First Financial vs NBT Bancorp

This page compares First Financial Bancorp and NBT Bancorp Inc, offering an accessible view of their business models, financial performance, and market context. It explains how each company structures operations, the scale of activity, and the sectors they serve, with neutral insights designed to inform understanding, not recommendations. Educational content, not financial advice.

This page compares First Financial Bancorp and NBT Bancorp Inc, offering an accessible view of their business models, financial performance, and market context. It explains how each company structures...

Comparison Snapshot

Key Financial Metrics

FFBC

Metric

NBTB

$2.76B

Market Cap

$2.25B

5.80%

Potential Profit

4.37%

Buy

Analyst Rating

Buy

Investment Analysis

First Financial

FFBC

Pros

Reported revenue growth of 18.02% in the most recent quarter ending September 2025, showing strong recent top-line momentum.
Projected moderate revenue and earnings per share growth over 2025-2026 with analysts forecasting up to 7.4% revenue growth and 10.7% EPS growth in 2025.
Mid-sized regional bank with a $2.3 billion market capitalization, providing a stable platform for expansion through its wholly-owned subsidiary First Financial Bank.

Considerations

Annual revenue declined by about 4.94% in 2024; year-over-year revenue growth remains modest at 1.3% trailing twelve months.
Forward price-to-earnings ratio around 10 to 11 suggests limited valuation expansion potential compared to some peers.
Mixed technical signals with equal negative and positive indicators, reflecting some uncertainty in near-term stock momentum.

NBT Bancorp

NBTB

Pros

Strong profitability with a net profit margin of nearly 24% and earnings per share of $2.86 reported for the trailing twelve months.
Solid balance sheet with a low debt-to-equity ratio of about 17.2%, indicating conservative leverage and financial stability.
Provides diverse financial services including commercial banking, retail banking, wealth management, and consumer loans in multiple states.

Considerations

Reported a 7.99% decline in stock price over the past 12 months, indicating recent market challenges or investor concerns.
Revenue of $629.73 million is significantly lower than some regional peers, which may limit scale advantages.
Projected price decline by analysts and macro models toward the end of 2025 and into 2026 suggests cautious market sentiment.

About The Companies

First Financial (FFBC)

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) is a US regional bank that provides deposit, lending, treasury and wealth-management services to individuals and small-to-medium businesses. With a market capitalisation around $2.33bn, it is sensitive to changes in interest rates, loan demand and deposit flows — factors that tend to drive profitability for banks of its size. Investors should watch net interest margin, loan growth, asset quality and capital ratios as primary indicators of financial health, while also noting competition from larger banks and fintech entrants. Regional banks can offer local market knowledge but also face cyclical credit risk. This summary is for general educational purposes only and is not personal financial advice; values can rise and fall and past performance does not guarantee future results. Consider your own risk tolerance and consult a financial adviser before making investment decisions.

NBT Bancorp (NBTB)

NBT Bancorp Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in the United States. Its primary operation is NBT Bank, a full-service community bank with a significant presence across states like New York, Pennsylvania, and New England. The bank provides a comprehensive suite of services, including commercial and retail banking, as well as wealth management solutions for individuals, businesses, and municipalities. Beyond traditional banking, NBT Bancorp also operates a national benefits administration firm and a regional insurance agency, diversifying its revenue sources. For potential investors, NBT represents a company with deep roots in community banking. It is important to remember that the value of investments can go down as well as up, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. This information is for educational purposes only.

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Comparison Snapshot