Banner (BANR) vs First Merchants (FRME)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Banner (BANR) has outperformed First Merchants (FRME) over the past year, gaining 5.6% versus a gain of 4.8%. Over five years, BANR leads with a +16.2% price change compared with -7.7% for FRME. First Merchants is the larger company by market cap ($2.45 billion vs $2.43 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, First Merchants trades at a lower forward P/E (8.7x vs 9.9x for Banner). First Merchants offers the higher dividend yield (3.72% vs 3.01%).
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 | BANR | FRME |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $66.43 | $39.00 |
| Market cap | $2.43B | $2.45B |
| 1-day change | -0.66% | -1.49% |
| YTD return | +6.02% | +5.63% |
| 1-year return | +5.65% | +4.79% |
| 5-year return | +16.19% | -7.72% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.03 | 12.54 |
| Forward P/E | 9.85 | 8.72 |
| EPS (TTM) | $6.02 | $3.11 |
| Dividend yield | 3.01% | 3.72% |
| Annual dividend | $2.00 | $1.45 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $662.95M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +2.51% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $195.38M | $226.00M |
| Net margin | — | 34.09% |
| 52-week high | $74.84 | $45.33 |
| 52-week low | $57.05 | $34.66 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -11.24% | -13.96% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +14.15% | +20.08% |
| Average volume | 342.46K | 462.61K |
| Shares outstanding | 36.64M | 62.80M |
| Employees | 1,888 | 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.
About Banner
BANR stock →Banner Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Banner Bank that engages in the provision of commercial banking and financial products and services to individuals, businesses, and public sector entities in the United States. It accepts various deposit instruments, including interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing checking accounts, money market deposit accounts, regular savings accounts, and certificates of deposit, as well as treasury management services and retirement savings plans.
Finance · Major Banks · 1,888 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
BANR vs FRME FAQ
Which is bigger, Banner or First Merchants?
First Merchants (FRME) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.45B compared with $2.43B for Banner (BANR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BANR or FRME?
BANR returned +5.65% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.79% for FRME (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BANR or FRME?
BANR has the lower trailing P/E at 11.0, versus 12.5 for FRME. 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, Banner or First Merchants?
First Merchants has the higher yield at 3.72%, compared with 3.01% for Banner.
Are Banner and First Merchants in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.