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, May 13, 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.

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.

Ames National Corporation’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Ames National Corporation operates as a multi-bank holding company that provides banking products and services primarily in Boone, Clarke, Hancock, Marshall, Polk, Story, Taylor, and Union Counties in central, north-central, and south-central Iowa. It accepts various deposit products, including checking and savings accounts; and time deposits, such as money market accounts and certificates of deposit. The company also provides loans, such as short-term and medium-term commercial, multi-family and agricultural real estate, residential real estate loans, equipment, vehicle, and home improvement loans; consumer loans to finance consumer purchases, such as automobiles, trucks, recreational vehicles, household furnishings, boats, personal loans, and lines of credit; agricultural and business operating loans and lines of credit; and originates mortgage loans for sale into the secondary market. In addition, it offers cash management, merchant credit card processing, safe deposit box, wire transfer, direct deposit, and automated/video teller machine access services; and automatic drafts for various accounts, as well as wealth management services. Further, it provides farm management, investment, and custodial services for individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations; and online, mobile, and private banking services. Ames National Corporation was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Ames, Iowa.

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.

Ames National Corporation has a Value Score of 69, which is considered to be undervalued.

When you look at Ames National Corporation’s price-to-sales ratio at 3.58 compared to the industry median at 3.22, this company has a higher price relative to revenue compared to its peers. This could make Ames National Corporation’s stock less attractive for value investors.

Ames National Corporation’s price-earnings ratio is 11.50 compared to the industry median at 11.70. This means it has a lower share price relative to earnings compared to its peers. This could make Ames National Corporation 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. Ames National Corporation’s shareholder yield is higher than its industry median ratio of 2.50%. 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. Ames National Corporation’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its industry median ratio of 1.14. This could make Ames National Corporation less attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.

Lastly, let’s take a look at Ames National Corporation’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio (P/FCF), which can indicate a company’s market value relative to its operating cash flow. Ames National Corporation’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio is higher than its industry median ratio of 15.20. This could make Ames National Corporation less attractive because the higher P/FCF ratio indicates that Ames National Corporation 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 Farmers and Merchants Corporation’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

First Farmers and Merchants Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Farmers and Merchants Bank that provides a range of banking and financial services to individual and corporate customers in Middle Tennessee and Northern Alabama. The company offers checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts, and certificates of deposit. Its loan portfolio includes home and commercial mortgages; home equity, auto, personal, and farm loans; credit cards; equipment and construction lending; equipment leasing; lines of credit; and other loan products. The company also offers wealth management and trust and investment services; and treasury management solutions, which include accounts receivable and payable, fraud prevention, and account management solutions, as well as online and mobile banking services. The company was founded in 1909 and is based in Columbia, Tennessee.

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 Farmers and Merchants Corporation has a Value Score of 74, which is considered to be undervalued.

First Farmers and Merchants Corporation’s price-earnings ratio is 12.3 compared to the industry median at 11.7. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes First Farmers and Merchants Corporation less attractive for value investors.

First Farmers and Merchants Corporation’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make First Farmers and Merchants Corporation more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.14.

You can read more about First Farmers and Merchants 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.

Home BancShares, Inc.’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Home BancShares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Centennial Bank that provides commercial and retail banking, and related financial services to businesses, real estate developers and investors, individuals, and municipalities in the United States. The company offers deposit services, including checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. It also provides loans comprising non-farm/non-residential real estate, construction/land development, residential mortgage, consumer, agricultural, and commercial and industrial loans. In addition, the company offers other banking services, such as internet and mobile banking, voice response information, cash management, overdraft protection, direct deposit, and automatic account transfer services, as well as safe deposit boxes and the United States savings bonds. Further, it provides trust, wealth management, and custodial services, as well as trustee services, escrow, and paying agent services. Additionally, the company writes policies for commercial and personal lines of business, including insurance for property, casualty, life, health, and employee benefits. It operates its branches in Arkansas, Florida, Texas, South Alabama, and New York City. Home BancShares, Inc. was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Conway, Arkansas.

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.

Home BancShares, Inc. has a Value Score of 64, which is considered to be undervalued.

Home BancShares, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 10.8 compared to the industry median at 11.7. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Home BancShares, Inc. more attractive for value investors.

Home BancShares, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Home BancShares, Inc. more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.14.

You can read more about Home 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.

MVB Financial Corp.’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

MVB Financial Corp. operates as bank holding company for MVB Bank, Inc that provides financial services to individuals and corporate clients. The company operates through three segments: CoRe Banking, Mortgage Banking, and Financial Holding Company. It offers various demand deposit accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit; and commercial, consumer, and real estate mortgage loans, as well as lines of credit. The company provides debit cards; cashier’s checks; safe deposit rental facilities; and non-deposit investment services, as well as financial technology (Fintech) banking services. In addition, it offers fintech solutions for the gaming, payments, banking-as-a-service, and digital asset sectors; fraud prevention services for merchants, credit agencies, Fintech companies, and other vendors; and digital products and web and mobile applications for forward-thinking community banks, credit unions, digital banks, and Fintech companies. It operates full-service branches in West Virginia and Virginia. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Fairmont, West Virginia.

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.

MVB Financial Corp. has a Value Score of 85, which is considered to be undervalued.

MVB Financial Corp.’s price-earnings ratio is 11.7 compared to the industry median at 11.7. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes MVB Financial Corp. fairly attractive for value investors.

MVB Financial Corp.’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make MVB Financial Corp. less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.14.

You can read more about MVB Financial 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.

Parke Bancorp, Inc.’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Parke Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Parke Bank that provides personal and business financial services to individuals and small to mid-sized businesses. Its accepts various deposit products, including checking, savings, money market, time, and other traditional deposit services, as well as individual retirement accounts and certificates of deposit. The company’s loan portfolio consists of residential, commercial real estate, construction, commercial and industry, and consumer loans. It also offers debit cards, internet banking, and online bill payment services. Parke Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Washington Township, 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.

Parke Bancorp, Inc. has a Value Score of 81, which is considered to be undervalued.

Parke Bancorp, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 8.6 compared to the industry median at 11.7. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Parke Bancorp, Inc. more attractive for value investors.

Parke Bancorp, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Parke Bancorp, Inc. fairly attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.14.

You can read more about Parke Bancorp, 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.

• Ames National Corporation stock has a Value Grade of B.
• First Farmers and Merchants Corporation stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Home BancShares, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of B.
• MVB Financial Corp. stock has a Value Grade of A.
• Parke Bancorp, 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, May 13
• Is Banco Santander, S.A. (SAN) Overvalued?
• Is Bank of America Corporation (BAC) Overvalued?
• Is HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) 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.