FFBC
First Financial Bancorp.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$3.18B
5Y Perf.+129.0%
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Stock Comparison
FFBC vs FBNC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
FBNC
First Bancorp
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$2.45B
5Y Perf.+132.8%
FFBC vs FBNC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | FFBC | FBNC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $3.18B | $2.45B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.26B | $543M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $256M | $111M |
| Gross Margin | 68.4% | 70.1% |
| Operating Margin | 25.5% | 26.6% |
| Forward P/E | 9.6x | 12.6x |
| Total Debt | $1.19B | $75M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $179M | $147M |
FFBC vs FBNC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
FFBC
FBNC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Financial Ban… (FFBC) | 100 | 229.0 | +129.0% |
| First Bancorp (FBNC) | 100 | 232.8 | +132.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FFBC vs FBNC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: FFBC leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. First Bancorp is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
FFBC
First Financial Bancorp.
The Banking Pick
FFBC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 0.98, yield 3.2%
- Rev growth 2.7%, EPS growth 10.8%
- Beta 0.98, yield 3.2%, current ratio 0.28x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
FBNC
First Bancorp
The Banking Pick
FBNC is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 228.5% 10Y total return vs FFBC's 104.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.96, Low D/E 4.5%, current ratio 0.24x
- NIM 3.1% vs FFBC's 3.0%
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | FFBC | 2.7% NII/revenue growth vs FBNC's 2.3% |
| Value | FFBC | Lower P/E (9.6x vs 12.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | FFBC | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs FBNC's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | FBNC | Beta 0.96 vs FFBC's 0.98, lower leverage |
| Dividends | FFBC | 3.2% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs FBNC's 1.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | FBNC | +45.3% vs FFBC's +32.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | FFBC | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs FBNC's 0.4% |
FFBC vs FBNC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLFBNCLAGGINGFFBC
FFBCFirst Financial Banco…
2leads
FBNCFirst Bancorp
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs FFBCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
FBNC5/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
FFBC6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
FBNC5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
FBNC5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
FFBC2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FBNC leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FFBC is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.3B annually — 2.3x FBNC's $543M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 20.4% (FBNC) to 20.3% (FFBC).
| Metric | FFBCFirst Financial B… | FBNCFirst Bancorp |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.3B | $543M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $343M | $155M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $256M | $111M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $330M | $199M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +68.4% | +70.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +25.5% | +26.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +20.3% | +20.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +25.2% | +36.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -5.9% | +3.4% |
FBNC leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
FFBC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 11.4x trailing earnings, FFBC trades at a 48% valuation discount to FBNC's 22.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, FFBC's 12.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than FBNC's 15.4x.
| Metric | FFBCFirst Financial B… | FBNCFirst Bancorp |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.2B | $2.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.2B | $2.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 11.44x | 22.08x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.58x | 12.62x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.06x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.21x | 15.39x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.53x | 4.51x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.05x | 1.48x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.04x | 12.33x |
FFBC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
FBNC leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
FFBC delivers a 9.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $7 for FBNC. FBNC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.05x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to FFBC's 0.43x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FFBC scores 7/9 vs FBNC's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | FFBCFirst Financial B… | FBNCFirst Bancorp |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.8% | +7.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.3% | +0.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.4% | +6.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.5% | +5.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.43x | 0.05x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.0B | -$72M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $179M | $147M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.2B | $75M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.89x | 0.91x |
FBNC leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
FBNC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in FBNC five years ago would be worth $13,987 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,880 for FFBC. Over the past 12 months, FBNC leads with a +45.3% total return vs FFBC's +32.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors FBNC at 29.6% vs FFBC's 20.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FFBCFirst Financial B… | FBNCFirst Bancorp |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +22.3% | +16.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +32.2% | +45.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +75.9% | +117.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +38.8% | +39.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +104.6% | +228.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +20.7% | +29.6% |
FBNC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — FFBC and FBNC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FBNC is the less volatile stock with a 0.96 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than FFBC's 0.98 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | FFBCFirst Financial B… | FBNCFirst Bancorp |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.98x | 0.96x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $31.38 | $62.64 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $22.93 | $40.00 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.0% | +94.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.9 | 55.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 803K | 203K |
Evenly matched — FFBC and FBNC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
FFBC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FFBC as "Hold" and FBNC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 6.5% upside for FBNC (target: $63) vs 6.0% for FFBC (target: $32). For income investors, FFBC offers the higher dividend yield at 3.25% vs FBNC's 1.52%.
| Metric | FFBCFirst Financial B… | FBNCFirst Bancorp |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $32.25 | $63.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 16 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.2% | +1.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.99 | $0.90 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.0% |
FFBC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
FBNC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). FFBC leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallFirst Bancorp (FBNC)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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FFBC vs FBNC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FFBC or FBNC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, First Financial Bancorp.
(FFBC) is the stronger pick with 2. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 3% for First Bancorp (FBNC). First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) offers the better valuation at 11. 4x trailing P/E (9. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate First Bancorp (FBNC) a "Buy" — based on 16 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 — FFBC or FBNC?
On trailing P/E, First Financial Bancorp.
(FFBC) is the cheapest at 11. 4x versus First Bancorp at 22. 1x. On forward P/E, First Financial Bancorp. is actually cheaper at 9. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FFBC or FBNC?
Over the past 5 years, First Bancorp (FBNC) delivered a total return of +39.
9%, compared to +38. 8% for First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FBNC returned +228. 5% versus FFBC's +104. 6%. 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 — FFBC or FBNC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), First Bancorp (FBNC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
96β versus First Financial Bancorp. 's 0. 98β — meaning FFBC is approximately 3% more volatile than FBNC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, First Bancorp (FBNC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 43% for First Financial Bancorp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — FFBC or FBNC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), First Financial Bancorp.
(FFBC) is pulling ahead at 2. 7% versus 2. 3% for First Bancorp (FBNC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: First Bancorp grew EPS 45. 7% year-over-year, compared to 10. 8% for First Financial Bancorp.. 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 — FFBC or FBNC?
First Bancorp (FBNC) is the more profitable company, earning 20.
4% net margin versus 20. 3% for First Financial Bancorp. — meaning it keeps 20. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FBNC leads at 26. 6% versus 25. 5% for FFBC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FBNC leads at 70. 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.
07Is FFBC or FBNC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, First Financial Bancorp.
(FFBC) trades at 9. 6x forward P/E versus 12. 6x for First Bancorp — 3. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FBNC: 6. 5% to $63. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — FFBC or FBNC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 1. 5% for First Bancorp (FBNC).
09Is FFBC or FBNC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, First Bancorp (FBNC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
96), 1. 5% yield, +228. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FBNC: +228. 5%, FFBC: +104. 6%), 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 FFBC and FBNC?
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: FFBC is a small-cap deep-value stock; FBNC is a small-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>
%
(FFBC: 2.7% · FBNC: 2.3%)Net Margin>
%
(FFBC: 20.3% · FBNC: 20.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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