PFS
Provident Financial Services, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$2.93B
5Y Perf.+72.4%
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Stock Comparison
PFS vs NFBK
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NFBK
Northfield Bancorp, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$588M
5Y Perf.+28.7%
PFS vs NFBK — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PFS | NFBK |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $2.93B | $588M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.38B | $251M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $291M | $39M |
| Gross Margin | 62.7% | 49.1% |
| Operating Margin | 29.5% | 16.1% |
| Forward P/E | 9.5x | 10.4x |
| Total Debt | $2.52B | $760M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $211M | $168M |
PFS vs NFBK — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PFS
NFBK
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provident Financial… (PFS) | 100 | 172.4 | +72.4% |
| Northfield Bancorp,… (NFBK) | 100 | 128.7 | +28.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PFS vs NFBK
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PFS leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Northfield Bancorp, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. 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 NFBK's 20.6%
- NIM 3.0% vs NFBK's 2.0%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
NFBK
Northfield Bancorp, Inc.
The Banking Pick
NFBK is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 10 yrs, beta 1.00, yield 3.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.00, current ratio 0.31x
- Beta 1.00, yield 3.7%, current ratio 0.31x
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 NFBK's 13.9% |
| Value | PFS | Lower P/E (9.5x vs 10.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | NFBK | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs PFS's 0.3% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | NFBK | Beta 1.00 vs PFS's 1.00 |
| Dividends | PFS | 4.3% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs NFBK's 3.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | PFS | +39.5% vs NFBK's +31.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NFBK | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs PFS's 0.3% |
PFS vs NFBK — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2024
PFS vs NFBK — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLPFSLAGGINGNFBK
NFBKNorthfield Bancorp, I…
1leads
PFSProvident Financial S…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NFBKMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
PFS5/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
PFS5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
PFS5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
NFBK2/2
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 — 5.5x NFBK's $251M. PFS is the more profitable business, keeping 21.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NFBK's 11.9%.
| Metric | PFSProvident Financi… | NFBKNorthfield Bancor… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.4B | $251M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $458M | $61M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $291M | $39M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $429M | $42M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +62.7% | +49.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +29.5% | +16.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +21.1% | +11.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +31.2% | +11.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +73.0% | +68.8% |
PFS leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
PFS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 10.1x trailing earnings, PFS trades at a 48% valuation discount to NFBK's 19.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PFS's 12.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NFBK's 24.2x.
| Metric | PFSProvident Financi… | NFBKNorthfield Bancor… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.9B | $588M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.2B | $1.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.08x | 19.54x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.51x | 10.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.02x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.83x | 24.19x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.12x | 2.34x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.03x | 0.83x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 6.80x | 19.64x |
PFS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PFS leads this category, winning 5 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 $5 for NFBK. PFS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.89x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NFBK's 1.08x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NFBK scores 7/9 vs PFS's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | PFSProvident Financi… | NFBKNorthfield Bancor… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.6% | +5.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.2% | +0.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.9% | +2.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.7% | +2.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.89x | 1.08x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.3B | $592M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $211M | $168M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.5B | $760M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.80x | 0.46x |
PFS leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — PFS and NFBK each lead in 3 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 $10,018 for NFBK. Over the past 12 months, PFS leads with a +39.5% total return vs NFBK's +31.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NFBK at 18.3% vs PFS's 18.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PFSProvident Financi… | NFBKNorthfield Bancor… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.0% | +26.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +39.5% | +31.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.7% | +65.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +7.9% | +0.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +61.9% | +20.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.1% | +18.3% |
Evenly matched — PFS and NFBK each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NFBK leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NFBK is the less volatile stock with a 1.00 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. NFBK currently trades 99.0% from its 52-week high vs PFS's 93.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PFSProvident Financi… | NFBKNorthfield Bancor… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.00x | 1.00x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $23.98 | $14.21 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.92 | $9.90 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.7% | +99.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.2 | 57.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 871K | 258K |
NFBK leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — PFS and NFBK each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PFS as "Buy" and NFBK as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 11.3% upside for PFS (target: $25) vs 3.1% for NFBK (target: $15). For income investors, PFS offers the higher dividend yield at 4.29% vs NFBK's 3.73%.
| Metric | PFSProvident Financi… | NFBKNorthfield Bancor… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $25.00 | $14.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 9 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.3% | +3.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 10 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.96 | $0.52 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +3.2% |
Evenly matched — PFS and NFBK each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
PFS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). NFBK leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
Best OverallProvident Financial Service… (PFS)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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PFS vs NFBK: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PFS or NFBK 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 13. 9% for Northfield Bancorp, Inc. (NFBK). 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 NFBK?
On trailing P/E, Provident Financial Services, Inc.
(PFS) is the cheapest at 10. 1x versus Northfield Bancorp, Inc. at 19. 5x. On forward P/E, Provident Financial Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PFS or NFBK?
Over the past 5 years, Provident Financial Services, Inc.
(PFS) delivered a total return of +7. 9%, compared to +0. 2% for Northfield Bancorp, Inc. (NFBK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PFS returned +61. 9% versus NFBK's +20. 6%. 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 NFBK?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Northfield Bancorp, Inc.
(NFBK) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 00β versus Provident Financial Services, Inc. 's 1. 00β — meaning PFS is approximately 1% more volatile than NFBK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Provident Financial Services, Inc. (PFS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 89% versus 108% for Northfield Bancorp, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PFS or NFBK?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Provident Financial Services, Inc.
(PFS) is pulling ahead at 21. 3% versus 13. 9% for Northfield Bancorp, Inc. (NFBK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Provident Financial Services, Inc. grew EPS 112. 4% year-over-year, compared to -16. 3% for Northfield Bancorp, 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 NFBK?
Provident Financial Services, Inc.
(PFS) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 1% net margin versus 11. 9% for Northfield Bancorp, Inc. — 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 16. 1% for NFBK. 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 NFBK more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Provident Financial Services, Inc.
(PFS) trades at 9. 5x forward P/E versus 10. 4x for Northfield Bancorp, Inc. — 0. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PFS: 11. 3% to $25. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — PFS or NFBK?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Provident Financial Services, Inc. (PFS) offers the highest yield at 4. 3%, versus 3. 7% for Northfield Bancorp, Inc. (NFBK).
09Is PFS or NFBK better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Provident Financial Services, Inc.
(PFS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 00), 4. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PFS: +61. 9%, NFBK: +20. 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.
10What are the main differences between PFS and NFBK?
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; NFBK 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% · NFBK: 13.9%)Net Margin>
%
(PFS: 21.1% · NFBK: 11.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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