FISI vs NBTB

For growth investors, Financial Institutions, Inc.

(FISI) is the stronger pick with 43. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 4% for NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB). Financial Institutions, Inc. (FISI) offers the better valuation at 9. 8x trailing P/E (8. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Financial Institutions, Inc. (FISI) a "Hold" — based on 6 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, Financial Institutions, Inc.

(FISI) is the cheapest at 9. 8x versus NBT Bancorp Inc. at 13. 6x. On forward P/E, Financial Institutions, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Financial Institutions, Inc. wins at 0. 94x versus NBT Bancorp Inc. 's 1. 54x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) delivered a total return of +29. 5%, compared to +26. 2% for Financial Institutions, Inc. (FISI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NBTB returned +102. 2% versus FISI's +69. 0%. 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), NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 89β versus Financial Institutions, Inc. 's 1. 01β — meaning FISI is approximately 13% more volatile than NBTB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 53% for Financial Institutions, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Financial Institutions, Inc.

(FISI) is pulling ahead at 43. 1% versus 10. 4% for NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Financial Institutions, Inc. grew EPS 231. 3% year-over-year, compared to 12. 5% for NBT Bancorp 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.

Financial Institutions, Inc.

(FISI) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 8% net margin versus 19. 5% for NBT Bancorp Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NBTB leads at 25. 3% versus 24. 2% for FISI. 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, Financial Institutions, Inc. (FISI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 94x versus NBT Bancorp Inc. 's 1. 54x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Financial Institutions, Inc. (FISI) trades at 8. 9x forward P/E versus 10. 8x for NBT Bancorp Inc. — 2. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FISI: 1. 8% to $36. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Financial Institutions, Inc. (FISI) offers the highest yield at 3. 4%, versus 3. 2% for NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB).

For long-horizon retirement investors, NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 89), 3. 2% yield, +102. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NBTB: +102. 2%, FISI: +69. 0%), 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: FISI is a small-cap high-growth stock; NBTB 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.