CLBK
Columbia Financial, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$2.02B
5Y Perf.+37.0%
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Stock Comparison
CLBK vs OCFC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
OCFC
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$1.08B
5Y Perf.+13.1%
CLBK vs OCFC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CLBK | OCFC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $2.02B | $1.08B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $453M | $656M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $15M | $71M |
| Gross Margin | 36.5% | 54.5% |
| Operating Margin | -3.5% | 14.1% |
| Forward P/E | 26.1x | 9.9x |
| Total Debt | $1.08B | $1.63B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $289M | $135M |
CLBK vs OCFC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CLBK
OCFC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Financial,… (CLBK) | 100 | 137.0 | +37.0% |
| OceanFirst Financia… (OCFC) | 100 | 113.1 | +13.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CLBK vs OCFC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CLBK leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. OceanFirst Financial Corp. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CLBK
Columbia Financial, Inc.
The Banking Pick
CLBK carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 0.90
- Rev growth 7.3%, EPS growth -131.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.90, current ratio 0.14x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
OCFC
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
The Banking Pick
OCFC is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and bank quality.
- 45.4% 10Y total return vs CLBK's 25.2%
- NIM 2.5% vs CLBK's 1.6%
- Lower P/E (9.9x vs 26.1x)
Best for: long-term compounding and bank quality
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CLBK | 7.3% NII/revenue growth vs OCFC's -4.7% |
| Value | OCFC | Lower P/E (9.9x vs 26.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | CLBK | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs OCFC's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | CLBK | Beta 0.90 vs OCFC's 1.05 |
| Dividends | OCFC | 4.5% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CLBK | +26.3% vs OCFC's +20.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CLBK | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs OCFC's 0.4% |
CLBK vs OCFC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
CLBK vs OCFC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLOCFCLAGGINGCLBK
CLBKColumbia Financial, I…
1leads
OCFCOceanFirst Financial …
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CLBKMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
OCFC4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
OCFC4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
OCFC7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CLBK2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
OCFC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
OCFC and CLBK operate at a comparable scale, with $656M and $453M in trailing revenue. OCFC is the more profitable business, keeping 10.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CLBK's -2.6%.
| Metric | CLBKColumbia Financia… | OCFCOceanFirst Financ… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $453M | $656M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $26M | $103M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $15M | $71M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $64M | $80M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +36.5% | +54.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -3.5% | +14.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -2.6% | +10.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.7% | +12.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +147.1% | -36.1% |
OCFC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
OCFC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CLBKColumbia Financia… | OCFCOceanFirst Financ… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.0B | $1.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.8B | $2.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -175.55x | 16.14x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 26.09x | 9.93x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 5.80x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 27.70x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.46x | 1.65x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.82x | 0.65x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 78.17x | 13.63x |
OCFC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
OCFC leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
OCFC delivers a 4.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $4 in annual profit, vs $1 for CLBK. OCFC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.98x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CLBK's 1.00x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), OCFC scores 6/9 vs CLBK's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CLBKColumbia Financia… | OCFCOceanFirst Financ… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.3% | +4.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.1% | +0.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.5% | +2.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.6% | +2.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.00x | 0.98x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $791M | $1.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $289M | $135M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.1B | $1.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.06x | 0.33x |
OCFC leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — CLBK and OCFC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CLBK five years ago would be worth $10,657 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,246 for OCFC. Over the past 12 months, CLBK leads with a +26.3% total return vs OCFC's +20.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors OCFC at 15.9% vs CLBK's 7.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CLBKColumbia Financia… | OCFCOceanFirst Financ… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +25.2% | +8.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +26.3% | +20.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +22.6% | +55.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +6.6% | +2.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.2% | +45.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.0% | +15.9% |
Evenly matched — CLBK and OCFC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CLBK leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CLBK is the less volatile stock with a 0.90 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than OCFC's 1.05 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CLBK currently trades 97.8% from its 52-week high vs OCFC's 91.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CLBKColumbia Financia… | OCFCOceanFirst Financ… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.90x | 1.05x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $19.74 | $20.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $13.66 | $16.09 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.8% | +91.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.7 | 53.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 257K | 662K |
CLBK leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CLBK as "Hold" and OCFC as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 4.2% upside for OCFC (target: $20) vs -12.0% for CLBK (target: $17). OCFC is the only dividend payer here at 4.45% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CLBKColumbia Financia… | OCFCOceanFirst Financ… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $17.00 | $19.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 8 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +4.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.84 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.3% | +7.6% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
OCFC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). CLBK leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallOceanFirst Financial Corp. (OCFC)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CLBK vs OCFC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CLBK or OCFC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Columbia Financial, Inc.
(CLBK) is the stronger pick with 7. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 7% for OceanFirst Financial Corp. (OCFC). OceanFirst Financial Corp. (OCFC) offers the better valuation at 16. 1x trailing P/E (9. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Columbia Financial, Inc. (CLBK) a "Hold" — based on 2 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.
02Which has the better valuation — CLBK or OCFC?
On forward P/E, OceanFirst Financial Corp.
is actually cheaper at 9. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CLBK or OCFC?
Over the past 5 years, Columbia Financial, Inc.
(CLBK) delivered a total return of +6. 6%, compared to +2. 5% for OceanFirst Financial Corp. (OCFC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: OCFC returned +45. 4% versus CLBK's +25. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CLBK or OCFC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Columbia Financial, Inc.
(CLBK) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 90β versus OceanFirst Financial Corp. 's 1. 05β — meaning OCFC is approximately 17% more volatile than CLBK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, OceanFirst Financial Corp. (OCFC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 98% versus 100% for Columbia Financial, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CLBK or OCFC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Columbia Financial, Inc.
(CLBK) is pulling ahead at 7. 3% versus -4. 7% for OceanFirst Financial Corp. (OCFC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: OceanFirst Financial Corp. grew EPS -29. 1% year-over-year, compared to -131. 4% for Columbia Financial, 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.
06Which has better profit margins — CLBK or OCFC?
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
(OCFC) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 8% net margin versus -2. 6% for Columbia Financial, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OCFC leads at 14. 1% versus -3. 5% for CLBK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OCFC leads at 54. 5%, 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.
07Is CLBK or OCFC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, OceanFirst Financial Corp.
(OCFC) trades at 9. 9x forward P/E versus 26. 1x for Columbia Financial, Inc. — 16. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OCFC: 4. 2% to $19. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — CLBK or OCFC?
In this comparison, OCFC (4.
5% yield) pays a dividend. CLBK does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is CLBK or OCFC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, OceanFirst Financial Corp.
(OCFC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 05), 4. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (OCFC: +45. 4%, CLBK: +25. 2%), 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.
10What are the main differences between CLBK and OCFC?
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: CLBK is a small-cap quality compounder stock; OCFC is a small-cap deep-value stock. OCFC pays a dividend while CLBK 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.
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