BankUnited (BKU) vs Columbia Financial (CLBK)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Columbia Financial (CLBK) has outperformed BankUnited (BKU) over the past year, gaining 59.9% versus a gain of 5.9%. Over five years, CLBK leads with a +26.4% price change compared with +0.6% for BKU. BankUnited is the larger company by market cap ($3.01 billion vs $2.91 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, BankUnited trades at a lower forward P/E (9.5x vs 17.0x for Columbia Financial). BankUnited pays a dividend yielding 3.03%, while Columbia Financial does not currently pay one.
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 | BKU | CLBK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $42.26 | $10.80 |
| Market cap | $3.01B | $2.91B |
| 1-day change | -1.49% | -2.96% |
| YTD return | -5.18% | +52.90% |
| 1-year return | +5.89% | +59.89% |
| 5-year return | +0.64% | +26.38% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.77 | 19.29 |
| Forward P/E | 9.48 | 17.04 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.59 | $0.56 |
| Dividend yield | 3.03% | 1.85% |
| Annual dividend | $1.28 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $21.73M | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +7.45% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $268.35M | — |
| Net margin | 1234.83% | — |
| 52-week high | $52.11 | $12.00 |
| 52-week low | $35.10 | $6.21 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -18.90% | -10.00% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.52% | +31.20% |
| Average volume | 883.14K | 6.09M |
| Shares outstanding | 71.23M | 269.55M |
| Employees | 1,785 | 749 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Savings Institutions | Savings Institutions |
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
- CLBK has outperformed BKU by 54.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Columbia Financial trades at a higher earnings multiple (19.3x vs 11.8x trailing P/E).
- BankUnited offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.03% vs 1.85%).
About BankUnited
BKU stock →BankUnited, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for BankUnited, a national banking association that provides a range of banking services in the United States.
Finance · Savings Institutions · 1,785 employees
About Columbia Financial
CLBK stock →Columbia Financial, Inc. operates as a bank holding company for Columbia Bank that provides banking and other financial services to businesses and consumers in the United States.
Finance · Savings Institutions · 749 employees
BKU vs CLBK FAQ
Which is bigger, BankUnited or Columbia Financial?
BankUnited (BKU) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.01B compared with $2.91B for Columbia Financial (CLBK).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BKU or CLBK?
CLBK returned +59.89% over the past 12 months, compared with +5.89% for BKU (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BKU or CLBK?
BKU has the lower trailing P/E at 11.8, versus 19.3 for CLBK. 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, BankUnited or Columbia Financial?
BankUnited has the higher yield at 3.03%, compared with 1.85% for Columbia Financial.
Are BankUnited and Columbia Financial in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Savings Institutions industry within the Finance sector.