Based on key financial metrics such as the price-to-sales ratio, shareholder yield and the price-earnings ratio, the following 5 stocks made the list for top value stocks in the Banks industry. Those looking for value stocks to add to their portfolio may want to use this list as a starting point for further investment research.

Why Focus on Undervalued Banks Stocks?

Value investors seek to buy stocks at a discount to their intrinsic value. Long-term returns show that such strategies are advantageous. Value stocks, as a group, tend to outperform growth stocks over extended periods of time. Typically, value investors perform financial analysis of numerous metrics, don’t follow the herd and are long-term investors.

AAII’s A+ Investor Value Grade is derived from a stock’s Value Score. The Value Score is the percentile rank of the average of the percentile ranks of the price-to-sales ratio, price-earnings ratio, enterprise-value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio, shareholder yield, price-to-book-value ratio and price-to-free-cash-flow ratio. The score is variable, meaning it can consider all six ratios or, should any of the six ratios not be valid, the remaining ratios that are valid. To be assigned a Value Score, stocks must have a valid (non-null) ratio and corresponding ranking for at least two of the six valuation ratios.

What Goes Into AAII’s Value Grade?

Stock evaluation requires access to huge amounts of data as well as the knowledge and time to sift through it all, make sense of financial ratios, read income statements and analyze recent stock movement. AAII created A+ Investor, a robust data suite that condenses data research in an actionable and customizable way suitable for investors of all knowledge levels, to help investors with that task.

AAII’s proprietary stock grades come with A+ Investor. These offer intuitive A–F grades for more than just value. It is possible for a stock to appear cheap based on one valuation metric but appear expensive on another. It is also possible for one valuation ratio to be associated with outperforming stocks during certain periods of time but not others. Some stocks may even have null values for certain metrics like the price-earnings ratio or the price-to-book ratio but not others. An example of this would be a company with losses instead of profits or a negative book value because of heavy borrowing. Negative earnings or book value result in non-meaningful ratios that are left blank or null.

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5 Undervalued Banks Stocks

Of course, there are countless value stocks that are worth mentioning, but this is a concise list of the top 5 undervalued stocks in the Banks industry for Wednesday, January 01, 2025. Let’s take a closer look at their individual scores to see how they measure up against each other and the Banks industry median.

The Value Grade is assigned based on how each stock’s composite valuation compares to all other stocks.

The process for assigning grades starts with each variable for a given stock. The percentile rankings for all valid ratios that a stock has are calculated. So, for instance, a stock could have a price-to-book ranking in the 43rd percentile, a price-earnings ranking in the 67th percentile, a price-to-sales ranking in the 23rd percentile, etc. Then, those rankings are averaged for each stock. (A minimum of two valid variables are required, though all six will be used if available.)

Once the average of the individual variables is calculated, that average is ranked against all stocks. Put another way, each stock’s composite valuation is compared to all other stocks. These ranks are then sorted into quintiles from the cheapest 20% (a grade of A) to the most expensive 20% (a grade of F).

As always, we recommend that you conduct proper due diligence and research before investing in any security. We also suggest that investors utilize numerous grades, not just value, when it comes to deciding whether a company is a good fit for their allocation needs.

First Business Financial Services, Inc.’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

First Business Financial Services, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for First Business Bank that provides commercial banking products and services for small and medium-sized businesses, business owners, executives, professionals, and high net worth individuals in Wisconsin, Kansas, and Missouri. The company offers real estate lending, commercial and industrial lending, asset-based lending, accounts receivable financing, equipment financing loans and leases, floorplan financing, vendor financing, small business administration lending and servicing, treasury management solutions, and company retirement services. It also provides private wealth management for individuals, including creating and executing asset allocation strategies, trust and estate administration, financial planning, investment management, and access to brokerage and custody-only services. In addition, the company offers bank consulting consisting of investment portfolio administrative and asset liability management services, and commercial deposit accounts. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

First Business Financial Services, Inc. has a Value Score of 76, which is considered to be undervalued.

When you look at First Business Financial Services, Inc.’s price-to-sales ratio at 2.68 compared to the industry median at 3.05, this company has a lower price relative to revenue compared to its peers. This could make First Business Financial Services, Inc.’s stock more attractive for value investors.

First Business Financial Services, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 10.00 compared to the industry median at 12.75. This means it has a lower share price relative to earnings compared to its peers. This could make First Business Financial Services, Inc. more attractive for value investors.

Shareholder yield is the sum of a stock’s dividend yield (paid over previous 12 months minus special dividends) and the percentage of net share buybacks over the previous 12 months. First Business Financial Services, Inc.’s shareholder yield is lower than its industry median ratio of 2.70%. Value investors may look for an attractive shareholder yield because it can be a powerful tool for identifying if the company has a good management team.

As one of the most common value metrics, the price-to-book ratio evaluates a company’s current market price relative to its book value. First Business Financial Services, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its industry median ratio of 1.06. This could make First Business Financial Services, Inc. less attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.

Lastly, let’s take a look at First Business Financial Services, Inc.’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio (P/FCF), which can indicate a company’s market value relative to its operating cash flow. First Business Financial Services, Inc.’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 16.30. This could make First Business Financial Services, Inc. more attractive because the lower P/FCF ratio indicates that First Business Financial Services, Inc. is undervalued. The P/FCF ratio metric can also be viewed over a long-term time frame to see if the company's cash flow to share price value is generally improving or worsening.

First BanCorp.’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

First BanCorp. operates as a bank holding company for FirstBank Puerto Rico that provides a range of financial products and services to consumers and commercial customers. The company operates through six segments: Commercial and Corporate Banking, Mortgage Banking, Consumer (Retail) Banking, Treasury and Investments, United States Operations, and Virgin Islands Operations. The Commercial and Corporate Banking segment offers commercial loans, including commercial real estate and construction loans, as well as other products, such as cash management and business management services. The Mortgage Banking segment engages in the origination, sale, and servicing of various residential mortgage loans; hedging activities; and purchase of mortgage loans from branch and mortgage bankers. The Consumer (Retail) Banking segment provides auto loans, finance leases, boat and personal loans, credit card loans, and lines of credit; and interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing checking and savings accounts, and individual retirement accounts and retail certificates of deposit (CDs), as well as insurance agency services. The Treasury and Investments segment offers funding and liquidity management services. The United States Operations segment provides checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as retail CDs; traditional commercial and industrial, and commercial real estate loans, residential mortgages, term and construction loan, home equity loans, lines of credit, FHLB advances, and brokered CDs; and internet banking, cash management, remote deposit capture, and automated clearing house transactions services. The Virgin Islands Operations segment is involved in consumer, commercial lending, and deposit-taking activities. First BanCorp. was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

First BanCorp. has a Value Score of 73, which is considered to be undervalued.

First BanCorp.’s price-earnings ratio is 10.3 compared to the industry median at 12.8. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes First BanCorp. more attractive for value investors.

First BanCorp.’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make First BanCorp. more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.06.

You can read more about First BanCorp.’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Northwest Bancshares, Inc.’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Northwest Bank, a state-chartered savings bank that provides personal and business banking solutions. The company accepts various deposits, including checking, savings, money market deposit, term certificate, and individual retirement accounts. It also offers loan products comprising one-to-four-family residential real estate loans, shorter term consumer loans, and loans collateralized by multi-family residential and commercial real estate; home equity loans and lines of credit; commercial business and real estate loans; commercial loans; and consumer loans, including automobile loans, sales finance loans, unsecured personal loans, credit card loans, and loans secured by investment accounts, as well as investment management and trust services. The company operates community banking locations in Pennsylvania, Western New York, Eastern Ohio, and Indiana. Northwest Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. has a Value Score of 68, which is considered to be undervalued.

Northwest Bancshares, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 17.4 compared to the industry median at 12.8. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Northwest Bancshares, Inc. less attractive for value investors.

Northwest Bancshares, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Northwest Bancshares, Inc. fairly attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.06.

You can read more about Northwest Bancshares, Inc.’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

TriCo Bancshares’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

TriCo Bancshares operates as a bank holding company for Tri Counties Bank that provides commercial banking services to individual and corporate customers. The company accepts demand, savings, and time deposits. It also provides small business loans; real estate mortgage loans, such as residential and commercial loans; consumer loans; mortgage, auto, other vehicle, and personal loans; commercial loans, including agricultural loans; and real estate construction loans. In addition, the company offers treasury management services; credit and debit cards; and other customary banking services, including safe deposit boxes; and independent financial and broker-dealer services. Further, it provides checking, saving, and money market accounts, as well as individual retirement accounts; equipment financing; certificate of deposit account registry service; certificated of deposit; and IntraFi cash service. TriCo Bancshares was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Chico, California.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

TriCo Bancshares has a Value Score of 61, which is considered to be undervalued.

TriCo Bancshares’s price-earnings ratio is 13.0 compared to the industry median at 12.8. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes TriCo Bancshares less attractive for value investors.

TriCo Bancshares’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make TriCo Bancshares more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.06.

You can read more about TriCo Bancshares’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc.’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for United Bank that provides banking services in the United States. The company offers checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts; business solutions, including merchant and lockbox services, cash management, business online banking, remote deposit capture, web payment capture, and advantage prepaid cards. It provides lending services, such as personal, mortgage, credit advantage, business, farm real estate, farm and timber land, and farm equipment loans, as well as small business programs, credit cards, working capital LOC/CORP production, FarmerMac, and insurance. In addition, the company offers personal convenience services comprising online/mobile banking, mobile check deposit, debit cards, overdraft services, safe deposit boxes, personal storage compartments, and estatement services; and investment/brokerage, financial education, and community advantage programs. The company was founded in 1904 and is headquartered in Atmore, Alabama.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc. has a Value Score of 85, which is considered to be undervalued.

United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 6.7 compared to the industry median at 12.8. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc. more attractive for value investors.

United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc. less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.06.

You can read more about United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc.’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Other Banks Stock Grades

Value is just one of the five Stock Grades included in our A+ Investor service. AAII members can see the top-graded stocks—those with grades of A or B for value, growth, momentum, earnings estimate revisions and quality—on the A+ Stock Grades Screener.

Also, if you want full access to all of AAII’s premium services, you can subscribe to one convenient bundled plan called AAII Platinum where you can try out A+ Investor, AAII Dividend Investing, the Stock Superstars Report, Growth Investing and VMQ Stocks. With the other premium services, you can dive deep into additional metrics, portfolios, commentary and information about Banks stocks as well as other industrys.

Choosing Which of the 5 Best Banks Stocks Is Right for You

Choosing which value stocks to invest in will ultimately depend on your individual goals and allocation; however, comparing similar value stocks in the same industry can help you analyze which might be better investments for you in the long run. So, let’s take a look at the Value Grade for all of our stocks.

• First Business Financial Services, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of B.
• First BanCorp. stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Northwest Bancshares, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of B.
• TriCo Bancshares stock has a Value Grade of B.
• United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of A.

Now that you have a bit more background about each of the 5 undervalued stocks in the Banks industry as well as their overall grades, it’s time for you to conduct additional research to see if these could fit your portfolio needs based on your goals and risk tolerance. AAII can help you figure out both and identify which investments align with what works best for you.

We do so through a program of education that teaches you to invest for yourself and become an effective manager of your own wealth—no more relying on others for your financial independence. You can rely on AAII for timeless articles on financial planning and stock-picking, unbiased research and actionable analysis that makes you a better investor.

A+ Investor adds to that qualitative teaching by giving you a powerful data suite that helps you whittle down investment decisions to find stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds that meet your needs.

Additional Resources About Banks Stocks

Want to learn more about Banks stocks to see if they could be the right investment for you? Check out some additional resources and articles to help you on your financial journey.

• 5 Undervalued Banks Stocks for Wednesday, January 01
• Which Is a Better Investment, Banc of California, Inc. or Enterprise Financial Services Corp Stock?
• Which Is a Better Investment, BankUnited, Inc. or BOK Financial Corporation Stock?
• Which Is a Better Investment, BankUnited, Inc. or Provident Financial Services, Inc. Stock?

AAII Disclaimer

We make no representations or warranties that any investor will, or is likely to, achieve profits similar to those shown, because past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Before making an investment decision, you should consider your circumstances and whether the information on our content is applicable to your situation. This information was prepared in good faith and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. The full disclaimer can be read here.