Northwest Bancshares (NWBI) vs United Community Banks (UCB)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Northwest Bancshares (NWBI) has outperformed United Community Banks (UCB) over the past year, gaining 18.8% versus a gain of 4.9%. Over five years, NWBI leads with a +6.8% price change compared with -2.1% for UCB. United Community Banks is the larger company by market cap ($4.02 billion vs $2.17 billion), about 1.8 times the size, while Northwest Bancshares is growing revenue faster (+25.3% vs +11.7%).
On valuation, United Community Banks trades at a lower forward P/E (10.0x vs 10.2x for Northwest Bancshares). Northwest Bancshares offers the higher dividend yield (5.39% vs 2.98%). United Community Banks converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 30.9% versus 19.2%.
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 | NWBI | UCB |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $14.85 | $33.58 |
| Market cap | $2.17B | $4.02B |
| 1-day change | +0.88% | +0.96% |
| YTD return | +23.75% | +7.56% |
| 1-year return | +18.80% | +4.90% |
| 5-year return | +6.76% | -2.06% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 14.28 | 10.97 |
| Forward P/E | 10.20 | 10.01 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.04 | $3.06 |
| Dividend yield | 5.39% | 2.98% |
| Annual dividend | $0.80 | $1.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $654.67M | $1.06B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +25.27% | +11.66% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $126.01M | $328.10M |
| Net margin | 19.25% | 30.86% |
| 52-week high | $16.16 | $37.18 |
| 52-week low | $11.25 | $28.65 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.11% | -9.68% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +9.70% | +19.62% |
| Average volume | 1.02M | 865.08K |
| Shares outstanding | 146.40M | 119.76M |
| Employees | 2,183 | 3,141 |
| 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
- NWBI has outperformed UCB by 13.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Northwest Bancshares trades at a higher earnings multiple (14.3x vs 11.0x trailing P/E).
- Northwest Bancshares offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.39% vs 2.98%).
- United Community Banks is more profitable, keeping 30.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 19.2 cents for Northwest Bancshares.
- Northwest Bancshares grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+25.27% vs +11.66%).
About Northwest Bancshares
NWBI stock →Northwest Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Northwest Bank, a state-chartered savings bank that provides personal and commercial banking solutions in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Indiana in the United States.
Finance · Major Banks · 2,183 employees
About United Community Banks
UCB stock →United Community Banks, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for United Community Bank that provides financial services in the United States.
Finance · Major Banks · 3,141 employees
NWBI vs UCB FAQ
Which is bigger, Northwest Bancshares or United Community Banks?
United Community Banks (UCB) is larger, with a market capitalization of $4.02B compared with $2.17B for Northwest Bancshares (NWBI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, NWBI or UCB?
NWBI returned +18.80% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.90% for UCB (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, NWBI or UCB?
UCB has the lower trailing P/E at 11.0, versus 14.3 for NWBI. 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, Northwest Bancshares or United Community Banks?
Northwest Bancshares has the higher yield at 5.39%, compared with 2.98% for United Community Banks.
Are Northwest Bancshares and United Community Banks in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.