IROQ vs KRNY vs NBTB vs NFBK vs TRST

For growth investors, Northfield Bancorp, Inc.

(NFBK) is the stronger pick with 13. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 1% for Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY). NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) offers the better valuation at 13. 7x trailing P/E (10. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY) a "Hold" — based on 5 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, NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the cheapest at 13. 7x versus Northfield Bancorp, Inc. at 19. 5x. On forward P/E, Northfield Bancorp, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 4x — 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. 55x versus TrustCo Bank Corp NY's 4. 72x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TRST) delivered a total return of +49.

0%, compared to -19. 6% for Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NBTB returned +104. 0% versus KRNY's -8. 4%. 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), IF Bancorp, Inc.

(IROQ) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 03β versus Northfield Bancorp, Inc. 's 0. 90β — meaning NFBK is approximately 2955% more volatile than IROQ relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 168% for Kearny Financial Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(NFBK) is pulling ahead at 13. 9% versus 5. 1% for Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IF Bancorp, Inc. grew EPS 140. 4% year-over-year, compared to -16. 3% for Northfield 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.

TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TRST) is the more profitable company, earning 22.

0% net margin versus 7. 6% for Kearny Financial Corp. — meaning it keeps 22. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TRST leads at 29. 2% versus 9. 0% for KRNY. 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. 55x versus TrustCo Bank Corp NY's 4. 72x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Northfield Bancorp, Inc. (NFBK) trades at 10. 4x forward P/E versus 17. 1x for TrustCo Bank Corp NY — 6. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KRNY: 16. 4% to $9. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY) offers the highest yield at 5. 4%, versus 1. 5% for IF Bancorp, Inc. (IROQ).

For long-horizon retirement investors, IF Bancorp, Inc.

(IROQ) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 03), 1. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (IROQ: +59. 5%, NFBK: +20. 5%), 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: IROQ is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KRNY is a small-cap income-oriented stock; NBTB is a small-cap deep-value stock; NFBK is a small-cap income-oriented stock; TRST is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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.