KRNY vs WAFD vs COLB vs FFIN

For growth investors, First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

(FFIN) is the stronger pick with 18. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 6% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD). 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.

On trailing P/E, Columbia Banking System, Inc.

(COLB) is the cheapest at 12. 9x versus First Financial Bankshares, Inc. at 20. 8x. On forward P/E, Columbia Banking System, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: First Financial Bankshares, Inc. wins at 3. 05x versus WaFd, Inc. 's 3. 55x.

Over the past 5 years, WaFd, Inc.

(WAFD) delivered a total return of +22. 5%, compared to -28. 2% for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (FFIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FFIN returned +145. 4% versus KRNY's -9. 0%. 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 Columbia Banking System, Inc. 's 1. 37β — meaning COLB is approximately 68% more volatile than WAFD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (FFIN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 168% for Kearny Financial Corp. — 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 -1. 6% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kearny Financial Corp. grew EPS 130. 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.

First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

(FFIN) is the more profitable company, earning 30. 2% net margin versus 7. 6% for Kearny Financial Corp. — meaning it keeps 30. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FFIN leads at 36. 8% versus 9. 0% for KRNY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FFIN leads at 70. 8%, 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, First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (FFIN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3. 05x versus WaFd, Inc. 's 3. 55x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB) trades at 9. 7x forward P/E versus 15. 9x for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. — 6. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FFIN: 21. 2% to $39. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY) offers the highest yield at 5. 5%, versus 2. 2% for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (FFIN).

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%, 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.

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: KRNY is a small-cap income-oriented stock; WAFD is a small-cap deep-value stock; COLB is a small-cap deep-value stock; FFIN is a small-cap high-growth 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.