Equity Bancshares (EQBK) vs Mercantile Bank (MBWM)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Mercantile Bank (MBWM) has outperformed Equity Bancshares (EQBK) over the past year, gaining 28.9% versus a gain of 15.2%. Over five years, MBWM leads with a +72.1% price change compared with +37.7% for EQBK. Mercantile Bank is the larger company by market cap ($1.01 billion vs $977.9 million), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Equity Bancshares trades at a lower forward P/E (8.7x vs 10.1x for Mercantile Bank). Mercantile Bank offers the higher dividend yield (2.65% vs 1.52%).
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 | EQBK | MBWM |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $47.49 | $58.20 |
| Market cap | $977.94M | $1.01B |
| 1-day change | +1.04% | +0.29% |
| YTD return | +6.36% | +21.00% |
| 1-year return | +15.24% | +28.93% |
| 5-year return | +37.73% | +72.09% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 27.94 | 10.23 |
| Forward P/E | 8.68 | 10.11 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.70 | $5.69 |
| Dividend yield | 1.52% | 2.65% |
| Annual dividend | $0.72 | $1.54 |
| 52-week high | $52.27 | $62.95 |
| 52-week low | $38.60 | $42.75 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.14% | -7.55% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +16.42% | +8.54% |
| Average volume | 111.97K | 119.05K |
| Shares outstanding | 20.59M | 17.29M |
| Employees | 909 | 827 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Major Banks | Major 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
- MBWM has outperformed EQBK by 13.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Equity Bancshares trades at a higher earnings multiple (27.9x vs 10.2x trailing P/E).
- Mercantile Bank offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.65% vs 1.52%).
About Equity Bancshares
EQBK stock →Equity Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Equity Bank that provides a range of banking, mortgage banking, and financial services to individual and corporate customers.
Finance · Major Banks · 909 employees
About Mercantile Bank
MBWM stock →Mercantile Bank Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Mercantile Bank that provides commercial and retail banking services to small- to medium-sized businesses and individuals in the United States. The company accepts various deposit products, such as checking, savings, and term certificate accounts; time deposits; and certificates of deposit.
Finance · Major Banks · 827 employees
EQBK vs MBWM FAQ
Which is bigger, Equity Bancshares or Mercantile Bank?
Mercantile Bank (MBWM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.01B compared with $977.94M for Equity Bancshares (EQBK).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, EQBK or MBWM?
MBWM returned +28.93% over the past 12 months, compared with +15.24% for EQBK (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, EQBK or MBWM?
MBWM has the lower trailing P/E at 10.2, versus 27.9 for EQBK. 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, Equity Bancshares or Mercantile Bank?
Mercantile Bank has the higher yield at 2.65%, compared with 1.52% for Equity Bancshares.
Are Equity Bancshares and Mercantile Bank in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.