First Financial Bancorp (FFBC)vsPNC Financial Services Group Inc (PNC)
FFBC
First Financial Bancorp
$30.60
+0.56%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $3.19B
PNC
PNC Financial Services Group Inc
$216.85
-1.11%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $88.06B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
PNC Financial Services Group Inc generates 2411% more annual revenue ($23.04B vs $917.75M). PNC leads profitability with a 31.3% profit margin vs 30.4%. FFBC appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.12. FFBC earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 83/100 (A-).
FFBC
Exceptional Buy83
out of 100
Grade: A-
PNC
Strong Buy75
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
Keeps 30 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 37.2%
Revenue surging 32.6% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 31.5% YoY
Reasonable price relative to book value
Keeps 31 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 36.7%
Large-cap with strong market position
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Generating 1.9B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
Weak financial health signals
Distress zone — elevated risk
Expensive relative to growth rate
Distress zone — elevated risk
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : FFBC
The strongest argument for FFBC centers on P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 30.4% and operating margin at 37.2%. Revenue growth of 32.6% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : PNC
The strongest argument for PNC centers on Price/Book, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 31.3% and operating margin at 36.7%. Revenue growth of 13.8% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : FFBC
The primary concerns for FFBC are Piotroski F-Score, Altman Z-Score.
Bear Case : PNC
The primary concerns for PNC are PEG Ratio, Altman Z-Score.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
FFBC profiles as a growth stock while PNC is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.
FFBC carries more volatility with a beta of 0.94 — expect wider price swings.
FFBC is growing revenue faster at 32.6% — sustainability is the question.
PNC generates stronger free cash flow (1.9B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
FFBC scores higher overall (83/100 vs 75/100), backed by strong 30.4% margins and 32.6% revenue growth. Both earn "Exceptional Buy" and "Strong 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 Financial Bancorp
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - REGIONAL · USA
First Financial Bancorp. The company is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.
PNC Financial Services Group Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - REGIONAL · USA
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (stylized as PNC) is a bank holding company and financial services corporation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its banking subsidiary, PNC Bank, operates in 21 states and the District of Columbia with 2,296 branches and 9,051 ATMs. The company also provides financial services such as asset management, wealth management, estate planning, loan servicing, and information processing.
Visit Website →Compare with Other BANKS - REGIONAL Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?