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the stronger pick with 10. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 6% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD). NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) offers the better valuation at 13. 5x trailing P/E (10. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. (CFFN) a "Hold" — based on 5 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, NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the cheapest at 13. 5x versus Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. at 15. 0x. On forward P/E, NBT Bancorp Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NBT Bancorp Inc. wins at 1. 53x versus Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. 's 5. 80x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TRST) delivered a total return of +46.

5%, compared to -18. 6% for Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. (CFFN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NBTB returned +102. 2% versus CFFN's +12. 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), TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TRST) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

75β versus Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. 's 1. 01β — meaning CFFN is approximately 34% more volatile than TRST relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 186% for Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is pulling ahead at 10. 4% versus -1. 6% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. grew EPS 79. 3% year-over-year, compared to 5. 2% for WaFd, 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.

TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TRST) is the more profitable company, earning 22.

0% net margin versus 16. 0% for WaFd, Inc. — meaning it keeps 22. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TRST leads at 29. 2% versus 19. 9% for CFFN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NBTB leads at 72. 1%, 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, NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 53x versus Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. 's 5. 80x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) trades at 10. 8x forward P/E versus 16. 9x for TrustCo Bank Corp NY — 6. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NBTB: 2. 1% to $46. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. (CFFN) offers the highest yield at 4. 4%, versus 3. 0% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD).

For long-horizon retirement investors, TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TRST) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

75), 3. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TRST: +97. 2%, CFFN: +12. 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.

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.