Based on key financial metrics such as the price-to-sales ratio, shareholder yield and the price-earnings ratio, the following 4 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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4 Undervalued Banks Stocks
Of course, there are countless value stocks that are worth mentioning, but this is a concise list of the top 4 undervalued stocks in the Banks industry for Monday, April 20, 2026. Let’s take a closer look at their individual scores to see how they measure up against each other and the Banks industry median.
| Company | Ticker | Price/Sales | Price/Earnings | EV/EBITDA | Shareholder Yield | Price/Book Value | Price/Free Cash Flow | Value Grade |
| Capital Bancorp, Inc. | CBNK | 2.35 | 9.6 | na | 2.1% | 1.33 | 9.0 | A |
| Community West Bancshares | CWBC | 3.23 | 12.2 | na | 1.0% | 1.14 | 13.4 | B |
| Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. | HWBK | 3.05 | 10.3 | na | 3.7% | 1.40 | 14.0 | B |
| First Financial Corporation | THFF | 3.15 | 10.1 | na | 2.9% | 1.23 | 12.9 | B |
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.
Capital Bancorp, Inc.’s Value Grade
Value Grade:
| Metric | Score | CBNK | Industry Median |
| Price/Sales | 54 | 2.35 | 3.33 |
| Price/Earnings | 14 | 9.6 | 12.4 |
| EV/EBITDA | na | na | 0.0 |
| Shareholder Yield | 30 | 2.1% | 2.4% |
| Price/Book Value | 35 | 1.33 | 1.17 |
| Price/Free Cash Flow | 20 | 9.0 | 16.2 |
Capital Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Capital Bank, N.A., provides various banking products and services to businesses, not-for-profit associations, and entrepreneurs in the United States. It operates through four divisions: Commercial Banking, Capital Bank Home Loans, OpenSky, Windsor Advantage. The company offers a range of deposit products, including checking and savings, time, interest bearing and noninterest-bearing demand, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; and secured, partially secured, and unsecured credit cards. It also originates residential mortgages; issues trust preferred securities; and provides residential and commercial real estate, construction, and commercial and industrial loans; servicing, processing, and packaging of Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture loans; as well as other consumer loans, such as term loans, car loans, and boat loans to small to medium-sized businesses, professionals, real estate investors, small residential builders and individuals, and financial institution clients, including Capital Bank. Capital Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.
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.
Capital Bancorp, Inc. has a Value Score of 83, which is considered to be undervalued.
When you look at Capital Bancorp, Inc.’s price-to-sales ratio at 2.35 compared to the industry median at 3.33, this company has a lower price relative to revenue compared to its peers. This could make Capital Bancorp, Inc.’s stock more attractive for value investors.
Capital Bancorp, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 9.60 compared to the industry median at 12.40. This means it has a lower share price relative to earnings compared to its peers. This could make Capital Bancorp, 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. Capital Bancorp, Inc.’s shareholder yield is lower than its industry median ratio of 2.40%. 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. Capital Bancorp, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its industry median ratio of 1.17. This could make Capital Bancorp, Inc. less attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.
Lastly, let’s take a look at Capital Bancorp, Inc.’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio (P/FCF), which can indicate a company’s market value relative to its operating cash flow. Capital Bancorp, Inc.’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 16.20. This could make Capital Bancorp, Inc. more attractive because the lower P/FCF ratio indicates that Capital Bancorp, 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.
Community West Bancshares’s Value Grade
Value Grade:
| Metric | Score | CWBC | Industry Median |
| Price/Sales | 64 | 3.23 | 3.33 |
| Price/Earnings | 24 | 12.2 | 12.4 |
| EV/EBITDA | na | na | 0.0 |
| Shareholder Yield | 36 | 1.0% | 2.4% |
| Price/Book Value | 28 | 1.14 | 1.17 |
| Price/Free Cash Flow | 33 | 13.4 | 16.2 |
Community West Bancshares operates as the bank holding company for the Central Valley Community Bank that provides various commercial banking services to small and middle-market businesses and individuals in California.
The company accepts demand, savings, and time deposits; certificates of deposit; and non-interest-bearing demand deposits, as well as provides NOW and money market accounts. It also provides products, such as commercial and industrial loans, as well as loans secured by crop production and livestock; commercial real estate construction and other land loans, real estate collateral secured by commercial or professional properties with repayment arising from the owner’s business cash flows, investor commercial real estate loans, farmland, and multi-family loans; 1-4 family close-ended, revolving real estate loans, and residential construction loans; manufactured housing loans; and equity loans, lines of credit, and installment and other consumer loans. In addition, the company offers domestic and international wire transfer, inquiry, account status, bill paying, account transfers, cash management, and other customary banking services. The company was formerly known as Central Valley Community Bancorp and changed its name to Community West Bancshares in November 2000. Community West Bancshares was founded in 1979 and is based in Fresno, 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.
Community West Bancshares has a Value Score of 70, which is considered to be undervalued.
Community West Bancshares’s price-earnings ratio is 12.2 compared to the industry median at 12.4. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Community West Bancshares more attractive for value investors.
Community West Bancshares’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Community West Bancshares less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.17.
You can read more about Community West 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.
Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc.’s Value Grade
Value Grade:
| Metric | Score | HWBK | Industry Median |
| Price/Sales | 62 | 3.05 | 3.33 |
| Price/Earnings | 16 | 10.3 | 12.4 |
| EV/EBITDA | na | na | 0.0 |
| Shareholder Yield | 21 | 3.7% | 2.4% |
| Price/Book Value | 37 | 1.40 | 1.17 |
| Price/Free Cash Flow | 35 | 14.0 | 16.2 |
Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Hawthorn Bank that provides various banking products and services to families and businesses. It offers checking and savings accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company also provides commercial and industrial, single payment personal, mortgage, installment, and commercial and residential real estate loans. In addition, it provides trust, wealth and treasury management, and brokerage services; and safety deposit boxes, debit cards, and internet banking services. Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. was formerly known as Exchange National Bancshares, Inc. and changed its name to Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. in 2007. The company was founded in 1865 and is headquartered in Jefferson City, Missouri.
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.
Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. has a Value Score of 76, which is considered to be undervalued.
Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 10.3 compared to the industry median at 12.4. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. more attractive for value investors.
Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.17.
You can read more about Hawthorn 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.
First Financial Corporation’s Value Grade
Value Grade:
| Metric | Score | THFF | Industry Median |
| Price/Sales | 64 | 3.15 | 3.33 |
| Price/Earnings | 16 | 10.1 | 12.4 |
| EV/EBITDA | na | na | 0.0 |
| Shareholder Yield | 25 | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| Price/Book Value | 32 | 1.23 | 1.17 |
| Price/Free Cash Flow | 32 | 12.9 | 16.2 |
First Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Financial Bank N.A. that provides various financial services for individuals and businesses in west-central Indiana, east-central Illinois, western Kentucky, central and eastern Tennessee, and northern Georgia in the United States. The company offers non-interest-bearing demand, interest-bearing demand, savings, time, and other time deposits; checking and savings accounts; personal and business certificates of deposit; and digital banking services. It also provides commercial loans primarily to expand a business or finance asset purchases; real estate mortgages, including residential real estate and residential real estate construction loans; home equity loans and lines, secured loans, cash/CD secured loans, and unsecured loans; mortgage refinance; personal and auto loans; and credit cards. In addition, the company offers lease financing, trust account, and depositor services; business services, including accounts receivable and payable, merchant services, fraud protection, money management, and workplace rewards; and wealth services. The company was formerly known as Terre Haute First Corporation and changed its name to First Financial Corporation in December 1984. First Financial Corporation was founded in 1834 and is headquartered in Terre Haute, Indiana.
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 Financial Corporation has a Value Score of 77, which is considered to be undervalued.
First Financial Corporation’s price-earnings ratio is 10.1 compared to the industry median at 12.4. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes First Financial Corporation more attractive for value investors.
First Financial Corporation’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make First Financial Corporation fairly attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.17.
You can read more about First Financial Corporation’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 4 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.
- Capital Bancorp, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of A.
- Community West Bancshares stock has a Value Grade of B.
- Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of B.
- First Financial Corporation stock has a Value Grade of B.
Now that you have a bit more background about each of the 4 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.
- 4 Undervalued Banks Stocks for Monday, April 20
- Does QNB Corp. (QNBC) Have Momentum?
- Is Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA) Overvalued?
- Is Banco Santander, S.A. (SAN) Overvalued?
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.
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