FCF vs NBTB

For growth investors, NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the stronger pick with 10. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 3% for First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (FCF). First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (FCF) offers the better valuation at 12. 6x trailing P/E (10. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (FCF) a "Hold" — based on 18 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, First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (FCF) is the cheapest at 12.

6x versus NBT Bancorp Inc. at 13. 6x. On forward P/E, First Commonwealth Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: First Commonwealth Financial Corporation wins at 0. 74x versus NBT Bancorp Inc. 's 1. 53x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (FCF) delivered a total return of +38.

7%, compared to +29. 5% for NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FCF returned +160. 1% versus NBTB's +102. 2%. 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), First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (FCF) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

72β versus NBT Bancorp Inc. 's 0. 89β — meaning NBTB is approximately 24% more volatile than FCF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 29% for First Commonwealth Financial Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is pulling ahead at 10. 4% versus 4. 3% for First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (FCF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NBT Bancorp Inc. grew EPS 12. 5% year-over-year, compared to 5. 8% for First Commonwealth Financial Corporation. 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.

First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (FCF) is the more profitable company, earning 20.

9% net margin versus 19. 5% for NBT Bancorp Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FCF leads at 27. 2% versus 25. 3% for NBTB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NBTB leads at 72. 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, First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (FCF) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 74x versus NBT Bancorp Inc. 's 1. 53x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (FCF) trades at 10. 7x forward P/E versus 10. 8x for NBT Bancorp Inc. — 0. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FCF: 10. 3% to $20. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 2. 9% for First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (FCF).

For long-horizon retirement investors, First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (FCF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

72), 2. 9% yield, +160. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FCF: +160. 1%, NBTB: +102. 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.

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.