OVLY vs WAFD

For growth investors, WaFd, Inc.

(WAFD) is the stronger pick with -1. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 6% for Oak Valley Bancorp (OVLY). Oak Valley Bancorp (OVLY) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate WaFd, Inc. (WAFD) a "Hold" — based on 11 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, Oak Valley Bancorp (OVLY) is the cheapest at 12.

1x versus WaFd, Inc. at 14. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Oak Valley Bancorp (OVLY) delivered a total return of +103.

9%, compared to +29. 5% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: OVLY returned +303. 2% versus WAFD's +91. 9%. 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), Oak Valley Bancorp (OVLY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

55β versus WaFd, Inc. 's 0. 66β — meaning WAFD is approximately 20% more volatile than OVLY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Oak Valley Bancorp (OVLY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 60% for WaFd, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), WaFd, Inc.

(WAFD) is pulling ahead at -1. 6% versus -8. 6% for Oak Valley Bancorp (OVLY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: WaFd, Inc. grew EPS 5. 2% year-over-year, compared to -4. 6% for Oak Valley Bancorp. 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.

Oak Valley Bancorp (OVLY) is the more profitable company, earning 29.

3% net margin versus 16. 0% for WaFd, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OVLY leads at 37. 5% versus 20. 5% for WAFD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OVLY leads at 99. 0%, 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

WaFd, Inc. (WAFD) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 1. 7% for Oak Valley Bancorp (OVLY).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Oak Valley Bancorp (OVLY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

55), 1. 7% yield, +303. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (OVLY: +303. 2%, WAFD: +91. 9%), 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.