TRST vs CHMG vs NBTB vs NFBK

For growth investors, Northfield Bancorp, Inc.

(NFBK) is the stronger pick with 13. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 5% for Chemung Financial Corporation (CHMG). NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) offers the better valuation at 13. 5x trailing P/E (10. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TRST) a "Hold" — based on 3 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, NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the cheapest at 13. 5x versus Chemung Financial Corporation at 22. 0x. On forward P/E, Chemung Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NBT Bancorp Inc. wins at 1. 53x versus TrustCo Bank Corp NY's 4. 66x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Chemung Financial Corporation (CHMG) delivered a total return of +70.

4%, compared to +0. 2% for Northfield Bancorp, Inc. (NFBK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CHMG returned +198. 0% versus NFBK's +20. 6%. 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), Chemung Financial Corporation (CHMG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

73β versus Northfield Bancorp, Inc. 's 1. 00β — meaning NFBK is approximately 35% more volatile than CHMG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Chemung Financial Corporation (CHMG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 108% for Northfield Bancorp, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(NFBK) is pulling ahead at 13. 9% versus -6. 5% for Chemung Financial Corporation (CHMG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TrustCo Bank Corp NY grew EPS 26. 5% year-over-year, compared to -36. 9% for Chemung Financial 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.

TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TRST) is the more profitable company, earning 22.

0% net margin versus 10. 8% for Chemung Financial Corporation — meaning it keeps 22. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TRST leads at 29. 2% versus 14. 2% for CHMG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NBTB leads at 72. 1%, 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, NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 53x versus TrustCo Bank Corp NY's 4. 66x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Chemung Financial Corporation (CHMG) trades at 9. 6x forward P/E versus 16. 9x for TrustCo Bank Corp NY — 7. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NFBK: 3. 1% to $14. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Northfield Bancorp, Inc. (NFBK) offers the highest yield at 3. 7%, versus 1. 9% for Chemung Financial Corporation (CHMG).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Chemung Financial Corporation (CHMG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

73), 1. 9% yield, +198. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CHMG: +198. 0%, NFBK: +20. 6%), 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: TRST is a small-cap deep-value stock; CHMG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NBTB is a small-cap deep-value stock; NFBK 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.