SSB vs SFNC vs HOMB vs FFIN

For growth investors, SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the stronger pick with 57.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -56. 7% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). SouthState Corporation (SSB) offers the better valuation at 12. 4x trailing P/E (10. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SouthState Corporation (SSB) a "Buy" — based on 20 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, SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the cheapest at 12.

4x versus First Financial Bankshares, Inc. at 20. 8x. On forward P/E, SouthState Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: SouthState Corporation wins at 0. 35x versus Home Bancshares, Inc. 's 3. 55x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, SouthState Corporation (SSB) delivered a total return of +20.

3%, compared to -28. 2% for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (FFIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FFIN returned +145. 4% versus SFNC's +25. 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), Home Bancshares, Inc.

(HOMB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 82β versus SouthState Corporation's 1. 02β — meaning SSB is approximately 25% more volatile than HOMB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (FFIN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 30% for Home Bancshares, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), SouthState Corporation (SSB) is pulling ahead at 57.

0% versus -56. 7% for Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: SouthState Corporation grew EPS 12. 8% 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.

First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

(FFIN) is the more profitable company, earning 30. 2% net margin versus -63. 4% for Simmons First National Corporation — 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 -84. 2% for SFNC. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 35x versus Home Bancshares, Inc. 's 3. 55x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, SouthState Corporation (SSB) trades at 10. 3x forward P/E versus 15. 9x for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. — 5. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SSB: 21. 3% to $118. 20.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) offers the highest yield at 4. 0%, versus 2. 2% for First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (FFIN).

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

(HOMB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 82), 2. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HOMB: +58. 2%, SFNC: +25. 2%), 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: SSB is a small-cap high-growth stock; SFNC is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HOMB 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.