HBNC vs MOFG vs JPM

For growth investors, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(JPM) is the stronger pick with 3. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -71. 0% for Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (HBNC). JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) offers the better valuation at 16. 0x trailing P/E (14. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (HBNC) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 forward P/E, Horizon Bancorp, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 9. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(JPM) delivered a total return of +118. 2%, compared to +27. 7% for Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (HBNC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: JPM returned +465. 8% versus MOFG's +96. 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), JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(JPM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 94β versus MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. 's 1. 34β — meaning MOFG is approximately 42% more volatile than JPM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (MOFG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 3% for JPMorgan Chase & Co. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(JPM) is pulling ahead at 3. 3% versus -71. 0% for Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (HBNC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew EPS 1. 5% year-over-year, compared to -493. 8% for Horizon 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.

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(JPM) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 4% net margin versus -145. 9% for Horizon Bancorp, Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JPM leads at 26. 0% versus -193. 4% for HBNC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JPM leads at 59. 9%, 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, Horizon Bancorp, Inc.

(HBNC) trades at 9. 4x forward P/E versus 14. 4x for JPMorgan Chase & Co. — 5. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for JPM: 5. 9% to $339. 75.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (HBNC) offers the highest yield at 2. 1%, versus 1. 9% for JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM).

For long-horizon retirement investors, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(JPM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 94), 1. 9% yield, +465. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (JPM: +465. 8%, MOFG: +96. 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: HBNC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MOFG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; JPM is a large-cap deep-value 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.