FRME vs NBTB

For growth investors, NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the stronger pick with 10. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 3% for First Merchants Corporation (FRME). First Merchants Corporation (FRME) offers the better valuation at 10. 4x trailing P/E (11. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate First Merchants Corporation (FRME) a "Buy" — based on 11 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 Merchants Corporation (FRME) is the cheapest at 10.

4x versus NBT Bancorp Inc. at 13. 5x. On forward P/E, NBT Bancorp Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 8x — 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: NBT Bancorp Inc. wins at 1. 53x versus First Merchants Corporation's 1. 54x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) delivered a total return of +29. 9%, compared to -1. 8% for First Merchants Corporation (FRME). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FRME returned +106. 2% versus NBTB's +102. 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), NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 89β versus First Merchants Corporation's 0. 95β — meaning FRME is approximately 7% 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 41% for First Merchants Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is pulling ahead at 10. 4% versus -0. 3% for First Merchants Corporation (FRME). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: First Merchants Corporation grew EPS 13. 8% 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.

First Merchants Corporation (FRME) is the more profitable company, earning 21.

5% net margin versus 19. 5% for NBT Bancorp Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NBTB leads at 25. 3% versus 24. 7% for FRME. 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, NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 53x versus First Merchants Corporation's 1. 54x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) trades at 10. 8x forward P/E versus 11. 1x for First Merchants Corporation — 0. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FRME: 21. 0% to $49. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

First Merchants Corporation (FRME) offers the highest yield at 3. 5%, 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%, FRME: +106. 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.

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.