First Busey Corp (BUSE)vsHartford Financial Services Group (HIG)
BUSE
First Busey Corp
$28.66
-2.42%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $2.38B
HIG
Hartford Financial Services Group
$137.09
-0.74%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $34.77B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Hartford Financial Services Group generates 3512% more annual revenue ($29.59B vs $819.07M). BUSE leads profitability with a 28.1% profit margin vs 15.6%. HIG appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.12. HIG earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 79/100 (B+).
BUSE
Buy62
out of 100
Grade: C+
HIG
Strong Buy79
out of 100
Grade: B+
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 42.4%
Keeps 28 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Growing faster than its price suggests
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Every $100 of equity generates 22 in profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 22.6%
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Weak financial health signals
Revenue declined 6.8%
Distress zone — elevated risk
3.9% revenue growth
Distress zone — elevated risk
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : BUSE
The strongest argument for BUSE centers on P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 28.1% and operating margin at 42.4%.
Bull Case : HIG
The strongest argument for HIG centers on PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Return on Equity. Profitability is solid with margins at 15.6% and operating margin at 22.6%. PEG of 0.12 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : BUSE
The primary concerns for BUSE are PEG Ratio, Piotroski F-Score, Revenue Growth.
Bear Case : HIG
The primary concerns for HIG are Revenue Growth, Altman Z-Score.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
BUSE profiles as a declining stock while HIG is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
BUSE carries more volatility with a beta of 0.74 — expect wider price swings.
HIG is growing revenue faster at 3.9% — sustainability is the question.
HIG generates stronger free cash flow (1.1B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
HIG scores higher overall (79/100 vs 62/100), backed by strong 15.6% margins. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
First Busey Corp
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - REGIONAL · USA
First Busey Corporation is the banking holding company for Busey Bank offering retail and commercial banking products and services to individual, corporate, institutional and government clients in the United States. The company is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois.
Visit Website →Hartford Financial Services Group
FINANCIAL SERVICES · INSURANCE - DIVERSIFIED · USA
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., usually known as The Hartford, is a United States-based investment and insurance company.
Visit Website →Compare with Other BANKS - REGIONAL Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?