OZK vs UMBF

For growth investors, UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF) is the stronger pick with 68.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 1% for Bank OZK (OZK). Bank OZK (OZK) offers the better valuation at 7. 8x trailing P/E (8. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF) a "Buy" — based on 18 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, Bank OZK (OZK) is the cheapest at 7.

8x versus UMB Financial Corporation at 14. 4x. On forward P/E, Bank OZK is actually cheaper at 8. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Bank OZK wins at 0. 37x versus UMB Financial Corporation's 1. 14x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF) delivered a total return of +41.

5%, compared to +28. 7% for Bank OZK (OZK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UMBF returned +165. 1% versus OZK's +63. 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), Bank OZK (OZK) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

99β versus UMB Financial Corporation's 1. 19β — meaning UMBF is approximately 20% more volatile than OZK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Bank OZK (OZK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 8% versus 49% for UMB Financial Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF) is pulling ahead at 68.

5% versus 1. 1% for Bank OZK (OZK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UMB Financial Corporation grew EPS 1. 6% year-over-year, compared to 0. 5% for Bank OZK. 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.

Bank OZK (OZK) is the more profitable company, earning 25.

5% net margin versus 15. 8% for UMB Financial Corporation — meaning it keeps 25. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OZK leads at 33. 3% versus 20. 3% for UMBF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OZK leads at 55. 4%, 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, Bank OZK (OZK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 37x versus UMB Financial Corporation's 1. 14x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Bank OZK (OZK) trades at 8. 1x forward P/E versus 10. 3x for UMB Financial Corporation — 2. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OZK: 20. 0% to $58. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Bank OZK (OZK) offers the highest yield at 3. 6%, versus 1. 4% for UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF).

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

99), 3. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (OZK: +63. 6%, UMBF: +165. 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: OZK is a small-cap deep-value stock; UMBF 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.