COFS
ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$471M
5Y Perf.+7.3%
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Stock Comparison
COFS vs LKFN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LKFN
Lakeland Financial Corporation
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$1.63B
5Y Perf.+46.6%
COFS vs LKFN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | COFS | LKFN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $471M | $1.63B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $193M | $422M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $28M | $103M |
| Gross Margin | 58.2% | 61.0% |
| Operating Margin | 17.7% | 29.8% |
| Forward P/E | 8.8x | 14.4x |
| Total Debt | $316M | $184M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $88M | $57M |
COFS vs LKFN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
COFS
LKFN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChoiceOne Financial… (COFS) | 100 | 107.3 | +7.3% |
| Lakeland Financial … (LKFN) | 100 | 146.6 | +46.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: COFS vs LKFN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: COFS leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Lakeland Financial Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
COFS
ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.
The Banking Pick
COFS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and defensive.
- Rev growth 38.7%, EPS growth -38.2%
- Beta 0.95, yield 3.8%, current ratio 2.61x
- 38.7% NII/revenue growth vs LKFN's -1.9%
Best for: growth exposure and defensive
LKFN
Lakeland Financial Corporation
The Banking Pick
LKFN is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 12 yrs, beta 0.79, yield 3.2%
- 142.7% 10Y total return vs COFS's 102.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.79, Low D/E 24.2%, current ratio 0.03x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | COFS | 38.7% NII/revenue growth vs LKFN's -1.9% |
| Value | COFS | Lower P/E (8.8x vs 14.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | LKFN | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs COFS's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | LKFN | Beta 0.79 vs COFS's 0.95, lower leverage |
| Dividends | COFS | 3.8% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs LKFN's 3.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | COFS | +15.0% vs LKFN's +9.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LKFN | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs COFS's 0.4% |
COFS vs LKFN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
Segment breakdown not available.
COFS vs LKFN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLKFNLAGGINGCOFS
COFSChoiceOne Financial S…
1leads
LKFNLakeland Financial Co…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs COFSMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LKFN5/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LKFN9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
COFS4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
LKFN2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LKFN leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LKFN is the larger business by revenue, generating $422M annually — 2.2x COFS's $193M. LKFN is the more profitable business, keeping 24.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to COFS's 14.6%.
| Metric | COFSChoiceOne Financi… | LKFNLakeland Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $193M | $422M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $49M | $130M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $28M | $103M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $12M | $104M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +58.2% | +61.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +17.7% | +29.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.6% | +24.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.4% | +24.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.5% | +23.4% |
LKFN leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — COFS and LKFN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 15.6x trailing earnings, LKFN trades at a 0% valuation discount to COFS's 15.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, LKFN's 13.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than COFS's 20.5x.
| Metric | COFSChoiceOne Financi… | LKFNLakeland Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $471M | $1.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $699M | $1.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.67x | 15.61x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.79x | 14.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.93x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 20.45x | 13.49x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.44x | 3.87x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.95x | 2.12x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.73x | 15.72x |
Evenly matched — COFS and LKFN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LKFN leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LKFN delivers a 14.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $6 for COFS. LKFN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.24x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to COFS's 0.68x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LKFN scores 6/9 vs COFS's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | COFSChoiceOne Financi… | LKFNLakeland Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.4% | +14.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.7% | +1.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.1% | +11.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.5% | +15.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.68x | 0.24x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $228M | $127M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $88M | $57M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $316M | $184M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.52x | 0.82x |
LKFN leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
COFS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in COFS five years ago would be worth $14,704 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,052 for LKFN. Over the past 12 months, COFS leads with a +15.0% total return vs LKFN's +9.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors COFS at 17.3% vs LKFN's 14.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | COFSChoiceOne Financi… | LKFNLakeland Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +9.7% | +12.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +15.0% | +9.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +61.3% | +48.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +47.0% | +10.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +102.0% | +142.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.3% | +14.0% |
COFS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LKFN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LKFN is the less volatile stock with a 0.79 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than COFS's 0.95 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | COFSChoiceOne Financi… | LKFNLakeland Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.95x | 0.79x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $35.40 | $69.40 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $26.10 | $54.36 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.0% | +90.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.4 | 60.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 75K | 153K |
LKFN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — COFS and LKFN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates COFS as "Buy" and LKFN as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 7.9% upside for COFS (target: $34) vs 5.4% for LKFN (target: $66). For income investors, COFS offers the higher dividend yield at 3.85% vs LKFN's 3.19%.
| Metric | COFSChoiceOne Financi… | LKFNLakeland Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $34.00 | $66.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 3 | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.8% | +3.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.21 | $2.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +1.2% |
Evenly matched — COFS and LKFN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
LKFN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). COFS leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallLakeland Financial Corporat… (LKFN)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
COFS vs LKFN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is COFS or LKFN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.
(COFS) is the stronger pick with 38. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 9% for Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN). Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) offers the better valuation at 15. 6x trailing P/E (14. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. (COFS) a "Buy" — based on 3 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 — COFS or LKFN?
On trailing P/E, Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) is the cheapest at 15.
6x versus ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. at 15. 7x. On forward P/E, ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — COFS or LKFN?
Over the past 5 years, ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.
(COFS) delivered a total return of +47. 0%, compared to +10. 5% for Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LKFN returned +142. 7% versus COFS's +102. 0%. 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 — COFS or LKFN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
79β versus ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. 's 0. 95β — meaning COFS is approximately 20% more volatile than LKFN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 68% for ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — COFS or LKFN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.
(COFS) is pulling ahead at 38. 7% versus -1. 9% for Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Lakeland Financial Corporation grew EPS 10. 5% year-over-year, compared to -38. 2% for ChoiceOne Financial 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.
06Which has better profit margins — COFS or LKFN?
Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) is the more profitable company, earning 24.
5% net margin versus 14. 6% for ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 24. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LKFN leads at 29. 8% versus 17. 7% for COFS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LKFN leads at 61. 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.
07Is COFS or LKFN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.
(COFS) trades at 8. 8x forward P/E versus 14. 4x for Lakeland Financial Corporation — 5. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COFS: 7. 9% to $34. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — COFS or LKFN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. (COFS) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 3. 2% for Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN).
09Is COFS or LKFN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
79), 3. 2% yield, +142. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LKFN: +142. 7%, COFS: +102. 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.
10What are the main differences between COFS and LKFN?
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: COFS is a small-cap high-growth stock; LKFN is a small-cap deep-value 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(COFS: 38.7% · LKFN: -1.9%)Net Margin>
%
(COFS: 14.6% · LKFN: 24.5%)P/E Ratio<
x
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