Northwest Bancshares (NWBI) vs WaFd (WAFD)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Northwest Bancshares (NWBI) has outperformed WaFd (WAFD) over the past year, gaining 17.6% versus a gain of 1.8%. Over five years, NWBI leads with a +5.5% price change compared with -18.3% for WAFD. WaFd is the larger company by market cap ($2.18 billion vs $2.15 billion), about 1.0 times the size, while Northwest Bancshares is growing revenue faster (+25.3% vs +7.8%).
On valuation, WaFd trades at a lower forward P/E (8.4x vs 10.1x for Northwest Bancshares). Northwest Bancshares offers the higher dividend yield (5.45% vs 3.64%). WaFd converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 762.5% 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 | WAFD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $14.67 | $29.43 |
| Market cap | $2.15B | $2.18B |
| 1-day change | -1.21% | -1.04% |
| YTD return | +22.25% | -8.12% |
| 1-year return | +17.64% | +1.80% |
| 5-year return | +5.46% | -18.30% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 14.11 | 9.28 |
| Forward P/E | 10.07 | 8.38 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.04 | $3.17 |
| Dividend yield | 5.45% | 3.64% |
| Annual dividend | $0.80 | $1.07 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $654.67M | $29.65M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +25.27% | +7.79% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $126.01M | $226.07M |
| Net margin | 19.25% | 762.46% |
| 52-week high | $16.16 | $39.49 |
| 52-week low | $11.25 | $26.31 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.22% | -25.47% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +11.04% | +17.23% |
| Average volume | 1.02M | 902.92K |
| Shares outstanding | 146.40M | 74.01M |
| Employees | 2,183 | 2,055 |
| 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 WAFD by 15.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Northwest Bancshares trades at a higher earnings multiple (14.1x vs 9.3x trailing P/E).
- Northwest Bancshares offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.45% vs 3.64%).
- WaFd is more profitable, keeping 762.5 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 +7.79%).
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 WaFd
WAFD stock →WaFd, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Washington Federal Bank that provides lending, depository, insurance, and other banking services in the United States.
Finance · Major Banks · 2,055 employees
NWBI vs WAFD FAQ
Which is bigger, Northwest Bancshares or WaFd?
WaFd (WAFD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.18B compared with $2.15B for Northwest Bancshares (NWBI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, NWBI or WAFD?
NWBI returned +17.64% over the past 12 months, compared with +1.80% for WAFD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, NWBI or WAFD?
WAFD has the lower trailing P/E at 9.3, versus 14.1 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 WaFd?
Northwest Bancshares has the higher yield at 5.45%, compared with 3.64% for WaFd.
Are Northwest Bancshares and WaFd in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.