TRST vs CBSH vs WSFS vs HBAN

For growth investors, TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TRST) is the stronger pick with 5.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 1% for WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS). Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) offers the better valuation at 11. 6x trailing P/E (11. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) a "Buy" — based on 48 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, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) is the cheapest at 11.

6x versus TrustCo Bank Corp NY at 14. 9x. On forward P/E, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is actually cheaper at 11. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: WSFS Financial Corporation wins at 0. 67x versus TrustCo Bank Corp NY's 4. 66x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TRST) delivered a total return of +46.

5%, compared to -12. 9% for Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WSFS returned +129. 0% versus TRST's +97. 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), Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

(CBSH) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 70β versus Huntington Bancshares Incorporated's 1. 09β — meaning HBAN is approximately 55% more volatile than CBSH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 79% for Commerce Bancshares, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TRST) is pulling ahead at 5.

8% versus -3. 1% for WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TrustCo Bank Corp NY grew EPS 26. 5% year-over-year, compared to 5. 4% for Commerce 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.

Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

(CBSH) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 5% net margin versus 17. 7% for Huntington Bancshares Incorporated — meaning it keeps 26. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CBSH leads at 34. 2% versus 21. 5% for HBAN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CBSH leads at 80. 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.

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, WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 67x versus TrustCo Bank Corp NY's 4. 66x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) trades at 11. 1x forward P/E versus 16. 9x for TrustCo Bank Corp NY — 5. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HBAN: 25. 9% to $20. 38.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) offers the highest yield at 3. 7%, versus 0. 9% for WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS).

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

(CBSH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 70), 2. 1% yield, +103. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CBSH: +103. 4%, HBAN: +121. 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.

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.