COLB
Columbia Banking System, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$7.07B
5Y Perf.+22.0%
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Stock Comparison
COLB vs BANR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
BANR
Banner Corporation
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$2.20B
5Y Perf.+73.0%
COLB vs BANR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | COLB | BANR |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $7.07B | $2.20B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.21B | $819M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $550M | $195M |
| Gross Margin | 67.7% | 79.0% |
| Operating Margin | 23.4% | 29.5% |
| Forward P/E | 9.7x | 10.4x |
| Total Debt | $4.01B | $373M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $511M | $183M |
COLB vs BANR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
COLB
BANR
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Banking Sy… (COLB) | 100 | 122.0 | +22.0% |
| Banner Corporation (BANR) | 100 | 173.0 | +73.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: COLB vs BANR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: COLB leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Banner Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
COLB
Columbia Banking System, Inc.
The Banking Pick
COLB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and defensive.
- Rev growth 8.3%, EPS growth -9.8%
- Beta 1.37, yield 3.8%, current ratio 0.22x
- 8.3% NII/revenue growth vs BANR's -0.9%
Best for: growth exposure and defensive
BANR
Banner Corporation
The Banking Pick
BANR is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.80, yield 3.0%
- 101.5% 10Y total return vs COLB's 50.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.80, Low D/E 19.1%, current ratio 0.02x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | COLB | 8.3% NII/revenue growth vs BANR's -0.9% |
| Value | COLB | Lower P/E (9.7x vs 10.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | COLB | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs BANR's 0.5% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | BANR | Beta 0.80 vs COLB's 1.37, lower leverage |
| Dividends | COLB | 3.8% yield, vs BANR's 3.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | COLB | +31.9% vs BANR's +7.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | COLB | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs BANR's 0.5% |
COLB vs BANR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
COLB vs BANR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLBANRLAGGINGCOLB
COLBColumbia Banking Syst…
1leads
BANRBanner Corporation
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs COLBMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
BANR5/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
BANR9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
COLB4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
BANR2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BANR leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
COLB is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.2B annually — 3.9x BANR's $819M. BANR is the more profitable business, keeping 23.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to COLB's 17.1%.
| Metric | COLBColumbia Banking … | BANRBanner Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.2B | $819M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $895M | $253M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $550M | $195M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $724M | $248M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.7% | +79.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +23.4% | +29.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +17.1% | +23.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +22.0% | +30.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.9% | +11.2% |
BANR leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — COLB and BANR each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 11.5x trailing earnings, BANR trades at a 11% valuation discount to COLB's 12.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, BANR's 9.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than COLB's 11.8x.
| Metric | COLBColumbia Banking … | BANRBanner Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.1B | $2.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $10.6B | $2.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 12.92x | 11.52x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.70x | 10.37x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.99x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.80x | 9.47x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.20x | 2.69x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.12x | 1.15x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.02x | 8.88x |
Evenly matched — COLB and BANR each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BANR leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BANR delivers a 10.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $8 for COLB. BANR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.19x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to COLB's 0.51x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BANR scores 7/9 vs COLB's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | COLBColumbia Banking … | BANRBanner Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.4% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.9% | +1.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.4% | +7.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.0% | +10.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.51x | 0.19x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.5B | $190M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $511M | $183M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.0B | $373M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.82x | 1.11x |
BANR leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
COLB leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in BANR five years ago would be worth $13,055 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,294 for COLB. Over the past 12 months, COLB leads with a +31.9% total return vs BANR's +7.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors COLB at 19.3% vs BANR's 16.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | COLBColumbia Banking … | BANRBanner Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +6.7% | +5.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +31.9% | +7.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +69.8% | +56.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -17.1% | +30.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +50.3% | +101.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.3% | +16.2% |
COLB leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BANR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BANR is the less volatile stock with a 0.80 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than COLB's 1.37 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | COLBColumbia Banking … | BANRBanner Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.37x | 0.80x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.70 | $69.83 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.91 | $57.05 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.9% | +93.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.3 | 52.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.7M | 296K |
BANR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — COLB and BANR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates COLB as "Buy" and BANR as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 10.8% upside for COLB (target: $33) vs 7.7% for BANR (target: $70). For income investors, COLB offers the higher dividend yield at 3.80% vs BANR's 3.02%.
| Metric | COLBColumbia Banking … | BANRBanner Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $32.92 | $70.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.8% | +3.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.13 | $1.96 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | +1.6% |
Evenly matched — COLB and BANR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
BANR leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). COLB leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallBanner Corporation (BANR)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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COLB vs BANR: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is COLB or BANR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Columbia Banking System, Inc.
(COLB) is the stronger pick with 8. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 9% for Banner Corporation (BANR). Banner Corporation (BANR) offers the better valuation at 11. 5x trailing P/E (10. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB) a "Buy" — based on 19 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 — COLB or BANR?
On trailing P/E, Banner Corporation (BANR) is the cheapest at 11.
5x versus Columbia Banking System, Inc. at 12. 9x. On forward P/E, Columbia Banking System, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — COLB or BANR?
Over the past 5 years, Banner Corporation (BANR) delivered a total return of +30.
5%, compared to -17. 1% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BANR returned +101. 5% versus COLB's +50. 3%. 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 — COLB or BANR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Banner Corporation (BANR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
80β versus Columbia Banking System, Inc. 's 1. 37β — meaning COLB is approximately 72% more volatile than BANR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Banner Corporation (BANR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 51% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — COLB or BANR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Columbia Banking System, Inc.
(COLB) is pulling ahead at 8. 3% versus -0. 9% for Banner Corporation (BANR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Banner Corporation grew EPS 15. 6% year-over-year, compared to -9. 8% for Columbia Banking System, 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 — COLB or BANR?
Banner Corporation (BANR) is the more profitable company, earning 23.
8% net margin versus 17. 1% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. — meaning it keeps 23. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BANR leads at 29. 5% versus 23. 4% for COLB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BANR leads at 79. 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 COLB or BANR more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Columbia Banking System, Inc.
(COLB) trades at 9. 7x forward P/E versus 10. 4x for Banner Corporation — 0. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COLB: 10. 8% to $32. 92.
08Which pays a better dividend — COLB or BANR?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 3. 0% for Banner Corporation (BANR).
09Is COLB or BANR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Banner Corporation (BANR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
80), 3. 0% yield, +101. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BANR: +101. 5%, COLB: +50. 3%), 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 COLB and BANR?
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(COLB: 8.3% · BANR: -0.9%)Net Margin>
%
(COLB: 17.1% · BANR: 23.8%)P/E Ratio<
x
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