First Busey (BUSE) vs WaFd (WAFD)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
First Busey (BUSE) has outperformed WaFd (WAFD) over the past year, gaining 25.0% versus a gain of 0.2%. Over five years, BUSE leads with a +13.1% price change compared with -18.2% for WAFD. First Busey is the larger company by market cap ($2.39 billion vs $2.18 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, WaFd trades at a lower forward P/E (8.4x vs 10.5x for First Busey). WaFd offers the higher dividend yield (3.63% 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 | WAFD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $28.97 | $29.47 |
| Market cap | $2.39B | $2.18B |
| 1-day change | -1.46% | -1.50% |
| YTD return | +21.77% | -7.99% |
| 1-year return | +24.98% | +0.24% |
| 5-year return | +13.12% | -18.18% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.97 | 9.30 |
| Forward P/E | 10.55 | 8.40 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.42 | $3.17 |
| Dividend yield | 3.52% | 3.63% |
| Annual dividend | $1.02 | $1.07 |
| 52-week high | $31.70 | $39.49 |
| 52-week low | $22.00 | $26.31 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.61% | -25.37% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +11.94% | +17.07% |
| Average volume | 775.63K | 880.61K |
| Shares outstanding | 82.58M | 74.01M |
| Employees | 1,833 | 2,055 |
| 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 WAFD by 24.7 percentage points over the past year.
- First Busey trades at a higher earnings multiple (12.0x vs 9.3x 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.
Finance · Major Banks · 1,833 employees
About WaFd
WAFD stock →WaFd, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Washington Federal Bank that provides lending, depository, insurance, and other banking services in the United States.
Finance · Major Banks · 2,055 employees
BUSE vs WAFD FAQ
Which is bigger, First Busey or WaFd?
First Busey (BUSE) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.39B compared with $2.18B for WaFd (WAFD).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BUSE or WAFD?
BUSE returned +24.98% over the past 12 months, compared with +0.24% for WAFD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BUSE or WAFD?
WAFD has the lower trailing P/E at 9.3, versus 12.0 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 WaFd?
WaFd has the higher yield at 3.63%, compared with 3.52% for First Busey.
Are First Busey and WaFd in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.