Valley National Bancorp (VLY) vs Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Valley National Bancorp (VLY) has outperformed Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL) over the past year, gaining 15.2% versus a loss of 13.5%. Over five years, VLY leads with a -8.4% price change compared with -35.0% for WAL. Western Alliance Bancorporation is the larger company by market cap ($8.11 billion vs $6.90 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Western Alliance Bancorporation trades at a lower forward P/E (6.7x vs 8.1x for Valley National Bancorp). Valley National Bancorp offers the higher dividend yield (3.53% vs 2.21%). Western Alliance Bancorporation converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 713.5% versus 29.5%.
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 | VLY | WAL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $12.48 | $74.35 |
| Market cap | $6.90B | $8.11B |
| 1-day change | -1.50% | -2.29% |
| YTD return | +6.85% | -11.56% |
| 1-year return | +15.24% | -13.55% |
| 5-year return | -8.37% | -35.00% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 10.76 | 8.59 |
| Forward P/E | 8.09 | 6.67 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.16 | $8.66 |
| Dividend yield | 3.53% | 2.21% |
| Annual dividend | $0.44 | $1.64 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.03B | $135.80M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +9.31% | +99.71% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $597.98M | $969.00M |
| Net margin | 29.52% | 713.55% |
| 52-week high | $15.20 | $97.23 |
| 52-week low | $9.64 | $65.82 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.89% | -23.53% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.21% | +23.40% |
| Average volume | 6.85M | 1.06M |
| Shares outstanding | 552.61M | 109.10M |
| Employees | 3,675 | 3,769 |
| 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
- VLY has outperformed WAL by 28.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Valley National Bancorp trades at a higher earnings multiple (10.8x vs 8.6x trailing P/E).
- Valley National Bancorp offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.53% vs 2.21%).
- Western Alliance Bancorporation is more profitable, keeping 713.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 29.5 cents for Valley National Bancorp.
- Western Alliance Bancorporation grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+99.71% vs +9.31%).
About Valley National Bancorp
VLY stock →Valley National Bancorp operates as the holding company for Valley National Bank that provides various commercial, private banking, retail, insurance, and wealth management financial services products. The company operates through Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, and Treasury and Corporate other segments.
Finance · Major Banks · 3,675 employees
About Western Alliance Bancorporation
WAL stock →Western Alliance Bancorporation operates as the bank holding company for Western Alliance Bank that provides various banking products and related services primarily in Arizona, California, and Nevada. It operates through Commercial and Consumer Related segments.
Finance · Major Banks · 3,769 employees
VLY vs WAL FAQ
Which is bigger, Valley National Bancorp or Western Alliance Bancorporation?
Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $8.11B compared with $6.90B for Valley National Bancorp (VLY).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, VLY or WAL?
VLY returned +15.24% over the past 12 months, compared with -13.55% for WAL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, VLY or WAL?
WAL has the lower trailing P/E at 8.6, versus 10.8 for VLY. 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, Valley National Bancorp or Western Alliance Bancorporation?
Valley National Bancorp has the higher yield at 3.53%, compared with 2.21% for Western Alliance Bancorporation.
Are Valley National Bancorp and Western Alliance Bancorporation in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.