First Busey (BUSE) vs Merchants Bancorp (MBIN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Merchants Bancorp (MBIN) has outperformed First Busey (BUSE) over the past year, gaining 53.8% versus a gain of 25.0%. Over five years, MBIN leads with a +77.2% price change compared with +13.1% for BUSE. First Busey is the larger company by market cap ($2.38 billion vs $2.26 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Merchants Bancorp trades at a lower forward P/E (8.2x vs 10.5x for First Busey). First Busey offers the higher dividend yield (3.53% vs 0.85%).
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 | MBIN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $28.86 | $49.17 |
| Market cap | $2.38B | $2.26B |
| 1-day change | -0.40% | -0.30% |
| YTD return | +21.77% | +44.80% |
| 1-year return | +24.98% | +53.79% |
| 5-year return | +13.12% | +77.20% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.92 | 9.87 |
| Forward P/E | 10.50 | 8.18 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.42 | $4.98 |
| Dividend yield | 3.53% | 0.85% |
| Annual dividend | $1.02 | $0.42 |
| 52-week high | $31.70 | $56.87 |
| 52-week low | $22.00 | $30.37 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.97% | -13.54% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +12.39% | +30.16% |
| Average volume | 776.68K | 185.79K |
| Shares outstanding | 82.58M | 45.94M |
| Employees | 1,833 | 735 |
| 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
- MBIN has outperformed BUSE by 28.8 percentage points over the past year.
- First Busey offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.53% vs 0.85%).
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 Merchants Bancorp
MBIN stock →Merchants Bancorp operates as the diversified bank holding company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Multi-family Mortgage Banking, Mortgage Warehousing, and Banking.
Finance · Major Banks · 735 employees
BUSE vs MBIN FAQ
Which is bigger, First Busey or Merchants Bancorp?
First Busey (BUSE) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.38B compared with $2.26B for Merchants Bancorp (MBIN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BUSE or MBIN?
MBIN returned +53.79% over the past 12 months, compared with +24.98% for BUSE (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BUSE or MBIN?
MBIN has the lower trailing P/E at 9.9, versus 11.9 for BUSE. 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 Merchants Bancorp?
First Busey has the higher yield at 3.53%, compared with 0.85% for Merchants Bancorp.
Are First Busey and Merchants Bancorp in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.