Northwest Bancshares (NWBI) vs WesBanco (WSBC)
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 WesBanco (WSBC) over the past year, gaining 18.8% versus a gain of 9.8%. Over five years, NWBI leads with a +6.8% price change compared with +0.1% for WSBC. WesBanco is the larger company by market cap ($3.51 billion vs $2.16 billion), about 1.6 times the size.
On valuation, WesBanco trades at a lower forward P/E (9.5x vs 10.1x for Northwest Bancshares). Northwest Bancshares offers the higher dividend yield (5.42% vs 4.12%). WesBanco converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 22.7% 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 | WSBC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $14.75 | $36.63 |
| Market cap | $2.16B | $3.51B |
| 1-day change | -0.67% | -0.89% |
| YTD return | +23.75% | +11.19% |
| 1-year return | +18.80% | +9.77% |
| 5-year return | +6.76% | +0.05% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 14.18 | 10.56 |
| Forward P/E | 10.13 | 9.48 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.04 | $3.47 |
| Dividend yield | 5.42% | 4.12% |
| Annual dividend | $0.80 | $1.51 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $654.67M | $981.05M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +25.27% | +61.84% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $126.01M | $223.10M |
| Net margin | 19.25% | 22.74% |
| 52-week high | $16.16 | $43.02 |
| 52-week low | $11.25 | $29.57 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.73% | -14.85% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +10.44% | +20.50% |
| Average volume | 1.02M | 954.77K |
| Shares outstanding | 146.40M | 95.91M |
| Employees | 2,183 | 2,996 |
| 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
- Northwest Bancshares trades at a higher earnings multiple (14.2x vs 10.6x trailing P/E).
- Northwest Bancshares offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.42% vs 4.12%).
- WesBanco grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+61.84% vs +25.27%).
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 WesBanco
WSBC stock →WesBanco, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for WesBanco Bank, Inc.
Finance · Major Banks · 2,996 employees
NWBI vs WSBC FAQ
Which is bigger, Northwest Bancshares or WesBanco?
WesBanco (WSBC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.51B compared with $2.16B for Northwest Bancshares (NWBI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, NWBI or WSBC?
NWBI returned +18.80% over the past 12 months, compared with +9.77% for WSBC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, NWBI or WSBC?
WSBC has the lower trailing P/E at 10.6, versus 14.2 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 WesBanco?
Northwest Bancshares has the higher yield at 5.42%, compared with 4.12% for WesBanco.
Are Northwest Bancshares and WesBanco in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.