United Community Banks (UCB) vs WaFd (WAFD)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
United Community Banks (UCB) has outperformed WaFd (WAFD) over the past year, gaining 3.7% versus a gain of 0.2%. Over five years, UCB leads with a -2.1% price change compared with -18.2% for WAFD. United Community Banks is the larger company by market cap ($3.98 billion vs $2.18 billion), about 1.8 times the size.
On valuation, WaFd trades at a lower forward P/E (8.4x vs 9.9x for United Community Banks). WaFd offers the higher dividend yield (3.63% vs 3.01%).
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 | UCB | WAFD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $33.22 | $29.44 |
| Market cap | $3.98B | $2.18B |
| 1-day change | -0.14% | -0.10% |
| YTD return | +6.53% | -7.99% |
| 1-year return | +3.71% | +0.24% |
| 5-year return | -2.06% | -18.18% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 10.85 | 9.29 |
| Forward P/E | 9.90 | 8.39 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.06 | $3.17 |
| Dividend yield | 3.01% | 3.63% |
| Annual dividend | $1.00 | $1.07 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.06B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +11.66% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $328.10M | — |
| Net margin | 30.86% | — |
| 52-week high | $37.18 | $39.49 |
| 52-week low | $28.65 | $26.31 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.66% | -25.45% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +20.94% | +17.19% |
| Average volume | 859.61K | 889.87K |
| Shares outstanding | 119.76M | 74.01M |
| Employees | 3,141 | 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.
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
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
UCB vs WAFD FAQ
Which is bigger, United Community Banks or WaFd?
United Community Banks (UCB) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.98B compared with $2.18B for WaFd (WAFD).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, UCB or WAFD?
UCB returned +3.71% over the past 12 months, compared with +0.24% for WAFD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, UCB or WAFD?
WAFD has the lower trailing P/E at 9.3, versus 10.9 for UCB. 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, United Community Banks or WaFd?
WaFd has the higher yield at 3.63%, compared with 3.01% for United Community Banks.
Are United Community Banks and WaFd in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.