CPF vs BPOP

For growth investors, Central Pacific Financial Corp.

(CPF) is the stronger pick with 6. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 7% for Popular, Inc. (BPOP). Central Pacific Financial Corp. (CPF) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E (10. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Popular, Inc. (BPOP) a "Buy" — based on 20 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, Central Pacific Financial Corp.

(CPF) is the cheapest at 12. 1x versus Popular, Inc. at 12. 1x. On forward P/E, Popular, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Popular, Inc. wins at 0. 63x versus Central Pacific Financial Corp. 's 0. 63x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Popular, Inc.

(BPOP) delivered a total return of +103. 3%, compared to +39. 5% for Central Pacific Financial Corp. (CPF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BPOP returned +473. 6% versus CPF's +93. 4%. 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), Central Pacific Financial Corp.

(CPF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 80β versus Popular, Inc. 's 0. 94β — meaning BPOP is approximately 17% more volatile than CPF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Central Pacific Financial Corp. (CPF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 25% for Popular, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Central Pacific Financial Corp.

(CPF) is pulling ahead at 6. 4% versus 5. 7% for Popular, Inc. (BPOP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Central Pacific Financial Corp. grew EPS 45. 7% year-over-year, compared to 43. 7% for Popular, 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.

Central Pacific Financial Corp.

(CPF) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 4% net margin versus 18. 8% for Popular, Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CPF leads at 27. 8% versus 22. 7% for BPOP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CPF leads at 76. 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, Popular, Inc. (BPOP) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 63x versus Central Pacific Financial Corp. 's 0. 63x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Popular, Inc. (BPOP) trades at 10. 0x forward P/E versus 10. 6x for Central Pacific Financial Corp. — 0. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BPOP: 7. 1% to $159. 33.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Central Pacific Financial Corp. (CPF) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 2. 0% for Popular, Inc. (BPOP).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Popular, Inc.

(BPOP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 94), 2. 0% yield, +473. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BPOP: +473. 6%, CPF: +93. 4%), 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.