NIC vs OTTR

For growth investors, Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.

(NIC) is the stronger pick with 6. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 0% for Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR). Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) offers the better valuation at 13. 4x trailing P/E (15. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (NIC) a "Buy" — 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, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) is the cheapest at 13.

4x versus Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. at 15. 0x. On forward P/E, Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. is actually cheaper at 12. 7x — 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: Otter Tail Corporation wins at 0. 69x versus Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. 's 1. 12x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) delivered a total return of +98.

1%, compared to +85. 3% for Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (NIC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: OTTR returned +241. 8% versus NIC's +234. 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), Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

42β versus Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. 's 0. 93β — meaning NIC is approximately 119% more volatile than OTTR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (NIC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 59% for Otter Tail Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.

(NIC) is pulling ahead at 6. 4% versus -2. 0% for Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. grew EPS 21. 5% year-over-year, compared to -8. 6% for Otter Tail 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.

Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.

(NIC) is the more profitable company, earning 27. 3% net margin versus 21. 2% for Otter Tail Corporation — meaning it keeps 27. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NIC leads at 33. 8% versus 26. 5% for OTTR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NIC leads at 69. 5%, 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, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 69x versus Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. 's 1. 12x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (NIC) trades at 12. 7x forward P/E versus 15. 9x for Otter Tail Corporation — 3. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NIC: 24. 5% to $182. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) offers the highest yield at 2. 4%, versus 0. 8% for Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (NIC).

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

42), 2. 4% yield, +241. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (OTTR: +241. 8%, NIC: +234. 6%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (NIC (Financial Services) and OTTR (Utilities)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.