Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL) vs Wintrust Financial (WTFC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Wintrust Financial (WTFC) has outperformed Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL) over the past year, gaining 9.6% versus a loss of 8.3%. Over five years, WTFC leads with a +71.7% price change compared with -34.0% for WAL. Wintrust Financial is the larger company by market cap ($9.65 billion vs $8.12 billion), about 1.2 times the size, while Western Alliance Bancorporation is growing revenue faster (+99.7% vs +5.9%).
On valuation, Western Alliance Bancorporation trades at a lower forward P/E (6.7x vs 10.3x for Wintrust Financial). Western Alliance Bancorporation offers the higher dividend yield (2.20% vs 1.47%). Western Alliance Bancorporation converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 713.5% versus 310.1%.
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 | WAL | WTFC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $74.43 | $143.06 |
| Market cap | $8.12B | $9.65B |
| 1-day change | -1.42% | -0.79% |
| YTD return | -10.19% | +3.13% |
| 1-year return | -8.32% | +9.57% |
| 5-year return | -33.99% | +71.71% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 8.40 | 11.49 |
| Forward P/E | 6.68 | 10.29 |
| EPS (TTM) | $8.86 | $12.45 |
| Dividend yield | 2.20% | 1.47% |
| Annual dividend | $1.64 | $2.10 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $135.80M | $265.63M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +99.71% | +5.94% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $969.00M | $823.84M |
| Net margin | 713.55% | 310.14% |
| 52-week high | $97.23 | $167.22 |
| 52-week low | $65.82 | $119.61 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -23.45% | -14.45% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +23.27% | +23.17% |
| Average volume | 1.07M | 569.70K |
| Shares outstanding | 109.10M | 67.46M |
| Employees | 3,769 | 5,902 |
| 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
- WTFC has outperformed WAL by 17.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Wintrust Financial trades at a higher earnings multiple (11.5x vs 8.4x trailing P/E).
- Western Alliance Bancorporation is more profitable, keeping 713.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 310.1 cents for Wintrust Financial.
- Western Alliance Bancorporation grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+99.71% vs +5.94%).
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
About Wintrust Financial
WTFC stock →Wintrust Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides community-oriented, personal, and commercial banking services in the United States. It operates through three segments: Community Banking, Specialty Finance, and Wealth Management.
Finance · Major Banks · 5,902 employees
WAL vs WTFC FAQ
Which is bigger, Western Alliance Bancorporation or Wintrust Financial?
Wintrust Financial (WTFC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $9.65B compared with $8.12B for Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, WAL or WTFC?
WTFC returned +9.57% over the past 12 months, compared with -8.32% for WAL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, WAL or WTFC?
WAL has the lower trailing P/E at 8.4, versus 11.5 for WTFC. 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, Western Alliance Bancorporation or Wintrust Financial?
Western Alliance Bancorporation has the higher yield at 2.20%, compared with 1.47% for Wintrust Financial.
Are Western Alliance Bancorporation and Wintrust Financial in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.