FFWM vs BOKF vs WTFC vs BANR

For growth investors, First Foundation Inc.

(FFWM) is the stronger pick with 22. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 9% for Banner Corporation (BANR). Banner Corporation (BANR) offers the better valuation at 11. 6x trailing P/E (10. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, Banner Corporation (BANR) is the cheapest at 11.

6x versus BOK Financial Corporation at 16. 4x. On forward P/E, Banner Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Wintrust Financial Corporation wins at 0. 59x versus BOK Financial Corporation's 4. 38x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) delivered a total return of +102.

9%, compared to -72. 5% for First Foundation Inc. (FFWM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WTFC returned +224. 8% versus FFWM's -34. 6%. 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), Banner Corporation (BANR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

80β versus Wintrust Financial Corporation's 1. 16β — meaning WTFC is approximately 46% more volatile than BANR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Banner Corporation (BANR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 176% for First Foundation Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), First Foundation Inc.

(FFWM) is pulling ahead at 22. 2% versus -0. 9% for Banner Corporation (BANR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Banner Corporation grew EPS 15. 6% year-over-year, compared to -33. 3% for First Foundation 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.

Banner Corporation (BANR) is the more profitable company, earning 23.

8% net margin versus -26. 4% for First Foundation Inc. — meaning it keeps 23. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BANR leads at 29. 5% versus -12. 2% for FFWM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BANR leads at 79. 0%, 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, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 59x versus BOK Financial Corporation's 4. 38x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Banner Corporation (BANR) trades at 10. 5x forward P/E versus 45. 4x for First Foundation Inc. — 34. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WTFC: 15. 5% to $174. 57.

In this comparison, BANR (3.

0% yield), BOKF (1. 7% yield) pay a dividend. FFWM, WTFC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

80), 3. 0% yield, +101. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BANR: +101. 1%, FFWM: -34. 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.

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: FFWM is a small-cap high-growth stock; BOKF is a mid-cap deep-value stock; WTFC is a mid-cap deep-value stock; BANR is a small-cap deep-value stock. BOKF, BANR pay a dividend while FFWM, WTFC do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.