Bridgewater Bancshares (BWB) vs Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG) has outperformed Bridgewater Bancshares (BWB) over the past year, gaining 51.0% versus a gain of 14.7%. Over five years, BWFG leads with a +120.0% price change compared with +13.3% for BWB. Bridgewater Bancshares is the larger company by market cap ($568.3 million vs $523.4 million), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Bridgewater Bancshares trades at a lower forward P/E (9.7x vs 11.1x for Bankwell Financial Group). Bankwell Financial Group pays a dividend yielding 1.22%, while Bridgewater Bancshares does not currently pay one.
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 | BWB | BWFG |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $20.38 | $65.66 |
| Market cap | $568.27M | $523.44M |
| 1-day change | +0.84% | +0.52% |
| YTD return | +15.29% | +42.56% |
| 1-year return | +14.70% | +51.03% |
| 5-year return | +13.35% | +120.01% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.08 | 12.20 |
| Forward P/E | 9.74 | 11.07 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.84 | $5.38 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.22% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.80 |
| 52-week high | $22.62 | $69.59 |
| 52-week low | $16.06 | $40.45 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.90% | -5.65% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +17.76% | +5.85% |
| Average volume | 142.22K | 71.84K |
| Shares outstanding | 27.88M | 7.97M |
| Employees | 355 | 167 |
| 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
- BWFG has outperformed BWB by 36.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Bankwell Financial Group offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.22% vs 0.00%).
About Bridgewater Bancshares
BWB stock →Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Bridgewater Bank that provides banking products and services in the United States.
Finance · Major Banks · 355 employees
About Bankwell Financial Group
BWFG stock →Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Bankwell Bank that provides various banking services for individual and commercial customers.
Finance · Major Banks · 167 employees
BWB vs BWFG FAQ
Which is bigger, Bridgewater Bancshares or Bankwell Financial Group?
Bridgewater Bancshares (BWB) is larger, with a market capitalization of $568.27M compared with $523.44M for Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BWB or BWFG?
BWFG returned +51.03% over the past 12 months, compared with +14.70% for BWB (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BWB or BWFG?
BWB has the lower trailing P/E at 11.1, versus 12.2 for BWFG. 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, Bridgewater Bancshares or Bankwell Financial Group?
Bankwell Financial Group pays a dividend yielding 1.22%, while Bridgewater Bancshares does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Bridgewater Bancshares and Bankwell Financial Group in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.