COLB
Columbia Banking System, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$7.07B
5Y Perf.+22.0%
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Stock Comparison
COLB vs V
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
V
Visa Inc.
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$617.80B
5Y Perf.+64.9%
COLB vs V — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | COLB | V |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Financial - Credit Services |
| Market Cap | $7.07B | $617.80B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.21B | $40.00B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $550M | $22.24B |
| Gross Margin | 67.7% | 80.4% |
| Operating Margin | 23.4% | 60.0% |
| Forward P/E | 9.7x | 24.6x |
| Total Debt | $4.01B | $25.17B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $511M | $20.15B |
COLB vs V — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
COLB
V
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Banking Sy… (COLB) | 100 | 122.0 | +22.0% |
| Visa Inc. (V) | 100 | 164.9 | +64.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: COLB vs V
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: V leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Columbia Banking System, Inc. 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.
COLB
Columbia Banking System, Inc.
The Banking Pick
COLB is the clearest fit if your priority is value and dividends.
- Lower P/E (9.7x vs 24.6x)
- 3.8% yield, vs V's 0.7%
- +31.9% vs V's -6.9%
Best for: value and dividends
V
Visa Inc.
The Banking Pick
V carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 15 yrs, beta 0.68, yield 0.7%
- Rev growth 11.3%, EPS growth 4.8%
- 334.8% 10Y total return vs COLB's 50.3%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | V | 11.3% NII/revenue growth vs COLB's 8.3% |
| Value | COLB | Lower P/E (9.7x vs 24.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | V | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs COLB's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | V | Beta 0.68 vs COLB's 1.37 |
| Dividends | COLB | 3.8% yield, vs V's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | COLB | +31.9% vs V's -6.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | V | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs COLB's 0.4% |
COLB vs V — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
COLB vs V — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCOLBLAGGINGV
VVisa Inc.
2leads
COLBColumbia Banking Syst…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs VMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
V5/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
COLB6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
V5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
COLB4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
V leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
V is the larger business by revenue, generating $40.0B annually — 12.4x COLB's $3.2B. V is the more profitable business, keeping 50.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to COLB's 17.1%.
| Metric | COLBColumbia Banking … | VVisa Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.2B | $40.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $895M | $27.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $550M | $22.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $724M | $21.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.7% | +80.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +23.4% | +60.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +17.1% | +50.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +22.0% | +53.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.9% | +35.3% |
V leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
COLB leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.9x trailing earnings, COLB trades at a 59% valuation discount to V's 31.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, COLB's 11.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than V's 24.7x.
| Metric | COLBColumbia Banking … | VVisa Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.1B | $617.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $10.6B | $622.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 12.92x | 31.57x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.70x | 24.65x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.99x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.80x | 24.70x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.20x | 15.45x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.12x | 16.70x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.02x | 28.63x |
COLB leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
V leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
V delivers a 58.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $59 in annual profit, vs $8 for COLB. COLB carries lower financial leverage with a 0.51x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to V's 0.66x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), COLB scores 6/9 vs V's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | COLBColumbia Banking … | VVisa Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.4% | +58.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.9% | +22.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.4% | +29.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.0% | +36.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.51x | 0.66x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.5B | $5.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $511M | $20.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.0B | $25.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.82x | 26.72x |
V leads this category, winning 5 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 V five years ago would be worth $14,474 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,294 for COLB. Over the past 12 months, COLB leads with a +31.9% total return vs V's -6.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors COLB at 19.3% vs V's 12.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | COLBColumbia Banking … | VVisa Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +6.7% | -6.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +31.9% | -6.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +69.8% | +41.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -17.1% | +44.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +50.3% | +334.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.3% | +12.4% |
COLB leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — COLB and V each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
V is the less volatile stock with a 0.68 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. COLB currently trades 90.9% from its 52-week high vs V's 85.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | COLBColumbia Banking … | VVisa Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.37x | 0.68x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.70 | $375.51 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.91 | $293.89 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.9% | +85.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.3 | 62.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.7M | 7.0M |
Evenly matched — COLB and V each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — COLB and V each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates COLB as "Buy" and V as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 12.6% upside for V (target: $362) vs 10.8% for COLB (target: $33). For income investors, COLB offers the higher dividend yield at 3.80% vs V's 0.73%.
| Metric | COLBColumbia Banking … | VVisa Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $32.92 | $362.45 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 61 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.8% | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.13 | $2.36 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | +2.2% |
Evenly matched — COLB and V each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
V leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). COLB leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallColumbia Banking System, In… (COLB)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
COLB vs V: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is COLB or V a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Visa Inc.
(V) is the stronger pick with 11. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 3% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB). Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB) offers the better valuation at 12. 9x trailing P/E (9. 7x 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 V?
On trailing P/E, Columbia Banking System, Inc.
(COLB) is the cheapest at 12. 9x versus Visa Inc. at 31. 6x. On forward P/E, Columbia Banking System, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — COLB or V?
Over the past 5 years, Visa Inc.
(V) delivered a total return of +44. 7%, compared to -17. 1% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: V returned +334. 8% 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 V?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Visa Inc.
(V) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 68β versus Columbia Banking System, Inc. 's 1. 37β — meaning COLB is approximately 102% more volatile than V relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 66% for Visa Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — COLB or V?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Visa Inc.
(V) is pulling ahead at 11. 3% versus 8. 3% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Visa Inc. grew EPS 4. 8% 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 V?
Visa Inc.
(V) is the more profitable company, earning 50. 1% net margin versus 17. 1% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. — meaning it keeps 50. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: V leads at 60. 0% versus 23. 4% for COLB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — V leads at 80. 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.
07Is COLB or V more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Columbia Banking System, Inc.
(COLB) trades at 9. 7x forward P/E versus 24. 6x for Visa Inc. — 14. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for V: 12. 6% to $362. 45.
08Which pays a better dividend — COLB or V?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 0. 7% for Visa Inc. (V).
09Is COLB or V better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Visa Inc.
(V) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 68), 0. 7% yield, +334. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (V: +334. 8%, 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 V?
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: COLB is a small-cap deep-value stock; V is a large-cap quality compounder 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>
%
(COLB: 8.3% · V: 11.3%)Net Margin>
%
(COLB: 17.1% · V: 50.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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