Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG) vs West Bancorporation (WTBA)
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 West Bancorporation (WTBA) over the past year, gaining 51.0% versus a gain of 45.0%. Over five years, BWFG leads with a +120.0% price change compared with -4.4% for WTBA. Bankwell Financial Group is the larger company by market cap ($520.7 million vs $492.6 million), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, West Bancorporation trades at a lower forward P/E (10.3x vs 11.0x for Bankwell Financial Group). West Bancorporation offers the higher dividend yield (3.46% vs 1.22%).
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 | BWFG | WTBA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $65.32 | $28.90 |
| Market cap | $520.73M | $492.56M |
| 1-day change | -0.77% | -2.13% |
| YTD return | +42.56% | +30.24% |
| 1-year return | +51.03% | +45.01% |
| 5-year return | +120.01% | -4.37% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.14 | 12.84 |
| Forward P/E | 11.04 | 10.27 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.38 | $2.25 |
| Dividend yield | 1.22% | 3.46% |
| Annual dividend | $0.80 | $1.00 |
| 52-week high | $69.59 | $30.50 |
| 52-week low | $40.45 | $19.03 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -6.14% | -5.25% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +6.40% | +0.35% |
| Average volume | 72.37K | 60.92K |
| Shares outstanding | 7.97M | 17.04M |
| Employees | 167 | — |
| 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
- West Bancorporation offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.46% vs 1.22%).
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.
Financial Services · Banks - Regional · 167 employees
About West Bancorporation
WTBA stock →West Bancorporation, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for West Bank that provides community banking and trust services to individuals and small- to medium-sized businesses in the United States.
Financial Services · Banks - Regional
BWFG vs WTBA FAQ
Which is bigger, Bankwell Financial Group or West Bancorporation?
Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG) is larger, with a market capitalization of $520.73M compared with $492.56M for West Bancorporation (WTBA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BWFG or WTBA?
BWFG returned +51.03% over the past 12 months, compared with +45.01% for WTBA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BWFG or WTBA?
BWFG has the lower trailing P/E at 12.1, versus 12.8 for WTBA. 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 West Bancorporation?
West Bancorporation has the higher yield at 3.46%, compared with 1.22% for Bankwell Financial Group.
Are Bankwell Financial Group and West Bancorporation in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Banks - Regional industry within the Financial Services sector.