STBA vs CNOB

For growth investors, ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.

(CNOB) is the stronger pick with 13. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 6% for S&T Bancorp, Inc. (STBA). S&T Bancorp, Inc. (STBA) offers the better valuation at 12. 8x trailing P/E (12. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB) a "Buy" — based on 11 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, S&T Bancorp, Inc.

(STBA) is the cheapest at 12. 8x versus ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. at 20. 4x. On forward P/E, ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, S&T Bancorp, Inc.

(STBA) delivered a total return of +49. 0%, compared to +19. 0% for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STBA returned +125. 5% versus CNOB's +111. 5%. 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), S&T Bancorp, Inc.

(STBA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 84β versus ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. 's 1. 10β — meaning CNOB is approximately 31% more volatile than STBA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, S&T Bancorp, Inc. (STBA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 74% for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.

(CNOB) is pulling ahead at 13. 4% versus 0. 6% for S&T Bancorp, Inc. (STBA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: S&T Bancorp, Inc. grew EPS 2. 6% year-over-year, compared to -15. 9% for ConnectOne 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.

S&T Bancorp, Inc.

(STBA) is the more profitable company, earning 23. 6% net margin versus 13. 3% for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. — meaning it keeps 23. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: STBA leads at 29. 5% versus 18. 6% for CNOB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STBA leads at 69. 4%, 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, ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.

(CNOB) trades at 9. 3x forward P/E versus 12. 0x for S&T Bancorp, Inc. — 2. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CNOB: 12. 7% to $34. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

S&T Bancorp, Inc. (STBA) offers the highest yield at 3. 1%, versus 2. 1% for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB).

For long-horizon retirement investors, S&T Bancorp, Inc.

(STBA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 84), 3. 1% yield, +125. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (STBA: +125. 5%, CNOB: +111. 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.

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: STBA is a small-cap deep-value stock; CNOB is a small-cap quality compounder 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.