Primis Financial (FRST) vs Investar (ISTR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Primis Financial (FRST) has outperformed Investar (ISTR) over the past year, gaining 45.3% versus a gain of 26.4%. Over five years, ISTR leads with a +59.1% price change compared with +2.0% for FRST. Investar is the larger company by market cap ($400.4 million vs $380.2 million), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Primis Financial trades at a lower forward P/E (8.0x vs 8.8x for Investar). Primis Financial offers the higher dividend yield (2.61% vs 1.55%).
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 | FRST | ISTR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $15.33 | $29.06 |
| Market cap | $380.17M | $400.36M |
| 1-day change | +0.52% | +0.24% |
| YTD return | +10.21% | +8.76% |
| 1-year return | +45.31% | +26.43% |
| 5-year return | +2.00% | +59.06% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 7.10 | 11.96 |
| Forward P/E | 7.96 | 8.81 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.16 | $2.43 |
| Dividend yield | 2.61% | 1.55% |
| Annual dividend | $0.40 | $0.45 |
| 52-week high | $16.88 | $31.77 |
| 52-week low | $9.55 | $21.43 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.18% | -8.53% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +23.55% | +17.86% |
| Average volume | 156.86K | 128.98K |
| Shares outstanding | 24.80M | 13.78M |
| Employees | 593 | 421 |
| 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
- FRST has outperformed ISTR by 18.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Investar trades at a higher earnings multiple (12.0x vs 7.1x trailing P/E).
- Primis Financial offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.61% vs 1.55%).
About Primis Financial
FRST stock →Primis Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Primis Bank that provides various financial services to individuals, and small and medium sized businesses in the United States.
Finance · Major Banks · 593 employees
About Investar
ISTR stock →Investar Holding Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Investar Bank that provides a range of commercial banking products to individuals, professionals, and small to medium-sized businesses in south Louisiana, southeast Texas, and Alabama in the United States. The company offers various deposit products and services, such as savings, checking, money market, and individual retirement accounts, as well as various certificates of deposit; debit and credit cards; internet, mobile, and video banking services; and reciprocal deposit products.
Finance · Major Banks · 421 employees
FRST vs ISTR FAQ
Which is bigger, Primis Financial or Investar?
Investar (ISTR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $400.36M compared with $380.17M for Primis Financial (FRST).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, FRST or ISTR?
FRST returned +45.31% over the past 12 months, compared with +26.43% for ISTR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, FRST or ISTR?
FRST has the lower trailing P/E at 7.1, versus 12.0 for ISTR. 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, Primis Financial or Investar?
Primis Financial has the higher yield at 2.61%, compared with 1.55% for Investar.
Are Primis Financial and Investar in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.