QCRH vs BANF

For growth investors, BancFirst Corporation (BANF) is the stronger pick with 12.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 5% for QCR Holdings, Inc. (QCRH). QCR Holdings, Inc. (QCRH) offers the better valuation at 12. 2x trailing P/E (11. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate QCR Holdings, Inc. (QCRH) a "Buy" — based on 8 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, QCR Holdings, Inc.

(QCRH) is the cheapest at 12. 2x versus BancFirst Corporation at 17. 8x. On forward P/E, QCR Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: QCR Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 77x versus BancFirst Corporation's 1. 61x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, QCR Holdings, Inc.

(QCRH) delivered a total return of +92. 5%, compared to +68. 4% for BancFirst Corporation (BANF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BANF returned +322. 5% versus QCRH's +263. 3%. 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), BancFirst Corporation (BANF) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

93β versus QCR Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 95β — meaning QCRH is approximately 3% more volatile than BANF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, BancFirst Corporation (BANF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 56% for QCR Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), BancFirst Corporation (BANF) is pulling ahead at 12.

3% versus 1. 5% for QCR Holdings, Inc. (QCRH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: QCR Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 12. 1% year-over-year, compared to 1. 6% for BancFirst 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.

BancFirst Corporation (BANF) is the more profitable company, earning 23.

8% net margin versus 21. 3% for QCR Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 23. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BANF leads at 30. 3% versus 22. 8% for QCRH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BANF leads at 68. 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, QCR Holdings, Inc. (QCRH) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 77x versus BancFirst Corporation's 1. 61x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, QCR Holdings, Inc. (QCRH) trades at 11. 3x forward P/E versus 15. 7x for BancFirst Corporation — 4. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for QCRH: 12. 1% to $103. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

BancFirst Corporation (BANF) offers the highest yield at 1. 5%, versus 0. 3% for QCR Holdings, Inc. (QCRH).

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

93), 1. 5% yield, +322. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BANF: +322. 5%, QCRH: +263. 3%), 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.

BANF pays a dividend while QCRH does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.