Columbia Financial (CLBK) vs Provident Financial Services (PFS)
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 Provident Financial Services (PFS) over the past year, gaining 59.9% versus a gain of 11.8%. Over five years, CLBK leads with a +26.4% price change compared with -11.1% for PFS. Columbia Financial is the larger company by market cap ($2.91 billion vs $2.87 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Provident Financial Services trades at a lower forward P/E (8.5x vs 17.0x for Columbia Financial). Provident Financial Services pays a dividend yielding 2.18%, 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 | PFS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $10.80 | $21.97 |
| Market cap | $2.91B | $2.87B |
| 1-day change | -2.96% | -1.39% |
| YTD return | +52.90% | +11.24% |
| 1-year return | +59.89% | +11.81% |
| 5-year return | +26.38% | -11.05% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.29 | 9.15 |
| Forward P/E | 17.04 | 8.47 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.56 | $2.40 |
| Dividend yield | 1.85% | 2.18% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.48 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $73.11M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +7.06% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $291.16M |
| Net margin | — | 398.25% |
| 52-week high | $12.00 | $25.49 |
| 52-week low | $6.21 | $17.69 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.00% | -13.81% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +31.20% | +26.31% |
| Average volume | 6.09M | 899.87K |
| Shares outstanding | 269.55M | 130.42M |
| Employees | 749 | 1,817 |
| 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 PFS by 48.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Columbia Financial trades at a higher earnings multiple (19.3x vs 9.2x 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 Provident Financial Services
PFS stock →Provident Financial Services, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Provident Bank that provides various banking products and services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States.
Finance · Savings Institutions · 1,817 employees
CLBK vs PFS FAQ
Which is bigger, Columbia Financial or Provident Financial Services?
Columbia Financial (CLBK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.91B compared with $2.87B for Provident Financial Services (PFS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CLBK or PFS?
CLBK returned +59.89% over the past 12 months, compared with +11.81% for PFS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CLBK or PFS?
PFS has the lower trailing P/E at 9.2, versus 19.3 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 Provident Financial Services?
Provident Financial Services has the higher yield at 2.18%, compared with 1.85% for Columbia Financial.
Are Columbia Financial and Provident Financial Services in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Savings Institutions industry within the Finance sector.