First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) vs Park National (PRK)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) has outperformed Park National (PRK) over the past year, gaining 21.1% versus a gain of 10.1%. Over five years, PRK leads with a +39.5% price change compared with +32.4% for FFBC. First Financial Bancorp. is the larger company by market cap ($3.28 billion vs $3.22 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, First Financial Bancorp. trades at a lower forward P/E (8.8x vs 13.4x for Park National). First Financial Bancorp. offers the higher dividend yield (3.21% vs 2.43%). First Financial Bancorp. converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 319.4% versus 27.1%.
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 | FFBC | PRK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $31.20 | $178.46 |
| Market cap | $3.28B | $3.22B |
| 1-day change | +1.07% | +1.32% |
| YTD return | +24.70% | +15.74% |
| 1-year return | +21.07% | +10.14% |
| 5-year return | +32.37% | +39.51% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.02 | 15.95 |
| Forward P/E | 8.82 | 13.42 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.83 | $11.19 |
| Dividend yield | 3.21% | 2.43% |
| Annual dividend | $1.00 | $4.34 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $80.02M | $664.42M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +18.30% | +2.92% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $255.60M | $180.07M |
| Net margin | 319.43% | 27.10% |
| 52-week high | $36.25 | $215.00 |
| 52-week low | $23.06 | $149.06 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.93% | -17.00% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +21.79% | +15.43% |
| Average volume | 916.72K | 103.30K |
| Shares outstanding | 105.17M | 18.06M |
| Employees | 2,371 | 1,589 |
| Sector | Financial Services | Finance |
| Industry | Banks - Regional | 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
- FFBC has outperformed PRK by 10.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Park National trades at a higher earnings multiple (15.9x vs 11.0x trailing P/E).
- First Financial Bancorp. is more profitable, keeping 319.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 27.1 cents for Park National.
- First Financial Bancorp. grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+18.30% vs +2.92%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: First Financial Bancorp. in Financial Services and Park National in Finance.
About First Financial Bancorp.
FFBC stock →First Financial Bancorp. operates as the bank holding company for First Financial Bank that provides commercial banking and banking-related services to individuals and businesses in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois.
Financial Services · Banks - Regional · 2,371 employees
About Park National
PRK stock →Park National Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Park National Bank that provides commercial banking and trust services in small and medium population areas in the United States. The company offers deposits for demand, savings, and time accounts; trust and wealth management services; cash management services; safe deposit operations; electronic funds transfers; Internet and mobile banking solutions with bill pay service; credit cards; and various additional banking-related services.
Finance · Major Banks · 1,589 employees
FFBC vs PRK FAQ
Which is bigger, First Financial Bancorp. or Park National?
First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.28B compared with $3.22B for Park National (PRK).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, FFBC or PRK?
FFBC returned +21.07% over the past 12 months, compared with +10.14% for PRK (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, FFBC or PRK?
FFBC has the lower trailing P/E at 11.0, versus 15.9 for PRK. 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, First Financial Bancorp. or Park National?
First Financial Bancorp. has the higher yield at 3.21%, compared with 2.43% for Park National.
Are First Financial Bancorp. and Park National in the same industry?
No. First Financial Bancorp. is in the Financial Services sector, while Park National is in Finance.