WBS vs FHN vs WTFC vs CFG

For growth investors, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) is the stronger pick with 6.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 0% for First Horizon Corporation (FHN). Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) offers the better valuation at 12. 3x trailing P/E (11. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) is the cheapest at 12.

3x versus Citizens Financial Group, Inc. at 21. 2x. On forward P/E, Webster Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 11. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Webster Financial Corporation wins at 0. 54x versus Wintrust Financial Corporation's 0. 59x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) delivered a total return of +102.

9%, compared to +43. 6% for First Horizon Corporation (FHN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CFG returned +257. 8% versus FHN's +119. 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), First Horizon Corporation (FHN) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

10β versus Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 's 1. 33β — meaning CFG is approximately 21% more volatile than FHN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 45% versus 62% for Wintrust Financial Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) is pulling ahead at 6.

7% versus 1. 0% for First Horizon Corporation (FHN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: First Horizon Corporation grew EPS 38. 2% year-over-year, compared to -3. 2% for Citizens Financial Group, 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.

Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) is the more profitable company, earning 22.

7% net margin versus 12. 2% for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 22. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WBS leads at 28. 5% versus 15. 3% for CFG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FHN leads at 67. 3%, 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, Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 54x versus Wintrust Financial Corporation's 0. 59x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Webster Financial Corporation (WBS) trades at 11. 0x forward P/E versus 12. 4x for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. — 1. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WTFC: 15. 5% to $174. 57.

In this comparison, CFG (2.

6% yield), FHN (2. 6% yield), WBS (2. 3% yield) pay a dividend. WTFC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, First Horizon Corporation (FHN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

10), 2. 6% yield, +119. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FHN: +119. 6%, WTFC: +224. 8%), 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: WBS is a mid-cap deep-value stock; FHN is a mid-cap deep-value stock; WTFC is a mid-cap deep-value stock; CFG is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. WBS, FHN, CFG pay a dividend while WTFC does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.