Columbia Financial (CLBK) vs Eastern Bankshares (EBC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Columbia Financial (CLBK) has outperformed Eastern Bankshares (EBC) over the past year, gaining 59.9% versus a gain of 11.4%. Over five years, CLBK leads with a +26.4% price change compared with -0.9% for EBC. Eastern Bankshares is the larger company by market cap ($4.77 billion vs $2.91 billion), about 1.6 times the size.
On valuation, Eastern Bankshares trades at a lower forward P/E (9.8x vs 17.0x for Columbia Financial). Eastern Bankshares pays a dividend yielding 2.59%, while Columbia Financial 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 | CLBK | EBC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $10.80 | $20.86 |
| Market cap | $2.91B | $4.77B |
| 1-day change | -2.96% | -1.60% |
| YTD return | +52.90% | +13.19% |
| 1-year return | +59.89% | +11.37% |
| 5-year return | +26.38% | -0.90% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.62 | 11.65 |
| Forward P/E | 17.04 | 9.75 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.58 | $1.79 |
| Dividend yield | 1.80% | 2.59% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.54 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $134.09M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +19.07% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $88.22M |
| Net margin | — | 65.79% |
| 52-week high | $12.00 | $23.78 |
| 52-week low | $6.21 | $16.62 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.00% | -12.26% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +31.20% | +19.27% |
| Average volume | 6.09M | 2.39M |
| Shares outstanding | 269.55M | 228.51M |
| Employees | 749 | 2,247 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Savings Institutions | Savings Institutions |
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
- CLBK has outperformed EBC by 48.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Columbia Financial trades at a higher earnings multiple (18.6x vs 11.7x trailing P/E).
About Columbia Financial
CLBK stock →Columbia Financial, Inc. operates as a bank holding company for Columbia Bank that provides banking and other financial services to businesses and consumers in the United States.
Finance · Savings Institutions · 749 employees
About Eastern Bankshares
EBC stock →Eastern Bankshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Eastern Bank that provides banking, trust, and investment services to retail, commercial, and small business customers in the United States.
Finance · Savings Institutions · 2,247 employees
CLBK vs EBC FAQ
Which is bigger, Columbia Financial or Eastern Bankshares?
Eastern Bankshares (EBC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $4.77B compared with $2.91B for Columbia Financial (CLBK).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CLBK or EBC?
CLBK returned +59.89% over the past 12 months, compared with +11.37% for EBC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CLBK or EBC?
EBC has the lower trailing P/E at 11.7, versus 18.6 for CLBK. 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, Columbia Financial or Eastern Bankshares?
Eastern Bankshares has the higher yield at 2.59%, compared with 1.80% for Columbia Financial.
Are Columbia Financial and Eastern Bankshares in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Savings Institutions industry within the Finance sector.