Bank of Marin Bancorp (BMRC) vs Investar (ISTR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Investar (ISTR) has outperformed Bank of Marin Bancorp (BMRC) over the past year, gaining 26.4% versus a gain of 13.0%. Over five years, ISTR leads with a +59.1% price change compared with -28.1% for BMRC. Bank of Marin Bancorp is the larger company by market cap ($434.0 million vs $397.3 million), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Investar trades at a lower forward P/E (8.7x vs 11.1x for Bank of Marin Bancorp). Bank of Marin Bancorp offers the higher dividend yield (3.73% vs 1.56%).
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 | BMRC | ISTR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $26.80 | $28.84 |
| Market cap | $434.01M | $397.33M |
| 1-day change | -1.25% | -0.76% |
| YTD return | +4.34% | +8.76% |
| 1-year return | +12.99% | +26.43% |
| 5-year return | -28.14% | +59.06% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 11.87 |
| Forward P/E | 11.09 | 8.75 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.90 | $2.43 |
| Dividend yield | 3.73% | 1.56% |
| Annual dividend | $1.00 | $0.45 |
| 52-week high | $30.92 | $31.77 |
| 52-week low | $22.50 | $21.43 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.32% | -9.22% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +17.91% | +18.76% |
| Average volume | 151.89K | 128.98K |
| Shares outstanding | 16.19M | 13.78M |
| Employees | 315 | 421 |
| 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
- ISTR has outperformed BMRC by 13.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Bank of Marin Bancorp offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.73% vs 1.56%).
About Bank of Marin Bancorp
BMRC stock →Bank of Marin Bancorp operates as the holding company for Bank of Marin that provides a range of financial services to small to medium-sized businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and commercial real estate investors in the United States. The company offers personal and business checking and savings accounts; and individual retirement, health savings, and demand deposit marketplace accounts, as well as time certificates of deposit, certificate of deposit account registry, and insured cash sweep services.
Finance · Major Banks · 315 employees
About Investar
ISTR stock →Investar Holding Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Investar Bank that provides a range of commercial banking products to individuals, professionals, and small to medium-sized businesses in south Louisiana, southeast Texas, and Alabama in the United States. The company offers various deposit products and services, such as savings, checking, money market, and individual retirement accounts, as well as various certificates of deposit; debit and credit cards; internet, mobile, and video banking services; and reciprocal deposit products.
Finance · Major Banks · 421 employees
BMRC vs ISTR FAQ
Which is bigger, Bank of Marin Bancorp or Investar?
Bank of Marin Bancorp (BMRC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $434.01M compared with $397.33M for Investar (ISTR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BMRC or ISTR?
ISTR returned +26.43% over the past 12 months, compared with +12.99% for BMRC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Bank of Marin Bancorp or Investar?
Bank of Marin Bancorp has the higher yield at 3.73%, compared with 1.56% for Investar.
Are Bank of Marin Bancorp and Investar in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.