California BanCorp (BCAL) vs Carter Bankshares (CARE)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Carter Bankshares (CARE) has outperformed California BanCorp (BCAL) over the past year, gaining 55.1% versus a gain of 27.1%. Over five years, CARE leads with a +106.1% price change compared with +37.9% for BCAL. Carter Bankshares is the larger company by market cap ($699.3 million vs $687.4 million), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, California BanCorp trades at a lower forward P/E (11.5x vs 11.6x for Carter Bankshares). California BanCorp offers the higher dividend yield (1.40% vs 0.33%).
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 | BCAL | CARE |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $21.38 | $30.19 |
| Market cap | $687.38M | $699.32M |
| 1-day change | -1.29% | -0.89% |
| YTD return | +14.52% | +53.56% |
| 1-year return | +27.11% | +55.14% |
| 5-year return | +37.94% | +106.08% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.56 | 5.21 |
| Forward P/E | 11.51 | 11.61 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.85 | $5.80 |
| Dividend yield | 1.40% | 0.33% |
| Annual dividend | $0.30 | $0.10 |
| 52-week high | $22.41 | $36.06 |
| 52-week low | $15.85 | $16.78 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -4.60% | -16.28% |
| Average volume | 208.48K | 326.69K |
| Shares outstanding | 32.15M | 23.16M |
| 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
- CARE has outperformed BCAL by 28.0 percentage points over the past year.
- California BanCorp trades at a higher earnings multiple (11.6x vs 5.2x trailing P/E).
- California BanCorp offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.40% vs 0.33%).
BCAL vs CARE FAQ
Which is bigger, California BanCorp or Carter Bankshares?
Carter Bankshares (CARE) is larger, with a market capitalization of $699.32M compared with $687.38M for California BanCorp (BCAL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BCAL or CARE?
CARE returned +55.14% over the past 12 months, compared with +27.11% for BCAL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BCAL or CARE?
CARE has the lower trailing P/E at 5.2, versus 11.6 for BCAL. 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, California BanCorp or Carter Bankshares?
California BanCorp has the higher yield at 1.40%, compared with 0.33% for Carter Bankshares.
Are California BanCorp and Carter Bankshares in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.