SBCF vs BUSE

For growth investors, First Busey Corporation (BUSE) is the stronger pick with 57.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 5% for Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (SBCF). First Busey Corporation (BUSE) offers the better valuation at 18. 2x trailing P/E (10. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (SBCF) a "Hold" — based on 16 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, First Busey Corporation (BUSE) is the cheapest at 18.

2x versus Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida at 19. 8x. On forward P/E, First Busey Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, First Busey Corporation (BUSE) delivered a total return of +22.

2%, compared to -10. 5% for Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (SBCF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SBCF returned +122. 1% versus BUSE's +78. 2%. 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), First Busey Corporation (BUSE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

91β versus Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida's 1. 19β — meaning SBCF is approximately 30% more volatile than BUSE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, First Busey Corporation (BUSE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 20% versus 44% for Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), First Busey Corporation (BUSE) is pulling ahead at 57.

6% versus 7. 5% for Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (SBCF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida grew EPS 11. 3% year-over-year, compared to -25. 8% for First Busey 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.

Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (SBCF) is the more profitable company, earning 16.

7% net margin versus 13. 0% for First Busey Corporation — meaning it keeps 16. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SBCF leads at 21. 4% versus 17. 9% for BUSE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BUSE leads at 63. 9%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, First Busey Corporation (BUSE) trades at 10.

8x forward P/E versus 12. 5x for Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida — 1. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BUSE: 8. 5% to $29. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

First Busey Corporation (BUSE) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 2. 3% for Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (SBCF).

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

91), 3. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BUSE: +78. 2%, SBCF: +122. 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: SBCF is a small-cap quality compounder stock; BUSE 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.