Lakeland Financial (LKFN) vs Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC) has outperformed Lakeland Financial (LKFN) over the past year, gaining 22.8% versus a loss of 9.2%. Over five years, WABC leads with a +6.5% price change compared with -23.7% for LKFN. Lakeland Financial is the larger company by market cap ($1.43 billion vs $1.38 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Westamerica Bancorporation trades at a lower forward P/E (12.7x vs 12.7x for Lakeland Financial). Lakeland Financial offers the higher dividend yield (3.59% 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 | LKFN | WABC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $57.45 | $59.59 |
| Market cap | $1.43B | $1.38B |
| 1-day change | +0.45% | +2.20% |
| YTD return | +0.68% | +21.91% |
| 1-year return | -9.24% | +22.76% |
| 5-year return | -23.70% | +6.46% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 13.18 | 13.13 |
| Forward P/E | 12.74 | 12.72 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.36 | $4.54 |
| Dividend yield | 3.59% | 3.12% |
| Annual dividend | $2.06 | $1.86 |
| 52-week high | $64.55 | $63.61 |
| 52-week low | $54.36 | $44.93 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -11.00% | -6.32% |
| Analyst consensus | none | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.75% | +7.40% |
| Average volume | 170.21K | 191.76K |
| Shares outstanding | 24.86M | 23.11M |
| Employees | 695 | 608 |
| 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
- WABC has outperformed LKFN by 32.0 percentage points over the past year.
About Lakeland Financial
LKFN stock →Lakeland Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Lake City Bank that provides various banking products and services in the United States. The company accepts various deposit products, such as noninterest bearing, interest-bearing checking, savings, money market, NOW, and demand deposits.
Finance · Major Banks · 695 employees
About Westamerica Bancorporation
WABC stock →Westamerica Bancorporation operates as a bank holding company for Westamerica Bank that provides various banking products and services to individual and commercial customers in the United States. The company accepts various deposit products from local businesses and professionals, as well as retail savings and checking accounts, as well as certificates of deposit.
Finance · Major Banks · 608 employees
LKFN vs WABC FAQ
Which is bigger, Lakeland Financial or Westamerica Bancorporation?
Lakeland Financial (LKFN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.43B compared with $1.38B for Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LKFN or WABC?
WABC returned +22.76% over the past 12 months, compared with -9.24% for LKFN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LKFN or WABC?
WABC has the lower trailing P/E at 13.1, versus 13.2 for LKFN. 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, Lakeland Financial or Westamerica Bancorporation?
Lakeland Financial has the higher yield at 3.59%, compared with 3.12% for Westamerica Bancorporation.
Are Lakeland Financial and Westamerica Bancorporation in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.