Columbia Financial (CLBK) vs Kearny Financial (KRNY)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Columbia Financial (CLBK) has outperformed Kearny Financial (KRNY) over the past year, gaining 59.9% versus a gain of 37.0%. Over five years, CLBK leads with a +26.4% price change compared with -30.4% for KRNY. Columbia Financial is the larger company by market cap ($2.97 billion vs $581.2 million), about 5.1 times the size.
On valuation, Kearny Financial trades at a lower forward P/E (9.2x vs 17.4x for Columbia Financial). Kearny Financial pays a dividend yielding 4.78%, 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 | KRNY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $11.01 | $9.20 |
| Market cap | $2.97B | $581.19M |
| 1-day change | +1.94% | +0.99% |
| YTD return | +52.90% | +22.94% |
| 1-year return | +59.89% | +36.99% |
| 5-year return | +26.38% | -30.35% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.98 | 16.14 |
| Forward P/E | 17.38 | 9.25 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.58 | $0.57 |
| Dividend yield | 1.85% | 4.78% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.44 |
| 52-week high | $12.00 | $10.24 |
| 52-week low | $6.21 | $6.23 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.25% | -10.16% |
| Analyst consensus | none | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +28.70% | +15.98% |
| Average volume | 6.14M | 573.84K |
| Shares outstanding | 269.55M | 63.17M |
| Employees | 749 | 502 |
| 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
- Columbia Financial is about 5.1 times larger than Kearny Financial by market value ($2.97B vs $581.19M).
- CLBK has outperformed KRNY by 22.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Kearny Financial offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.78% vs 1.85%).
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 Kearny Financial
KRNY stock →Kearny Financial Corp. operates as the holding company for Kearny Bank that provides banking products and services in the United States.
Finance · Savings Institutions · 502 employees
CLBK vs KRNY FAQ
Which is bigger, Columbia Financial or Kearny Financial?
Columbia Financial (CLBK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.97B compared with $581.19M for Kearny Financial (KRNY).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CLBK or KRNY?
CLBK returned +59.89% over the past 12 months, compared with +36.99% for KRNY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CLBK or KRNY?
KRNY has the lower trailing P/E at 16.1, versus 19.0 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 Kearny Financial?
Kearny Financial has the higher yield at 4.78%, compared with 1.85% for Columbia Financial.
Are Columbia Financial and Kearny Financial in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Savings Institutions industry within the Finance sector.