WNEB vs CTBI vs NBTB vs CHMG

For growth investors, Community Trust Bancorp, Inc.

(CTBI) is the stronger pick with 15. 2% 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 Western New England Bancorp, Inc. (WNEB) a "Buy" — based on 8 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: Western New England Bancorp, Inc. wins at 1. 33x versus Community Trust Bancorp, Inc. 's 2. 25x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Western New England Bancorp, Inc.

(WNEB) delivered a total return of +85. 0%, compared to +29. 9% for NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CHMG returned +198. 0% versus NBTB's +102. 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), Chemung Financial Corporation (CHMG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

73β versus NBT Bancorp Inc. 's 0. 89β — meaning NBTB is approximately 21% 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 43% for Western New England Bancorp, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CTBI) is pulling ahead at 15. 2% versus -6. 5% for Chemung Financial Corporation (CHMG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Western New England Bancorp, Inc. grew EPS 33. 9% 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.

Community Trust Bancorp, Inc.

(CTBI) 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: CTBI leads at 28. 4% 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, Western New England Bancorp, Inc. (WNEB) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 33x versus Community Trust Bancorp, Inc. 's 2. 25x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Chemung Financial Corporation (CHMG) trades at 9. 6x forward P/E versus 14. 3x for Western New England Bancorp, Inc. — 4. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WNEB: 10. 0% to $15. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, 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%, NBTB: +102. 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: WNEB is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CTBI is a small-cap high-growth stock; NBTB is a small-cap deep-value stock; CHMG 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.