FFBC vs FBNC vs SFNC vs UBSI

For growth investors, United Bankshares, Inc.

(UBSI) is the stronger pick with 12. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -56. 7% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). 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.

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. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: First Financial Bancorp. wins at 0. 88x versus United Bankshares, Inc. 's 1. 88x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, First Bancorp (FBNC) delivered a total return of +39.

9%, compared to -15. 4% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FBNC returned +228. 5% versus SFNC's +25. 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), United Bankshares, Inc.

(UBSI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 95β versus Simmons First National Corporation's 1. 02β — meaning SFNC is approximately 8% more volatile than UBSI 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.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), United Bankshares, Inc.

(UBSI) is pulling ahead at 12. 3% versus -56. 7% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: First Bancorp grew EPS 45. 7% year-over-year, compared to -343. 8% for Simmons First National 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.

United Bankshares, Inc.

(UBSI) is the more profitable company, earning 25. 5% net margin versus -63. 4% for Simmons First National Corporation — meaning it keeps 25. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UBSI leads at 32. 4% versus -84. 2% for SFNC. 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.

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 Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 88x versus United Bankshares, Inc. 's 1. 88x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. 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 UBSI: 7. 5% to $46. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) offers the highest yield at 4. 0%, versus 1. 5% for First Bancorp (FBNC).

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%, SFNC: +25. 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.

In terms of investment character: FFBC is a small-cap deep-value stock; FBNC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SFNC is a small-cap income-oriented stock; UBSI is a small-cap deep-value 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.