SBSI vs FFIN

For growth investors, First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

(FFIN) is the stronger pick with 18. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 1% for Southside Bancshares, Inc. (SBSI). Southside Bancshares, Inc. (SBSI) offers the better valuation at 14. 6x trailing P/E (9. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Southside Bancshares, Inc. (SBSI) a "Hold" — 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, Southside Bancshares, Inc.

(SBSI) is the cheapest at 14. 6x versus First Financial Bankshares, Inc. at 20. 9x. On forward P/E, Southside Bancshares, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, Southside Bancshares, Inc.

(SBSI) delivered a total return of -3. 9%, compared to -29. 0% for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (FFIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FFIN returned +146. 6% versus SBSI's +62. 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), Southside Bancshares, Inc.

(SBSI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 87β versus First Financial Bankshares, Inc. 's 0. 95β — meaning FFIN is approximately 10% more volatile than SBSI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (FFIN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 87% for Southside Bancshares, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

(FFIN) is pulling ahead at 18. 8% versus -8. 1% for Southside Bancshares, Inc. (SBSI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: First Financial Bankshares, Inc. grew EPS 12. 2% year-over-year, compared to -21. 6% for Southside Bancshares, 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.

First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

(FFIN) is the more profitable company, earning 30. 2% net margin versus 16. 5% for Southside Bancshares, Inc. — meaning it keeps 30. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FFIN leads at 36. 8% versus 19. 7% for SBSI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FFIN leads at 70. 8%, 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, Southside Bancshares, Inc.

(SBSI) trades at 9. 9x forward P/E versus 16. 0x for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. — 6. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FFIN: 20. 4% to $39. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Southside Bancshares, Inc. (SBSI) offers the highest yield at 4. 3%, versus 2. 2% for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (FFIN).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Southside Bancshares, Inc.

(SBSI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 87), 4. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SBSI: +62. 6%, FFIN: +146. 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.

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: SBSI is a small-cap deep-value stock; FFIN 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.