LOB vs BYFC vs HONE vs NBTB

For growth investors, Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.

(LOB) is the stronger pick with 12. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 8% for Broadway Financial Corporation (BYFC). NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) offers the better valuation at 13. 5x trailing P/E (10. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (LOB) a "Buy" — based on 9 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. 5x versus HarborOne Bancorp, Inc. at 18. 3x. On forward P/E, NBT Bancorp Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: HarborOne Bancorp, Inc. wins at 0. 89x versus NBT Bancorp Inc. 's 1. 53x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) delivered a total return of +29. 9%, compared to -43. 1% for Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (LOB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LOB returned +142. 4% versus BYFC's -37. 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), Broadway Financial Corporation (BYFC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

02β versus Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. 's 1. 44β — meaning LOB is approximately 5674% more volatile than BYFC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (LOB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 8% versus 90% for HarborOne Bancorp, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.

(LOB) is pulling ahead at 12. 0% versus -3. 8% for Broadway Financial Corporation (BYFC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: HarborOne Bancorp, Inc. grew EPS 78. 4% year-over-year, compared to -81. 8% for Broadway Financial Corporation. 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.

NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 5% net margin versus -39. 3% for Broadway Financial Corporation — meaning it keeps 19. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NBTB leads at 25. 3% versus -38. 8% for BYFC. 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, HarborOne Bancorp, Inc. (HONE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 89x versus NBT Bancorp Inc. 's 1. 53x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) trades at 10. 8x forward P/E versus 13. 3x for HarborOne Bancorp, Inc. — 2. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HONE: 15. 7% to $14. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Broadway Financial Corporation (BYFC) offers the highest yield at 3. 5%, versus 0. 3% for Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (LOB).

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

02), 3. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BYFC: -37. 6%, LOB: +142. 4%), 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: LOB is a small-cap deep-value stock; BYFC is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HONE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NBTB is a small-cap deep-value stock. BYFC, HONE, NBTB pay a dividend while LOB 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.