MetaCap

Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG) vs Unity Bancorp (UNTY)

Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.

Summary

Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG) has outperformed Unity Bancorp (UNTY) over the past year, gaining 52.3% versus a gain of 14.4%. Over five years, BWFG leads with a +121.2% price change compared with +118.7% for UNTY. Unity Bancorp is the larger company by market cap ($545.6 million vs $515.9 million), about 1.1 times the size.

On valuation, Unity Bancorp trades at a lower forward P/E (8.6x vs 10.9x for Bankwell Financial Group). Bankwell Financial Group offers the higher dividend yield (1.24% vs 1.14%).

Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology

Relative performance

BWFG+52.31%UNTY+14.44%
+62%+26%-10%
Oct 8, 20251 yearOct 8, 2026
BWFG+119.31%UNTY+130.98%
+168%+66%-35%
Oct 4, 20215 yearsOct 5, 2026

Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.

Head-to-head

BWFG versus UNTY key metrics
MetricBWFGUNTY
Share price$64.72$54.33
Market cap$515.95M$545.61M
1-day change-1.43%-1.67%
YTD return+43.30%+6.83%
1-year return+52.31%+14.44%
5-year return+121.15%+118.73%
P/E ratio (TTM)12.039.45
Forward P/E10.918.59
EPS (TTM)$5.38$5.75
Dividend yield1.24%1.14%
Annual dividend$0.80$0.62
52-week high$69.59$62.50
52-week low$40.45$44.34
Distance from 52-week high-7.00%-13.07%
Analyst consensusholdstrong_buy
Avg. price target upside+7.39%+26.17%
Average volume71.10K59.50K
Shares outstanding7.97M10.04M
Employees167249
SectorFinanceFinance
IndustryMajor BanksMajor 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 UNTY by 37.9 percentage points over the past year.
  • Bankwell Financial Group trades at a higher earnings multiple (12.0x vs 9.4x trailing P/E).

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

About Unity Bancorp

UNTY stock →

Unity Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Unity Bank that provides commercial and retail banking services.

Finance · Major Banks · 249 employees

BWFG vs UNTY FAQ

Which is bigger, Bankwell Financial Group or Unity Bancorp?

Unity Bancorp (UNTY) is larger, with a market capitalization of $545.61M compared with $515.95M for Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG).

Which stock has performed better over the past year, BWFG or UNTY?

BWFG returned +52.31% over the past 12 months, compared with +14.44% for UNTY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.

Which has the lower P/E ratio, BWFG or UNTY?

UNTY has the lower trailing P/E at 9.4, versus 12.0 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, Bankwell Financial Group or Unity Bancorp?

Bankwell Financial Group has the higher yield at 1.24%, compared with 1.14% for Unity Bancorp.

Are Bankwell Financial Group and Unity Bancorp in the same industry?

Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.

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