First Merchants Corporation (FRME)vsPNC Financial Services Group Inc (PNC)
FRME
First Merchants Corporation
$40.66
-0.66%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $2.55B
PNC
PNC Financial Services Group Inc
$228.25
+1.57%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $86.73B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
PNC Financial Services Group Inc generates 3589% more annual revenue ($24.94B vs $676.12M). PNC leads profitability with a 31.7% profit margin vs 29.2%. FRME appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.40. FRME earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 78/100 (B+).
FRME
Strong Buy78
out of 100
Grade: B+
PNC
Strong Buy75
out of 100
Grade: B
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 45.0%
Keeps 29 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Revenue surging 21.0% year-over-year
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
Keeps 32 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 41.1%
Large-cap with strong market position
Generating 2.1B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
ROE of 7.4% — below average capital efficiency
Distress zone — elevated risk
Expensive relative to growth rate
Elevated debt levels
Distress zone — elevated risk
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : FRME
The strongest argument for FRME centers on Price/Book, Operating Margin, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 29.2% and operating margin at 45.0%. Revenue growth of 21.0% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : PNC
The strongest argument for PNC centers on P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 31.7% and operating margin at 41.1%. Revenue growth of 10.9% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : FRME
The primary concerns for FRME are Return on Equity, Altman Z-Score.
Bear Case : PNC
The primary concerns for PNC are PEG Ratio, Debt/Equity, Altman Z-Score.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
FRME profiles as a growth stock while PNC is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.
PNC carries more volatility with a beta of 0.93 — expect wider price swings.
FRME is growing revenue faster at 21.0% — sustainability is the question.
PNC generates stronger free cash flow (2.1B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
FRME scores higher overall (78/100 vs 75/100), backed by strong 29.2% margins and 21.0% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong 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 Merchants Corporation
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - REGIONAL · USA
First Merchants Corporation is the financial holding company for First Merchants Bank providing community banking services. The company is headquartered in Muncie, Indiana.
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.
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