First Busey (BUSE) 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 Busey (BUSE) has outperformed First Merchants (FRME) over the past year, gaining 25.0% versus a gain of 3.3%. Over five years, BUSE leads with a +13.1% price change compared with -8.4% for FRME. First Merchants is the larger company by market cap ($2.47 billion vs $2.39 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, First Merchants trades at a lower forward P/E (8.8x vs 10.5x for First Busey). First Merchants offers the higher dividend yield (3.69% vs 3.52%).
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 | BUSE | FRME |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $28.97 | $39.29 |
| Market cap | $2.39B | $2.47B |
| 1-day change | -1.46% | -0.96% |
| YTD return | +21.77% | +4.83% |
| 1-year return | +24.98% | +3.26% |
| 5-year return | +13.12% | -8.41% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.12 | 12.63 |
| Forward P/E | 10.55 | 8.76 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.39 | $3.11 |
| Dividend yield | 3.52% | 3.69% |
| Annual dividend | $1.02 | $1.45 |
| 52-week high | $31.70 | $45.33 |
| 52-week low | $22.00 | $34.66 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.61% | -13.32% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +11.94% | +19.19% |
| Average volume | 775.63K | 458.51K |
| Shares outstanding | 82.58M | 62.80M |
| Employees | 1,833 | 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
- BUSE has outperformed FRME by 21.7 percentage points over the past year.
About First Busey
BUSE stock →First Busey Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Busey Bank that engages in the provision of retail and commercial banking products and services to individual, corporate, institutional, and governmental customers in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Banking, Wealth Management, and FirsTech.
Finance · Major Banks · 1,833 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
BUSE vs FRME FAQ
Which is bigger, First Busey or First Merchants?
First Merchants (FRME) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.47B compared with $2.39B for First Busey (BUSE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BUSE or FRME?
BUSE returned +24.98% over the past 12 months, compared with +3.26% for FRME (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BUSE or FRME?
BUSE has the lower trailing P/E at 12.1, versus 12.6 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, First Busey or First Merchants?
First Merchants has the higher yield at 3.69%, compared with 3.52% for First Busey.
Are First Busey and First Merchants in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.