First Bancorp vs Busey

This page compares First Bancorp and Busey to explain how their business models, financial performance, and market context differ. It offers neutral, accessible information on strategy, operations, and market positioning so readers can understand each organisation without bias. Educational content, not financial advice.

Comparison Snapshot

Key Financial Metrics

FBNC

Metric

BUSE

$2.39B

Market Cap

$2.16B

-1.24%

Potential Profit

4.24%

Buy

Analyst Rating

Buy

Investment Analysis

First Bancorp

FBNC

Pros

First Bancorp demonstrated solid earnings growth with diluted EPS rising to $0.93 in Q2 2025, reflecting consistent profitability improvements.
The company maintains a diversified loan portfolio including commercial, residential, SBA, and personal loans, which supports stable revenue streams.
Recent analyst upgrades lifted the price target to around $58, citing stronger-than-expected third-quarter results and an improving net interest margin.

Considerations

First Bancorp’s revenue and earnings declined in 2024 compared to the previous year, signaling near-term pressure on growth.
Price-to-earnings valuation is moderately high at around 23.3 trailing and 14.36 forward, suggesting limited margin for valuation expansion.
The stock's beta near 1.0 indicates market-level volatility, implying sensitivity to broader economic and interest rate cycles.

Busey

BUSE

Pros

First Busey Corp has a lower price-to-earnings ratio near 10.09, indicating more attractive valuation relative to its earnings.
It exhibits strong profitability with annual income exceeding $113 million and an EBIT of roughly $147 million.
The company offers a higher dividend yield at about 3.24%, providing income appeal to investors.

Considerations

First Busey’s price-to-book ratio under 1 suggests the stock may be undervalued but could also reflect underlying asset quality concerns.
The company’s beta of 0.77 indicates lower market volatility but may also point to less growth momentum compared to peers.
With earnings per share at 2.31 trailing, growth prospects may be more modest relative to regional banking peers.

About The Companies

First Bancorp (FBNC)

First Bancorp (FBNC) is a US regional bank holding company with a market capitalisation of about $2.02 billion. It provides core banking services — including deposit-taking, commercial and consumer lending, mortgage services and basic wealth management — primarily to local communities in the regions it serves. For investors, key features to note are its sensitivity to the interest-rate cycle, loan book quality and local economic conditions, which can materially affect earnings and credit losses. The company has grown through organic lending and selective acquisitions, which can offer scale but also integration and regulatory risks. As a bank, it faces standard sector considerations: capital and liquidity regulation, competition from larger banks and fintechs, and cyclical demand for credit. This summary is educational and not personalised advice: values can fall as well as rise, and past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Consider your goals and risk tolerance before making investment decisions.

Busey (BUSE)

First Busey Corporation is a US-based financial holding company that operates across three principal segments. The Banking segment, its largest, provides a comprehensive range of services to individuals and businesses through its subsidiary, Busey Bank. The Wealth Management division offers asset management, investment, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, businesses, and foundations. This includes financial planning, trust services, and business succession planning. Finally, its FirsTech segment focuses on the technology side of finance, delivering payment technology solutions and tools to help clients manage billing and reconciliation. This diversified model allows the company to serve a wide spectrum of financial needs. As with any investment, the value of shares can go down as well as up, and returns are not guaranteed. This information is for educational purposes and is not financial advice.

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Riding The Southeast Consolidation Wave

The merger of Pinnacle Financial and Synovus Financial creates a dominant regional bank in the Southeastern U.S. This major deal could trigger a wave of consolidation, creating opportunities among other regional banks poised for similar strategic moves.

Published: July 26, 2025

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Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Riding The Southeast Consolidation Wave

Published: July 26, 2025

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First Bancorp vs Busey

Comparison Snapshot

Investment Analysis

First Bancorp

Pros

Considerations

Busey

Pros

Considerations

About The Companies

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Riding The Southeast Consolidation Wave

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Riding The Southeast Consolidation Wave

Buy FBNC or BUSE in Nemo

Zero Commission

Trusted & Regulated

6% Interest on Cash

Discover More Comparisons

First Bancorp vs Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund

First Bancorp vs LendingClub

First Bancorp vs Enterprise Financial

Frequently asked questions

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Comparison Snapshot

About The Companies