HTBK vs HAFC

For growth investors, Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK) is the stronger pick with 5.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 5% for Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC). Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E (9. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK) a "Hold" — based on 12 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, Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) is the cheapest at 12.

1x versus Heritage Commerce Corp at 17. 2x. On forward P/E, Hanmi Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Hanmi Financial Corporation wins at 0. 76x versus Heritage Commerce Corp's 2. 32x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) delivered a total return of +64.

7%, compared to +30. 7% for Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HAFC returned +76. 5% versus HTBK's +75. 1%. 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), Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

92β versus Heritage Commerce Corp's 1. 04β — meaning HTBK is approximately 13% more volatile than HAFC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 35% for Hanmi Financial Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK) is pulling ahead at 5.

8% versus 3. 5% for Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hanmi Financial Corporation grew EPS 22. 4% year-over-year, compared to 18. 2% for Heritage Commerce Corp. 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.

Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK) is the more profitable company, earning 18.

0% net margin versus 17. 1% for Hanmi Financial Corporation — 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 24. 3% for HAFC. 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.

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, Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 76x versus Heritage Commerce Corp's 2. 32x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) trades at 9. 6x 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 HAFC: 15. 2% to $35. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Heritage Commerce Corp (HTBK) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 3. 6% for Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

92), 3. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HAFC: +76. 5%, HTBK: +75. 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.

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.