First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) vs TowneBank (TOWN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) has outperformed TowneBank (TOWN) over the past year, gaining 19.4% versus a gain of 2.8%. Over five years, FFBC leads with a +31.0% price change compared with +9.7% for TOWN. First Financial Bancorp. is the larger company by market cap ($3.25 billion vs $3.23 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, First Financial Bancorp. trades at a lower forward P/E (8.7x vs 9.8x for TowneBank). First Financial Bancorp. offers the higher dividend yield (3.24% vs 3.12%).
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 | TOWN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $30.87 | $34.98 |
| Market cap | $3.25B | $3.23B |
| 1-day change | -1.59% | -1.21% |
| YTD return | +23.38% | +4.82% |
| 1-year return | +19.42% | +2.76% |
| 5-year return | +30.97% | +9.66% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 10.91 | 17.58 |
| Forward P/E | 8.75 | 9.77 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.83 | $1.99 |
| Dividend yield | 3.24% | 3.12% |
| Annual dividend | $1.00 | $1.09 |
| 52-week high | $36.25 | $39.03 |
| 52-week low | $23.06 | $31.91 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.84% | -10.38% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +22.64% | +14.35% |
| Average volume | 924.44K | 587.20K |
| Shares outstanding | 105.17M | 92.44M |
| Employees | 2,371 | 2,932 |
| 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
- FFBC has outperformed TOWN by 16.7 percentage points over the past year.
- TowneBank trades at a higher earnings multiple (17.6x vs 10.9x trailing P/E).
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.
Finance · Major Banks · 2,371 employees
About TowneBank
TOWN stock →TowneBank provides retail and commercial banking services for individuals, commercial enterprises, and professionals in the United States. It operates through four segments: Banking, Mortgage, Resort Vacation Management, and Insurance.
Finance · Major Banks · 2,932 employees
FFBC vs TOWN FAQ
Which is bigger, First Financial Bancorp. or TowneBank?
First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.25B compared with $3.23B for TowneBank (TOWN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, FFBC or TOWN?
FFBC returned +19.42% over the past 12 months, compared with +2.76% for TOWN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, FFBC or TOWN?
FFBC has the lower trailing P/E at 10.9, versus 17.6 for TOWN. 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 TowneBank?
First Financial Bancorp. has the higher yield at 3.24%, compared with 3.12% for TowneBank.
Are First Financial Bancorp. and TowneBank in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.