Banc of California (BANC) vs First Merchants (FRME)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
First Merchants (FRME) has outperformed Banc of California (BANC) over the past year, gaining 3.3% versus a loss of 2.5%. Over five years, FRME leads with a -8.4% price change compared with -9.9% for BANC. Banc of California is the larger company by market cap ($2.75 billion vs $2.49 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while First Merchants is growing revenue faster (+2.5% vs -3.8%).
On valuation, Banc of California trades at a lower forward P/E (8.1x vs 8.9x for First Merchants). First Merchants offers the higher dividend yield (3.66% vs 2.54%). First Merchants converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 34.1% versus 12.6%.
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 | BANC | FRME |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $17.35 | $39.59 |
| Market cap | $2.75B | $2.49B |
| 1-day change | +1.05% | +0.76% |
| YTD return | -10.99% | +4.83% |
| 1-year return | -2.50% | +3.26% |
| 5-year return | -9.87% | -8.41% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 12.73 |
| Forward P/E | 8.11 | 8.86 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.42 | $3.11 |
| Dividend yield | 2.54% | 3.66% |
| Annual dividend | $0.44 | $1.45 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.82B | $662.95M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -3.76% | +2.51% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $228.97M | $226.00M |
| Net margin | 12.59% | 34.09% |
| 52-week high | $21.93 | $45.33 |
| 52-week low | $15.33 | $34.66 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -20.88% | -12.66% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.82% | +18.29% |
| Average volume | 2.89M | 462.61K |
| Shares outstanding | 157.95M | 62.80M |
| Employees | 1,904 | 2,086 |
| 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
- First Merchants offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.66% vs 2.54%).
- First Merchants is more profitable, keeping 34.1 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 12.6 cents for Banc of California.
- First Merchants grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+2.51% vs -3.76%).
About Banc of California
BANC stock →Banc of California, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Banc of California that provides banking and treasury management services in the United States.
Finance · Major Banks · 1,904 employees
About First Merchants
FRME stock →First Merchants Corporation operates as the financial holding company for First Merchants Bank that provides commercial and consumer banking services. The company offers a range of financial services, including checking, savings, and deposit products; debit and credit cards; mortgages, refinance, construction or renovation of residential properties, agricultural lending, treasury management services and depository products.
Finance · Major Banks · 2,086 employees
BANC vs FRME FAQ
Which is bigger, Banc of California or First Merchants?
Banc of California (BANC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.75B compared with $2.49B for First Merchants (FRME).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BANC or FRME?
FRME returned +3.26% over the past 12 months, compared with -2.50% for BANC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Banc of California or First Merchants?
First Merchants has the higher yield at 3.66%, compared with 2.54% for Banc of California.
Are Banc of California and First Merchants in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.