PFS
Provident Financial Services, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$2.93B
5Y Perf.+72.4%
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Stock Comparison
PFS vs KRNY
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KRNY
Kearny Financial Corp.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$508M
5Y Perf.-5.7%
PFS vs KRNY — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PFS | KRNY |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $2.93B | $508M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.38B | $344M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $291M | $32M |
| Gross Margin | 62.7% | 44.1% |
| Operating Margin | 29.5% | 9.0% |
| Forward P/E | 9.5x | 12.9x |
| Total Debt | $2.52B | $1.26B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $211M | $167M |
PFS vs KRNY — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PFS
KRNY
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provident Financial… (PFS) | 100 | 172.4 | +72.4% |
| Kearny Financial Co… (KRNY) | 100 | 94.3 | -5.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PFS vs KRNY
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PFS leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Kearny Financial Corp. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PFS
Provident Financial Services, Inc.
The Banking Pick
PFS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 21.3%, EPS growth 112.4%
- 61.9% 10Y total return vs KRNY's -9.0%
- NIM 3.0% vs KRNY's 1.7%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
KRNY
Kearny Financial Corp.
The Banking Pick
KRNY is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.83, yield 5.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.83, current ratio 1.20x
- Beta 0.83, yield 5.5%, current ratio 1.20x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PFS | 21.3% NII/revenue growth vs KRNY's 5.1% |
| Value | PFS | Lower P/E (9.5x vs 12.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | PFS | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs KRNY's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | KRNY | Beta 0.83 vs PFS's 1.00 |
| Dividends | KRNY | 5.5% yield, vs PFS's 4.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | PFS | +39.5% vs KRNY's +37.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PFS | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs KRNY's 0.4% |
PFS vs KRNY — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
PFS vs KRNY — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLPFSLAGGINGKRNY
KRNYKearny Financial Corp.
1leads
PFSProvident Financial S…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KRNYMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
PFS5/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
PFS4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
PFS6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
PFS6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
KRNY2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PFS leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PFS is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.4B annually — 4.0x KRNY's $344M. PFS is the more profitable business, keeping 21.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KRNY's 7.6%.
| Metric | PFSProvident Financi… | KRNYKearny Financial … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.4B | $344M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $458M | $43M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $291M | $32M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $429M | $40M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +62.7% | +44.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +29.5% | +9.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +21.1% | +7.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +31.2% | +6.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +73.0% | +50.0% |
PFS leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
PFS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 10.1x trailing earnings, PFS trades at a 48% valuation discount to KRNY's 19.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PFS's 12.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KRNY's 44.5x.
| Metric | PFSProvident Financi… | KRNYKearny Financial … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.9B | $508M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.2B | $1.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.08x | 19.24x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.51x | 12.93x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.02x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.83x | 44.52x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.12x | 1.48x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.03x | 0.68x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 6.80x | 23.76x |
PFS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PFS leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PFS delivers a 10.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $4 for KRNY. PFS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.89x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KRNY's 1.68x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KRNY scores 7/9 vs PFS's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | PFSProvident Financi… | KRNYKearny Financial … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.6% | +4.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.2% | +0.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.9% | +1.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.7% | +1.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.89x | 1.68x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.3B | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $211M | $167M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.5B | $1.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.80x | 0.22x |
PFS leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PFS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PFS five years ago would be worth $10,788 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,946 for KRNY. Over the past 12 months, PFS leads with a +39.5% total return vs KRNY's +37.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PFS at 18.1% vs KRNY's 9.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PFSProvident Financi… | KRNYKearny Financial … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.0% | +12.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +39.5% | +37.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.7% | +32.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +7.9% | -20.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +61.9% | -9.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.1% | +9.9% |
PFS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KRNY leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KRNY is the less volatile stock with a 0.83 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PFS's 1.00 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | PFSProvident Financi… | KRNYKearny Financial … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.00x | 0.83x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $23.98 | $8.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.92 | $5.76 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.7% | +95.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.2 | 55.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 871K | 298K |
KRNY leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — PFS and KRNY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PFS as "Buy" and KRNY as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 17.6% upside for KRNY (target: $10) vs 11.3% for PFS (target: $25). For income investors, KRNY offers the higher dividend yield at 5.45% vs PFS's 4.29%.
| Metric | PFSProvident Financi… | KRNYKearny Financial … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $25.00 | $9.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 5 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.3% | +5.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.96 | $0.44 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.1% |
Evenly matched — PFS and KRNY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
PFS leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). KRNY leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallProvident Financial Service… (PFS)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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PFS vs KRNY: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PFS or KRNY a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Provident Financial Services, Inc.
(PFS) is the stronger pick with 21. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 1% for Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY). Provident Financial Services, Inc. (PFS) offers the better valuation at 10. 1x trailing P/E (9. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Provident Financial Services, Inc. (PFS) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — PFS or KRNY?
On trailing P/E, Provident Financial Services, Inc.
(PFS) is the cheapest at 10. 1x versus Kearny Financial Corp. at 19. 2x. On forward P/E, Provident Financial Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PFS or KRNY?
Over the past 5 years, Provident Financial Services, Inc.
(PFS) delivered a total return of +7. 9%, compared to -20. 5% for Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PFS returned +61. 9% 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.
04Which is safer — PFS or KRNY?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kearny Financial Corp.
(KRNY) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 83β versus Provident Financial Services, Inc. 's 1. 00β — meaning PFS is approximately 21% more volatile than KRNY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Provident Financial Services, Inc. (PFS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 89% versus 168% for Kearny Financial Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PFS or KRNY?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Provident Financial Services, Inc.
(PFS) is pulling ahead at 21. 3% versus 5. 1% for Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kearny Financial Corp. grew EPS 130. 2% year-over-year, compared to 112. 4% for Provident Financial Services, 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PFS or KRNY?
Provident Financial Services, Inc.
(PFS) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 1% net margin versus 7. 6% for Kearny Financial Corp. — meaning it keeps 21. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PFS leads at 29. 5% versus 9. 0% for KRNY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PFS leads at 62. 7%, 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.
07Is PFS or KRNY more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Provident Financial Services, Inc.
(PFS) trades at 9. 5x forward P/E versus 12. 9x for Kearny Financial Corp. — 3. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KRNY: 17. 6% to $9. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — PFS or KRNY?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY) offers the highest yield at 5. 5%, versus 4. 3% for Provident Financial Services, Inc. (PFS).
09Is PFS or KRNY better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Kearny Financial Corp.
(KRNY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 83), 5. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KRNY: -9. 0%, PFS: +61. 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.
10What are the main differences between PFS and KRNY?
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: PFS is a small-cap high-growth stock; KRNY is a small-cap income-oriented 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(PFS: 21.3% · KRNY: 5.1%)Net Margin>
%
(PFS: 21.1% · KRNY: 7.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
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