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 Tuesday, April 28, 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 |
| Business First Bancshares, Inc. | BFST | 2.54 | 9.7 | na | 1.6% | 0.97 | 11.4 | A |
| Hanmi Financial Corporation | HAFC | 3.59 | 12.3 | na | 4.4% | 1.15 | 5.4 | A |
| LCNB Corp. | LCNB | 2.58 | 10.1 | na | 5.3% | 0.85 | 11.0 | A |
| Provident Financial Services, Inc. | PFS | 3.43 | 10.2 | na | 3.8% | 1.05 | 9.7 | A |
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.
Business First Bancshares, Inc.’s Value Grade
Value Grade:
| Metric | Score | BFST | Industry Median |
| Price/Sales | 56 | 2.54 | 3.30 |
| Price/Earnings | 15 | 9.7 | 12.4 |
| EV/EBITDA | na | na | 0.0 |
| Shareholder Yield | 33 | 1.6% | 2.4% |
| Price/Book Value | 22 | 0.97 | 1.16 |
| Price/Free Cash Flow | 27 | 11.4 | 16.3 |
Business First Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for b1BANK that provides various banking products and services in Louisiana and Texas. It offers various deposit products and services, including checking and savings, time, and money market accounts; and certificates of deposits, remote deposit capture, and direct deposit services. The company also provides commercial and industrial loans, such as working capital, term, equipment financing, asset acquisition, expansion and development, borrowing base, and other loan products, as well as commercial lines of credit, accounts receivable factoring, agricultural financing, and letters of credit; construction and development loans; commercial real estate loans; residential real estate loans comprising first and second lien 1-4 family mortgage loans, and home equity lines of credit; and consumer loans, including secured and unsecured installment, and term loans. In addition, it offers wealth management products, including mutual funds, annuities, individual retirement accounts, and other financial products, as well as other fiduciary and private banking products and services. Further, the company provides a range of other financial services comprising debit and credit cards, treasury and cash management, merchant, automated clearing house, lock-box, receivables factoring, correspondent banking, and other treasury services, as well as employee and payroll benefits solutions; and drive-through banking facilities, automated teller machines, night depository, personalized checks, electronic funds transfer, domestic and foreign wire transfer, traveler’s checks, vault, loan and deposit sweep accounts, interest-rate swaps, small business administration products, online and mobile banking, e-statements, and bank-by-mail services. Business First Bancshares, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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.
Business First Bancshares, Inc. has a Value Score of 83, which is considered to be undervalued.
When you look at Business First Bancshares, Inc.’s price-to-sales ratio at 2.54 compared to the industry median at 3.30, this company has a lower price relative to revenue compared to its peers. This could make Business First Bancshares, Inc.’s stock more attractive for value investors.
Business First Bancshares, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 9.70 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 Business First Bancshares, 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. Business First Bancshares, 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. Business First Bancshares, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 1.16. This could make Business First Bancshares, Inc. more attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.
Lastly, let’s take a look at Business First Bancshares, Inc.’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio (P/FCF), which can indicate a company’s market value relative to its operating cash flow. Business First Bancshares, Inc.’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 16.25. This could make Business First Bancshares, Inc. more attractive because the lower P/FCF ratio indicates that Business First Bancshares, 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.
Hanmi Financial Corporation’s Value Grade
Value Grade:
| Metric | Score | HAFC | Industry Median |
| Price/Sales | 68 | 3.59 | 3.30 |
| Price/Earnings | 25 | 12.3 | 12.4 |
| EV/EBITDA | na | na | 0.0 |
| Shareholder Yield | 18 | 4.4% | 2.4% |
| Price/Book Value | 29 | 1.15 | 1.16 |
| Price/Free Cash Flow | 11 | 5.4 | 16.3 |
Hanmi Financial Corporation operates as the holding company for Hanmi Bank that provides business banking products and services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, including noninterest-bearing checking, negotiable order of withdrawal, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. It also provides real estate loans, such as commercial property, construction, and residential property loans; and commercial and industrial loans comprising commercial term loan, and commercial lines of credit and international; equipment lease financing; and international finance and trade services and products, including letters of credit, and import and export financing. In addition, the company offers small business administration loans for business purposes, such as owner-occupied commercial real estate, business acquisitions, start-ups, franchise financing, working capital, improvements and renovations, inventory and equipment, and debt-refinancing. Hanmi Financial Corporation was founded in 1982 and is based in Los Angeles, 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.
Hanmi Financial Corporation has a Value Score of 83, which is considered to be undervalued.
Hanmi Financial Corporation’s price-earnings ratio is 12.3 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 Hanmi Financial Corporation more attractive for value investors.
Hanmi Financial Corporation’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Hanmi Financial Corporation fairly attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.16.
You can read more about Hanmi 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.
LCNB Corp.’s Value Grade
Value Grade:
| Metric | Score | LCNB | Industry Median |
| Price/Sales | 56 | 2.58 | 3.30 |
| Price/Earnings | 16 | 10.1 | 12.4 |
| EV/EBITDA | na | na | 0.0 |
| Shareholder Yield | 14 | 5.3% | 2.4% |
| Price/Book Value | 18 | 0.85 | 1.16 |
| Price/Free Cash Flow | 26 | 11.0 | 16.3 |
LCNB Corp. operates as the financial holding company for LCNB National Bank that provides banking services in the United States. It offers checking and savings accounts; interest-bearing demand and money market deposit; and time certificates. The company also provides commercial and industrial, commercial and residential real estate, agricultural, construction, various types of consumer, and small business administration loans; residential mortgage loans, such as loans for purchasing or refinancing personal residences, home equity lines of credit, and loans for commercial or consumer purposes secured by residential mortgages; and consumer lending comprising automobile, boat, home improvement, and personal loans. In addition, it offers trust administration, estate settlement, and fiduciary services; and investment management of trusts, agency accounts, individual retirement accounts, and foundations/endowments. Further, the company offers investment services and products, including financial needs analysis, mutual funds, securities trading, annuities, and life insurance; and security brokerage services. Additionally, it provides safe deposit boxes, night depositories, cashier's checks, bank-by-mail, ATMs, cash and transaction services, debit cards, wire transfers, electronic funds transfer, utility bill collections, notary public service, cash management services, telephone banking, PC Internet banking, mobile banking, and other services for individuals and businesses. LCNB Corp. was founded in 1877 and is headquartered in Lebanon, 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.
LCNB Corp. has a Value Score of 90, which is considered to be undervalued.
LCNB Corp.’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 LCNB Corp. more attractive for value investors.
LCNB Corp.’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make LCNB Corp. less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.16.
You can read more about LCNB Corp.’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.
Provident Financial Services, Inc.’s Value Grade
Value Grade:
| Metric | Score | PFS | Industry Median |
| Price/Sales | 66 | 3.43 | 3.30 |
| Price/Earnings | 17 | 10.2 | 12.4 |
| EV/EBITDA | na | na | 0.0 |
| Shareholder Yield | 21 | 3.8% | 2.4% |
| Price/Book Value | 25 | 1.05 | 1.16 |
| Price/Free Cash Flow | 22 | 9.7 | 16.3 |
Provident Financial Services, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Provident Bank that provides various banking products and services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. Its deposit products include savings, checking, interest-bearing checking, money market deposit, and certificate of deposit accounts, as well as IRA products. The company’s loan portfolio comprises commercial real estate loans that are secured by properties, such as multi-family apartment buildings, retail and industrial properties, and office buildings; commercial business loans; fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage loans collateralized by one- to four-family residential real estate properties; residential mortgage loans; commercial construction loans; and consumer loans consisting of home equity loans, home equity lines of credit, personal loans and unsecured lines of credit, and auto and recreational vehicle loans. It also offers cash management, remote deposit capture, payroll origination, escrow account management, and online and mobile banking services; and business credit cards. In addition, the company provides wealth management services comprising investment management, trust and estate administration, financial planning, and tax compliance and planning; and insurance agency operations. Further, it sells insurance and investment products, including annuities; and manages and sells real estate properties acquired through foreclosure. The company was founded in 1839 and is headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey.
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.
Provident Financial Services, Inc. has a Value Score of 83, which is considered to be undervalued.
Provident Financial Services, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 10.2 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 Provident Financial Services, Inc. more attractive for value investors.
Provident Financial Services, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Provident Financial Services, Inc. less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.16.
You can read more about Provident Financial Services, 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 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.
- Business First Bancshares, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of A.
- Hanmi Financial Corporation stock has a Value Grade of A.
- LCNB Corp. stock has a Value Grade of A.
- Provident Financial Services, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of A.
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.
- Stock Market Winners: Nine Rules to Identify the Next Outperformers
- 4 Undervalued Banks Stocks for Tuesday, April 28
- Is Banco Santander, S.A. (SAN) Overvalued?
- Is Bank of America Corporation (BAC) 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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