WSBF vs MGYR vs NBTB vs KRNY

For growth investors, Magyar Bancorp, Inc.

(MGYR) is the stronger pick with 12. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 1% for Waterstone Financial, Inc. (WSBF). Magyar Bancorp, Inc. (MGYR) offers the better valuation at 11. 3x trailing P/E, 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.

On trailing P/E, Magyar Bancorp, Inc.

(MGYR) is the cheapest at 11. 3x versus Kearny Financial Corp. at 19. 2x. On forward P/E, NBT Bancorp Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Magyar Bancorp, Inc.

(MGYR) delivered a total return of +73. 1%, compared to -20. 5% for Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MGYR returned +125. 8% versus KRNY's -9. 0%. 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), Magyar Bancorp, Inc.

(MGYR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 28β versus NBT Bancorp Inc. 's 0. 89β — meaning NBTB is approximately 217% more volatile than MGYR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBTB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 168% for Kearny Financial Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(MGYR) is pulling ahead at 12. 1% versus 1. 1% for Waterstone Financial, Inc. (WSBF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kearny Financial Corp. grew EPS 130. 2% year-over-year, compared to 12. 5% for NBT Bancorp 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.

NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 5% net margin versus 7. 6% for Kearny Financial Corp. — meaning it keeps 19. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NBTB leads at 25. 3% versus 9. 0% for KRNY. 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.

On forward earnings alone, NBT Bancorp Inc.

(NBTB) trades at 10. 8x forward P/E versus 18. 4x for Waterstone Financial, Inc. — 7. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KRNY: 17. 6% to $9. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Kearny Financial Corp. (KRNY) offers the highest yield at 5. 5%, versus 1. 7% for Magyar Bancorp, Inc. (MGYR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Magyar Bancorp, Inc.

(MGYR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 28), 1. 7% yield, +125. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MGYR: +125. 8%, KRNY: -9. 0%), 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: WSBF is a small-cap deep-value stock; MGYR is a small-cap deep-value stock; NBTB is a small-cap deep-value stock; KRNY 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.