Meridian (MRBK) vs Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina (PEBK)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina (PEBK) has outperformed Meridian (MRBK) over the past year, gaining 45.3% versus a gain of 24.2%. Over five years, PEBK leads with a +56.6% price change compared with +23.4% for MRBK. Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina is the larger company by market cap ($235.5 million vs $223.1 million), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Meridian trades at a lower trailing P/E (10.2x vs 12.2x for Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina). Meridian offers the higher dividend yield (2.91% vs 1.85%).
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 | MRBK | PEBK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $18.70 | $44.25 |
| Market cap | $223.07M | $235.47M |
| 1-day change | +0.48% | +1.07% |
| YTD return | +6.37% | +22.24% |
| 1-year return | +24.17% | +45.27% |
| 5-year return | +23.43% | +56.58% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 10.22 | 12.16 |
| Forward P/E | 8.39 | — |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.83 | $3.64 |
| Dividend yield | 2.91% | 1.85% |
| Annual dividend | $0.545 | $0.82 |
| 52-week high | $21.67 | $45.78 |
| 52-week low | $13.81 | $27.33 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.71% | -3.34% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | — |
| Avg. price target upside | +22.99% | — |
| Average volume | 91.65K | 32.04K |
| Shares outstanding | 11.93M | 5.32M |
| Employees | 327 | 268 |
| 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
- PEBK has outperformed MRBK by 21.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Meridian offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.91% vs 1.85%).
About Meridian
MRBK stock →Meridian Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Meridian Bank that provides commercial banking products and services in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Florida. It provides various deposit products, such as demand non-interest and interest bearing, savings, and money market accounts, as well as time deposits.
Finance · Major Banks · 327 employees
About Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina
PEBK stock →Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Peoples Bank that provides various banking products and services for individuals and small-to medium-sized businesses in the North Carolina, United States.
Finance · Major Banks · 268 employees
MRBK vs PEBK FAQ
Which is bigger, Meridian or Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina?
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina (PEBK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $235.47M compared with $223.07M for Meridian (MRBK).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MRBK or PEBK?
PEBK returned +45.27% over the past 12 months, compared with +24.17% for MRBK (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MRBK or PEBK?
MRBK has the lower trailing P/E at 10.2, versus 12.2 for PEBK. 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, Meridian or Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina?
Meridian has the higher yield at 2.91%, compared with 1.85% for Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina.
Are Meridian and Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.