First Busey (BUSE) vs Bank OZK (OZK)
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 Bank OZK (OZK) over the past year, gaining 25.0% versus a loss of 13.8%. Over five years, BUSE leads with a +14.1% price change compared with +0.8% for OZK. Bank OZK is the larger company by market cap ($4.89 billion vs $2.41 billion), about 2.0 times the size.
On valuation, Bank OZK trades at a lower forward P/E (7.4x vs 10.7x for First Busey). Bank OZK offers the higher dividend yield (4.06% vs 3.49%).
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 | OZK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $29.22 | $44.86 |
| Market cap | $2.41B | $4.89B |
| 1-day change | +0.86% | +2.98% |
| YTD return | +22.82% | -2.52% |
| 1-year return | +25.03% | -13.78% |
| 5-year return | +14.10% | +0.76% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.07 | 7.40 |
| Forward P/E | 10.66 | 7.41 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.42 | $6.06 |
| Dividend yield | 3.49% | 4.06% |
| Annual dividend | $1.02 | $1.82 |
| 52-week high | $31.70 | $53.39 |
| 52-week low | $22.00 | $42.37 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -7.82% | -15.98% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +10.99% | +19.88% |
| Average volume | 776.68K | 1.21M |
| Shares outstanding | 82.58M | 109.04M |
| Employees | 1,833 | 3,286 |
| Sector | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
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
- Bank OZK is about 2.0 times larger than First Busey by market value ($4.89B vs $2.41B).
- BUSE has outperformed OZK by 38.8 percentage points over the past year.
- First Busey trades at a higher earnings multiple (12.1x vs 7.4x trailing P/E).
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.
Financial Services · Banks - Regional · 1,833 employees
About Bank OZK
OZK stock →Bank OZK operates as a full-service Arkansas state-chartered bank that provides retail and commercial banking services. The company provides deposit services, including non-interest-bearing checking, interest bearing transaction, business sweep, savings, money market, individual retirement, and other accounts, as well as time and reciprocal deposits.
Financial Services · Banks - Regional · 3,286 employees
BUSE vs OZK FAQ
Which is bigger, First Busey or Bank OZK?
Bank OZK (OZK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $4.89B compared with $2.41B for First Busey (BUSE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BUSE or OZK?
BUSE returned +25.03% over the past 12 months, compared with -13.78% for OZK (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BUSE or OZK?
OZK has the lower trailing P/E at 7.4, versus 12.1 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 Bank OZK?
Bank OZK has the higher yield at 4.06%, compared with 3.49% for First Busey.
Are First Busey and Bank OZK in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Banks - Regional industry within the Financial Services sector.