Kearny Financial (KRNY) vs Waterstone Financial (WSBF)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Kearny Financial (KRNY) has outperformed Waterstone Financial (WSBF) over the past year, gaining 37.3% versus a gain of 28.4%. Over five years, WSBF leads with a -3.8% price change compared with -29.7% for KRNY. Kearny Financial is the larger company by market cap ($581.2 million vs $352.0 million), about 1.7 times the size.
On valuation, Kearny Financial trades at a lower forward P/E (9.2x vs 19.4x for Waterstone Financial). Kearny Financial offers the higher dividend yield (4.78% vs 3.27%).
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 | KRNY | WSBF |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $9.20 | $19.58 |
| Market cap | $581.19M | $351.99M |
| 1-day change | +0.99% | +0.62% |
| YTD return | +24.16% | +18.61% |
| 1-year return | +37.31% | +28.38% |
| 5-year return | -29.66% | -3.82% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 16.14 | 11.32 |
| Forward P/E | 9.25 | 19.39 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.57 | $1.73 |
| Dividend yield | 4.78% | 3.27% |
| Annual dividend | $0.44 | $0.64 |
| 52-week high | $10.24 | $21.66 |
| 52-week low | $6.23 | $14.52 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.16% | -9.60% |
| Analyst consensus | none | — |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.98% | — |
| Average volume | 579.10K | 75.76K |
| Shares outstanding | 63.17M | 17.98M |
| Employees | 502 | 593 |
| Sector | Finance | Financial Services |
| Industry | Savings Institutions | Banks - Regional |
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
- Kearny Financial trades at a higher earnings multiple (16.1x vs 11.3x trailing P/E).
- Kearny Financial offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.78% vs 3.27%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Kearny Financial in Finance and Waterstone Financial in Financial Services.
About Kearny Financial
KRNY stock →Kearny Financial Corp. operates as the holding company for Kearny Bank that provides banking products and services in the United States.
Finance · Savings Institutions · 502 employees
About Waterstone Financial
WSBF stock →Waterstone Financial, Inc. operates as a bank holding company for WaterStone Bank SSB that provides various financial services to customers in southeastern Wisconsin, the United States.
Financial Services · Banks - Regional · 593 employees
KRNY vs WSBF FAQ
Which is bigger, Kearny Financial or Waterstone Financial?
Kearny Financial (KRNY) is larger, with a market capitalization of $581.19M compared with $351.99M for Waterstone Financial (WSBF).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, KRNY or WSBF?
KRNY returned +37.31% over the past 12 months, compared with +28.38% for WSBF (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, KRNY or WSBF?
WSBF has the lower trailing P/E at 11.3, versus 16.1 for KRNY. 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, Kearny Financial or Waterstone Financial?
Kearny Financial has the higher yield at 4.78%, compared with 3.27% for Waterstone Financial.
Are Kearny Financial and Waterstone Financial in the same industry?
No. Kearny Financial is in the Finance sector, while Waterstone Financial is in Financial Services.