FNB vs UMBF

For growth investors, UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF) is the stronger pick with 68.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 9% for F. N. B. Corporation (FNB). F. N. B. Corporation (FNB) offers the better valuation at 11. 7x trailing P/E (10. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate F. N. B. Corporation (FNB) a "Buy" — based on 19 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, F.

N. B. Corporation (FNB) is the cheapest at 11. 7x versus UMB Financial Corporation at 14. 7x. On forward P/E, UMB Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: F. N. B. Corporation wins at 0. 82x versus UMB Financial Corporation's 1. 17x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, F.

N. B. Corporation (FNB) delivered a total return of +52. 3%, compared to +45. 2% for UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UMBF returned +169. 5% versus FNB's +80. 9%. 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), UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

19β versus F. N. B. Corporation's 1. 22β — meaning FNB is approximately 2% more volatile than UMBF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 58% for F. N. B. Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF) is pulling ahead at 68.

5% versus 4. 9% for F. N. B. Corporation (FNB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: F. N. B. Corporation grew EPS 22. 8% year-over-year, compared to 1. 6% for UMB 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.

F.

N. B. Corporation (FNB) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 0% net margin versus 15. 8% for UMB Financial Corporation — meaning it keeps 21. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FNB leads at 24. 8% versus 20. 3% for UMBF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FNB leads at 62. 3%, 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, F. N. B. Corporation (FNB) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 82x versus UMB Financial Corporation's 1. 17x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF) trades at 10. 5x forward P/E versus 10. 6x for F. N. B. Corporation — 0. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FNB: 12. 7% to $20. 50.

In this comparison, UMBF (1.

3% yield) pays a dividend. FNB does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

19), 1. 3% yield, +169. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UMBF: +169. 5%, FNB: +80. 9%), 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: FNB is a small-cap deep-value stock; UMBF is a mid-cap high-growth stock. UMBF pays a dividend while FNB does 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.