SBSI vs SFNC

For growth investors, Southside Bancshares, Inc.

(SBSI) is the stronger pick with -8. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -56. 7% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). Southside Bancshares, Inc. (SBSI) offers the better valuation at 14. 6x trailing P/E (9. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) 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.

On forward P/E, Southside Bancshares, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 9. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, Southside Bancshares, Inc.

(SBSI) delivered a total return of -4. 3%, compared to -14. 9% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SBSI returned +62. 5% versus SFNC's +24. 8%. 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 Simmons First National Corporation's 1. 01β — meaning SFNC is approximately 17% more volatile than SBSI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 87% for Southside Bancshares, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Southside Bancshares, Inc.

(SBSI) is pulling ahead at -8. 1% versus -56. 7% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Southside Bancshares, Inc. grew EPS -21. 6% year-over-year, compared to -343. 8% for Simmons First National 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.

Southside Bancshares, Inc.

(SBSI) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 5% net margin versus -63. 4% for Simmons First National Corporation — meaning it keeps 16. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SBSI leads at 19. 7% versus -84. 2% for SFNC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SBSI leads at 55. 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. 8x forward P/E versus 10. 3x for Simmons First National Corporation — 0. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SFNC: 6. 6% to $22. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Southside Bancshares, Inc. (SBSI) offers the highest yield at 4. 3%, versus 4. 0% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC).

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. 5%, SFNC: +24. 8%), 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; SFNC 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.