WSBF
Waterstone Financial, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$341M
5Y Perf.+24.6%
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Stock Comparison
WSBF vs LKFN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LKFN
Lakeland Financial Corporation
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$1.63B
5Y Perf.+46.6%
WSBF vs LKFN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | WSBF | LKFN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $341M | $1.63B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $202M | $422M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $26M | $103M |
| Gross Margin | 71.2% | 61.0% |
| Operating Margin | 16.6% | 29.8% |
| Forward P/E | 18.4x | 14.4x |
| Total Debt | $412M | $184M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $64M | $57M |
WSBF vs LKFN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
WSBF
LKFN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterstone Financia… (WSBF) | 100 | 124.6 | +24.6% |
| Lakeland Financial … (LKFN) | 100 | 146.6 | +46.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: WSBF vs LKFN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: WSBF leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. Lakeland Financial Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
WSBF
Waterstone Financial, Inc.
The Banking Pick
WSBF carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.60, yield 3.2%
- Rev growth 1.1%, EPS growth 46.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.60, current ratio 8.78x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
LKFN
Lakeland Financial Corporation
The Banking Pick
LKFN is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and bank quality.
- 142.7% 10Y total return vs WSBF's 96.3%
- NIM 3.2% vs WSBF's 2.5%
- Lower P/E (14.4x vs 18.4x)
Best for: long-term compounding and bank quality
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WSBF | 1.1% NII/revenue growth vs LKFN's -1.9% |
| Value | LKFN | Lower P/E (14.4x vs 18.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | LKFN | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs WSBF's 0.5% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | WSBF | Beta 0.60 vs LKFN's 0.79 |
| Dividends | WSBF | 3.2% yield, vs LKFN's 3.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WSBF | +56.4% vs LKFN's +9.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LKFN | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs WSBF's 0.5% |
WSBF vs LKFN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLKFNLAGGINGWSBF
WSBFWaterstone Financial,…
1leads
LKFNLakeland Financial Co…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs WSBFMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LKFN3/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LKFN8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
WSBF2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LKFN leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LKFN is the larger business by revenue, generating $422M annually — 2.1x WSBF's $202M. LKFN is the more profitable business, keeping 24.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WSBF's 13.1%.
| Metric | WSBFWaterstone Financ… | LKFNLakeland Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $202M | $422M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $33M | $130M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $26M | $103M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $475,000 | $104M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +71.2% | +61.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.6% | +29.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.1% | +24.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.9% | +24.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +57.1% | +23.4% |
LKFN leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — WSBF and LKFN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.5x trailing earnings, WSBF trades at a 20% valuation discount to LKFN's 15.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, LKFN's 13.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WSBF's 20.6x.
| Metric | WSBFWaterstone Financ… | LKFNLakeland Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $341M | $1.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $689M | $1.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 12.54x | 15.61x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.38x | 14.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.93x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 20.61x | 13.49x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.69x | 3.87x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.95x | 2.12x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.08x | 15.72x |
Evenly matched — WSBF and LKFN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LKFN leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LKFN delivers a 14.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $8 for WSBF. LKFN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.24x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WSBF's 1.18x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WSBF scores 7/9 vs LKFN's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | WSBFWaterstone Financ… | LKFNLakeland Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.7% | +14.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.2% | +1.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.2% | +11.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.6% | +15.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.18x | 0.24x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $349M | $127M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $64M | $57M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $412M | $184M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.56x | 0.82x |
LKFN leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — WSBF and LKFN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WSBF five years ago would be worth $11,492 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,052 for LKFN. Over the past 12 months, WSBF leads with a +56.4% total return vs LKFN's +9.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LKFN at 14.0% vs WSBF's 13.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WSBFWaterstone Financ… | LKFNLakeland Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.7% | +12.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +56.4% | +9.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +46.9% | +48.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +14.9% | +10.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +96.3% | +142.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +13.7% | +14.0% |
Evenly matched — WSBF and LKFN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WSBF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WSBF is the less volatile stock with a 0.60 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LKFN's 0.79 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WSBF currently trades 98.3% from its 52-week high vs LKFN's 90.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | WSBFWaterstone Financ… | LKFNLakeland Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.60x | 0.79x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $18.88 | $69.40 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $12.23 | $54.36 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.3% | +90.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.0 | 60.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 69K | 153K |
WSBF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — WSBF and LKFN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WSBF as "Hold" and LKFN as "Hold". For income investors, WSBF offers the higher dividend yield at 3.25% vs LKFN's 3.19%.
| Metric | WSBFWaterstone Financ… | LKFNLakeland Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $66.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.2% | +3.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.60 | $2.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.8% | +1.2% |
Evenly matched — WSBF and LKFN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
LKFN leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). WSBF leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 3 tied.
Best OverallLakeland Financial Corporat… (LKFN)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
WSBF vs LKFN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WSBF or LKFN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Waterstone Financial, Inc.
(WSBF) is the stronger pick with 1. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 9% for Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN). Waterstone Financial, Inc. (WSBF) offers the better valuation at 12. 5x trailing P/E (18. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Waterstone Financial, Inc. (WSBF) a "Hold" — based on 2 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.
02Which has the better valuation — WSBF or LKFN?
On trailing P/E, Waterstone Financial, Inc.
(WSBF) is the cheapest at 12. 5x versus Lakeland Financial Corporation at 15. 6x. On forward P/E, Lakeland Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 14. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WSBF or LKFN?
Over the past 5 years, Waterstone Financial, Inc.
(WSBF) delivered a total return of +14. 9%, compared to +10. 5% for Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LKFN returned +142. 7% versus WSBF's +96. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — WSBF or LKFN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Waterstone Financial, Inc.
(WSBF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 60β versus Lakeland Financial Corporation's 0. 79β — meaning LKFN is approximately 32% more volatile than WSBF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 118% for Waterstone Financial, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — WSBF or LKFN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Waterstone Financial, Inc.
(WSBF) is pulling ahead at 1. 1% versus -1. 9% for Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Waterstone Financial, Inc. grew EPS 46. 5% year-over-year, compared to 10. 5% for Lakeland 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.
06Which has better profit margins — WSBF or LKFN?
Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) is the more profitable company, earning 24.
5% net margin versus 13. 1% for Waterstone Financial, Inc. — meaning it keeps 24. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LKFN leads at 29. 8% versus 16. 6% for WSBF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WSBF leads at 71. 2%, 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.
07Is WSBF or LKFN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN) trades at 14.
4x forward P/E versus 18. 4x for Waterstone Financial, Inc. — 4. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — WSBF or LKFN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Waterstone Financial, Inc. (WSBF) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 3. 2% for Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN).
09Is WSBF or LKFN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Waterstone Financial, Inc.
(WSBF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 60), 3. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WSBF: +96. 3%, LKFN: +142. 7%), 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.
10What are the main differences between WSBF and LKFN?
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(WSBF: 1.1% · LKFN: -1.9%)Net Margin>
%
(WSBF: 13.1% · LKFN: 24.5%)P/E Ratio<
x
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