HTBK
Heritage Commerce Corp
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$828M
5Y Perf.+65.4%
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Stock Comparison
HTBK vs COLB
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
COLB
Columbia Banking System, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$7.04B
5Y Perf.+12.6%
HTBK vs COLB — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | HTBK | COLB |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $828M | $7.04B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $266M | $3.21B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $48M | $550M |
| Gross Margin | 72.6% | 67.7% |
| Operating Margin | 25.4% | 23.4% |
| Forward P/E | 13.3x | 9.7x |
| Total Debt | $40M | $4.01B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $22M | $511M |
HTBK vs COLB — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HTBK
COLB
| Stock | May 20 | Apr 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage Commerce C… (HTBK) | 100 | 165.4 | +65.4% |
| Columbia Banking Sy… (COLB) | 100 | 112.6 | +12.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HTBK vs COLB
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: COLB leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Heritage Commerce Corp is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HTBK
Heritage Commerce Corp
The Banking Pick
HTBK is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.04, yield 3.8%
- 75.1% 10Y total return vs COLB's 51.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.04, Low D/E 5.6%, current ratio 0.27x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
COLB
Columbia Banking System, Inc.
The Banking Pick
COLB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 8.3%, EPS growth -9.8%
- 8.3% NII/revenue growth vs HTBK's 5.8%
- Lower P/E (9.7x vs 13.3x)
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | COLB | 8.3% NII/revenue growth vs HTBK's 5.8% |
| Value | COLB | Lower P/E (9.7x vs 13.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | COLB | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs HTBK's 0.5% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | HTBK | Beta 1.04 vs COLB's 1.37, lower leverage |
| Dividends | HTBK | 3.8% yield, vs COLB's 3.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | HTBK | +53.4% vs COLB's +32.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | COLB | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs HTBK's 0.5% |
HTBK vs COLB — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
HTBK vs COLB — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLHTBKLAGGINGCOLB
COLBColumbia Banking Syst…
1leads
HTBKHeritage Commerce Corp
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs COLBMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
HTBK5/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
COLB6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
HTBK7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
HTBK6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
HTBK2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
HTBK1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HTBK leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
COLB is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.2B annually — 12.1x HTBK's $266M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 18.0% (HTBK) to 17.1% (COLB).
| Metric | HTBKHeritage Commerce… | COLBColumbia Banking … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $266M | $3.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $71M | $895M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $48M | $550M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $61M | $724M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +72.6% | +67.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +25.4% | +23.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +18.0% | +17.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +22.8% | +22.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +47.1% | +5.9% |
HTBK leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
COLB leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.9x trailing earnings, COLB trades at a 25% valuation discount to HTBK's 17.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, COLB's 11.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HTBK's 11.9x.
| Metric | HTBKHeritage Commerce… | COLBColumbia Banking … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $828M | $7.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $847M | $10.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 17.24x | 12.85x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 13.32x | 9.65x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 3.00x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.89x | 11.76x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.11x | 2.19x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.17x | 1.12x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.63x | 9.97x |
COLB leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HTBK leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
COLB delivers a 8.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $7 for HTBK. HTBK carries lower financial leverage with a 0.06x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to COLB's 0.51x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HTBK scores 8/9 vs COLB's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | HTBKHeritage Commerce… | COLBColumbia Banking … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.8% | +8.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.9% | +0.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.9% | +5.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.1% | +2.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.06x | 0.51x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $18M | $3.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $22M | $511M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $40M | $4.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.95x | 0.82x |
HTBK leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HTBK leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HTBK five years ago would be worth $13,069 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,185 for COLB. Over the past 12 months, HTBK leads with a +53.4% total return vs COLB's +32.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HTBK at 29.3% vs COLB's 20.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HTBKHeritage Commerce… | COLBColumbia Banking … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +13.7% | +6.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +53.4% | +32.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +116.3% | +75.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +30.7% | -18.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +75.1% | +51.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +29.3% | +20.6% |
HTBK leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HTBK leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HTBK is the less volatile stock with a 1.04 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than COLB's 1.37 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HTBK currently trades 97.3% from its 52-week high vs COLB's 90.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | HTBKHeritage Commerce… | COLBColumbia Banking … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.04x | 1.37x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $13.83 | $32.70 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $8.92 | $21.91 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.3% | +90.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.5 | 60.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 737K | 2.7M |
HTBK leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
HTBK leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HTBK as "Hold" and COLB as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 11.4% upside for COLB (target: $33) vs 7.8% for HTBK (target: $15). For income investors, HTBK offers the higher dividend yield at 3.85% vs COLB's 3.82%.
| Metric | HTBKHeritage Commerce… | COLBColumbia Banking … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $14.50 | $32.92 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 19 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.8% | +3.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.52 | $1.13 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.5% | +1.5% |
HTBK leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
HTBK leads in 5 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). COLB leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Best OverallHeritage Commerce Corp (HTBK)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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HTBK vs COLB: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HTBK or COLB a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Columbia Banking System, Inc.
(COLB) is the stronger pick with 8. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 8% for Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK). Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB) offers the better valuation at 12. 9x trailing P/E (9. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — HTBK or COLB?
On trailing P/E, Columbia Banking System, Inc.
(COLB) is the cheapest at 12. 9x versus Heritage Commerce Corp at 17. 2x. On forward P/E, Columbia Banking System, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HTBK or COLB?
Over the past 5 years, Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK) delivered a total return of +30.
7%, compared to -18. 1% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HTBK returned +75. 1% versus COLB's +51. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — HTBK or COLB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
04β versus Columbia Banking System, Inc. 's 1. 37β — meaning COLB is approximately 32% more volatile than HTBK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 51% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HTBK or COLB?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Columbia Banking System, Inc.
(COLB) is pulling ahead at 8. 3% versus 5. 8% for Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Heritage Commerce Corp grew EPS 18. 2% year-over-year, compared to -9. 8% for Columbia Banking System, 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.
06Which has better profit margins — HTBK or COLB?
Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK) is the more profitable company, earning 18.
0% net margin versus 17. 1% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HTBK leads at 25. 4% versus 23. 4% for COLB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HTBK leads at 72. 6%, 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.
07Is HTBK or COLB more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Columbia Banking System, Inc.
(COLB) trades at 9. 7x forward P/E versus 13. 3x for Heritage Commerce Corp — 3. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COLB: 11. 4% to $32. 92.
08Which pays a better dividend — HTBK or COLB?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 3. 8% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB).
09Is HTBK or COLB better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
04), 3. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HTBK: +75. 1%, COLB: +51. 1%), 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.
10What are the main differences between HTBK and COLB?
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(HTBK: 5.8% · COLB: 8.3%)Net Margin>
%
(HTBK: 18.0% · COLB: 17.1%)P/E Ratio<
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