Alerus Financial (ALRS) vs Financial Institutions (FISI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 11, 2026.
Summary
Alerus Financial (ALRS) has outperformed Financial Institutions (FISI) over the past year, gaining 49.3% versus a gain of 41.9%. Over five years, FISI leads with a +21.6% price change compared with -0.8% for ALRS. Alerus Financial is the larger company by market cap ($774.5 million vs $757.7 million), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Financial Institutions trades at a lower forward P/E (8.9x vs 11.1x for Alerus Financial). Financial Institutions offers the higher dividend yield (3.28% vs 2.74%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ALRS | FISI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $31.07 | $38.45 |
| Market cap | $774.50M | $757.71M |
| 1-day change | -1.86% | -1.54% |
| YTD return | +37.97% | +23.36% |
| 1-year return | +49.30% | +41.93% |
| 5-year return | -0.80% | +21.56% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 28.77 | 9.54 |
| Forward P/E | 11.06 | 8.94 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.08 | $4.03 |
| Dividend yield | 2.74% | 3.28% |
| Annual dividend | $0.85 | $1.26 |
| 52-week high | $34.40 | $42.97 |
| 52-week low | $20.31 | $25.61 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.68% | -10.52% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.29% | +17.04% |
| Average volume | 186.42K | 143.29K |
| Shares outstanding | 24.93M | 19.71M |
| Employees | 821 | 631 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Major Banks | Major Banks |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Alerus Financial trades at a higher earnings multiple (28.8x vs 9.5x trailing P/E).
About Alerus Financial
ALRS stock →Alerus Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Alerus Financial, National Association that provides various financial services to businesses and consumers in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Banking, Retirement and Benefit Services, and Wealth.
Finance · Major Banks · 821 employees
About Financial Institutions
FISI stock →Financial Institutions, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial services to consumer, commercial, and municipal customers in New York. The company provides checking and savings account programs, including money market accounts, certificates of deposit, sweep investments, and individual retirement and other qualified plan accounts, as well as NOW accounts.
Finance · Major Banks · 631 employees
ALRS vs FISI FAQ
Which is bigger, Alerus Financial or Financial Institutions?
Alerus Financial (ALRS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $774.50M compared with $757.71M for Financial Institutions (FISI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ALRS or FISI?
ALRS returned +49.30% over the past 12 months, compared with +41.93% for FISI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ALRS or FISI?
FISI has the lower trailing P/E at 9.5, versus 28.8 for ALRS. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Alerus Financial or Financial Institutions?
Financial Institutions has the higher yield at 3.28%, compared with 2.74% for Alerus Financial.
Are Alerus Financial and Financial Institutions in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.