FSUN vs CVBF vs WAFD vs FFIN

For growth investors, First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

(FFIN) is the stronger pick with 18. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 3% for CVB Financial Corp. (CVBF). FirstSun Capital Bancorp (FSUN) offers the better valuation at 10. 4x trailing P/E (10. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate FirstSun Capital Bancorp (FSUN) a "Buy" — based on 3 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, FirstSun Capital Bancorp (FSUN) is the cheapest at 10.

4x versus First Financial Bankshares, Inc. at 20. 8x. On forward P/E, FirstSun Capital Bancorp is actually cheaper at 10. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: FirstSun Capital Bancorp wins at 0. 78x versus CVB Financial Corp. 's 4. 48x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, FirstSun Capital Bancorp (FSUN) delivered a total return of +53.

6%, compared to -28. 2% for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (FFIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FFIN returned +145. 4% versus FSUN's +53. 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), WaFd, Inc.

(WAFD) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 81β versus First Financial Bankshares, Inc. 's 0. 95β — meaning FFIN is approximately 17% more volatile than WAFD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, FirstSun Capital Bancorp (FSUN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 60% for WaFd, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(FFIN) is pulling ahead at 18. 8% versus -2. 3% for CVB Financial Corp. (CVBF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: FirstSun Capital Bancorp grew EPS 31. 2% year-over-year, compared to 5. 2% for WaFd, 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.

CVB Financial Corp.

(CVBF) is the more profitable company, earning 32. 5% net margin versus 16. 0% for WaFd, Inc. — meaning it keeps 32. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CVBF leads at 43. 8% versus 20. 5% for WAFD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CVBF leads at 79. 9%, 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, FirstSun Capital Bancorp (FSUN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 78x versus CVB Financial Corp. 's 4. 48x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, FirstSun Capital Bancorp (FSUN) trades at 10. 3x forward P/E versus 15. 9x for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. — 5. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FFIN: 21. 2% to $39. 25.

In this comparison, CVBF (4.

0% yield), WAFD (3. 0% yield), FFIN (2. 2% yield) pay a dividend. FSUN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, WaFd, Inc.

(WAFD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 81), 3. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WAFD: +84. 4%, FSUN: +53. 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: FSUN is a small-cap deep-value stock; CVBF is a small-cap deep-value stock; WAFD is a small-cap deep-value stock; FFIN is a small-cap high-growth stock. CVBF, WAFD, FFIN pay a dividend while FSUN 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.