SPFI vs SBSI

For growth investors, South Plains Financial, Inc.

(SPFI) is the stronger pick with 4. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 1% for Southside Bancshares, Inc. (SBSI). South Plains Financial, Inc. (SPFI) offers the better valuation at 11. 9x trailing P/E (10. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate South Plains Financial, Inc. (SPFI) a "Buy" — based on 4 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, South Plains Financial, Inc.

(SPFI) is the cheapest at 11. 9x versus Southside Bancshares, Inc. at 14. 7x. On forward P/E, Southside Bancshares, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, South Plains Financial, Inc.

(SPFI) delivered a total return of +84. 8%, compared to -3. 6% for Southside Bancshares, Inc. (SBSI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SPFI returned +149. 0% versus SBSI's +63. 4%. 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), South Plains Financial, Inc.

(SPFI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 81β versus Southside Bancshares, Inc. 's 0. 87β — meaning SBSI is approximately 7% more volatile than SPFI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, South Plains Financial, Inc. (SPFI) 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), South Plains Financial, Inc.

(SPFI) is pulling ahead at 4. 9% versus -8. 1% for Southside Bancshares, Inc. (SBSI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: South Plains Financial, Inc. grew EPS 17. 8% 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.

South Plains Financial, Inc.

(SPFI) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 7% net margin versus 16. 5% for Southside Bancshares, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SPFI leads at 24. 9% versus 19. 7% for SBSI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SPFI leads at 69. 6%, 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 10. 0x forward P/E versus 10. 7x for South Plains Financial, Inc. — 0. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SPFI: 9. 5% to $45. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Southside Bancshares, Inc. (SBSI) offers the highest yield at 4. 3%, versus 1. 4% for South Plains Financial, Inc. (SPFI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, South Plains Financial, Inc.

(SPFI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 81), 1. 4% yield, +149. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SPFI: +149. 0%, SBSI: +63. 4%), 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.

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.