SMBK
SmartFinancial, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$777M
5Y Perf.+181.0%
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Side-by-side financial analysisSMBK
HOPE
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Stock Comparison
SMBK vs HOPE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
HOPE
Hope Bancorp, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$1.69B
5Y Perf.+43.1%
SMBK vs HOPE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  SMBK |  HOPE |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $777M | $1.69B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $316M | $968M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $50M | $59M |
| Gross Margin | 61.0% | 48.6% |
| Operating Margin | 19.4% | 8.3% |
| Forward P/E | 12.5x | 12.3x |
| Total Debt | $102M | $396M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $464M | $560M |
SMBK vs HOPE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SMBK
HOPE
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| SmartFinancial, Inc. (SMBK) | 100 | 281.0 | +181.0% |
| Hope Bancorp, Inc. (HOPE) | 100 | 143.1 | +43.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SMBK vs HOPE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: HOPE leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. SmartFinancial, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
🥇HOPE emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
SMBK
SmartFinancial, Inc.
The Banking Pick
SMBK is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.77, yield 0.7%
- Rev growth 10.9%, EPS growth 39.3%
- 198.2% 10Y total return vs HOPE's 19.5%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
HOPE
Hope Bancorp, Inc.
The Banking Pick
HOPE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for defensive.
- Beta 0.97, yield 4.2%, current ratio 0.72x
- Lower P/E (12.3x vs 12.5x)
- Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs SMBK's 0.4% (lower = leaner)
Best for: defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  SMBK | 10.9% NII/revenue growth vs HOPE's -3.2% |
| Value |  HOPE | Lower P/E (12.3x vs 12.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | HOPE | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs SMBK's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | SMBK | Beta 0.77 vs HOPE's 0.97 |
| Dividends | HOPE | 4.2% yield, vs SMBK's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SMBK | +41.8% vs HOPE's +31.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | HOPE | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs SMBK's 0.4% |
SMBK vs HOPE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSMBKLAGGINGHOPE
HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc.
2leads
SMBKSmartFinancial, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HOPEMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
SMBK5/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
HOPE4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SMBK7/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SMBK6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
HOPE1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SMBK leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HOPE is the larger business by revenue, generating $968M annually — 3.1x SMBK's $316M. SMBK is the more profitable business, keeping 15.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to HOPE's 6.0%.
| Metric | SMBKSmartFinancial, I… | HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $316M | $968M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $70M | $84M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $50M | $59M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $57M | $147M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +61.0% | +48.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +19.4% | +8.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +15.9% | +6.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +18.0% | +15.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +42.1% | +35.0% |
SMBK leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
HOPE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 15.3x trailing earnings, SMBK trades at a 47% valuation discount to HOPE's 28.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SMBK's 5.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HOPE's 18.2x.
| Metric | SMBKSmartFinancial, I… | HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $777M | $1.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $414M | $1.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.26x | 28.67x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.50x | 12.33x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.18x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.93x | 18.21x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.46x | 1.74x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.39x | 0.74x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.10x | 11.14x |
HOPE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SMBK leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SMBK delivers a 9.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $3 for HOPE. HOPE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.17x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SMBK's 0.18x.
| Metric | SMBKSmartFinancial, I… | HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.5% | +2.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.9% | +0.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.7% | +2.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.6% | +0.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.18x | 0.17x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$363M | -$164M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $464M | $560M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $102M | $396M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.51x | 0.17x |
SMBK leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SMBK leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SMBK five years ago would be worth $19,258 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,696 for HOPE. Over the past 12 months, SMBK leads with a +41.8% total return vs HOPE's +31.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SMBK at 26.8% vs HOPE's 18.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SMBKSmartFinancial, I… | HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +24.8% | +22.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +41.8% | +31.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +103.9% | +66.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +92.6% | +7.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +198.2% | +19.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +26.8% | +18.4% |
SMBK leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SMBK and HOPE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SMBK is the less volatile stock with a 0.77 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than HOPE's 0.97 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | SMBKSmartFinancial, I… | HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.77x | 0.97x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $45.63 | $13.19 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $30.95 | $9.44 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.6% | +100.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 69.1 | 64.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 67K | 803K |
Evenly matched — SMBK and HOPE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
HOPE leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SMBK as "Hold" and HOPE as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 9.9% upside for HOPE (target: $15) vs 7.8% for SMBK (target: $49). For income investors, HOPE offers the higher dividend yield at 4.16% vs SMBK's 0.71%.
| Metric | SMBKSmartFinancial, I… | HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $49.00 | $14.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 6 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | +4.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.32 | $0.55 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
HOPE leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
SMBK leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). HOPE leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallSmartFinancial, Inc. (SMBK)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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SMBK vs HOPE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SMBK or HOPE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, SmartFinancial, Inc.
(SMBK) is the stronger pick with 10. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 2% for Hope Bancorp, Inc. (HOPE). SmartFinancial, Inc. (SMBK) offers the better valuation at 15. 3x trailing P/E (12. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SmartFinancial, Inc. (SMBK) a "Hold" — 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 — SMBK or HOPE?
On trailing P/E, SmartFinancial, Inc.
(SMBK) is the cheapest at 15. 3x versus Hope Bancorp, Inc. at 28. 7x. On forward P/E, Hope Bancorp, Inc. is actually cheaper at 12. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SMBK or HOPE?
Over the past 5 years, SmartFinancial, Inc.
(SMBK) delivered a total return of +92. 6%, compared to +7. 0% for Hope Bancorp, Inc. (HOPE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SMBK returned +198. 2% versus HOPE's +19. 5%. 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 — SMBK or HOPE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), SmartFinancial, Inc.
(SMBK) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 77β versus Hope Bancorp, Inc. 's 0. 97β — meaning HOPE is approximately 25% more volatile than SMBK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hope Bancorp, Inc. (HOPE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 18% for SmartFinancial, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SMBK or HOPE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), SmartFinancial, Inc.
(SMBK) is pulling ahead at 10. 9% versus -3. 2% for Hope Bancorp, Inc. (HOPE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: SmartFinancial, Inc. grew EPS 39. 3% year-over-year, compared to -43. 9% for Hope 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 — SMBK or HOPE?
SmartFinancial, Inc.
(SMBK) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 9% net margin versus 6. 0% for Hope Bancorp, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SMBK leads at 19. 4% versus 8. 3% for HOPE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SMBK leads at 61. 0%, 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 SMBK or HOPE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Hope Bancorp, Inc.
(HOPE) trades at 12. 3x forward P/E versus 12. 5x for SmartFinancial, Inc. — 0. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HOPE: 9. 9% to $14. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — SMBK or HOPE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Hope Bancorp, Inc. (HOPE) offers the highest yield at 4. 2%, versus 0. 7% for SmartFinancial, Inc. (SMBK).
09Is SMBK or HOPE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, SmartFinancial, Inc.
(SMBK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 77), 0. 7% yield, +198. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SMBK: +198. 2%, HOPE: +19. 5%), 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 SMBK and HOPE?
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: SMBK is a small-cap deep-value stock; HOPE 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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