First Savings Financial Group (FSFG) Competitors

Esquire Financial (NASDAQ:ESQ) and First Savings Financial Group (NASDAQ:FSFG) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, risk, profitability, dividends, valuation, media sentiment, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Is ESQ or FSFG a better dividend stock?

Esquire Financial pays an annual dividend of $0.70 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. First Savings Financial Group pays an annual dividend of $0.64 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.0%. Esquire Financial pays out 12.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. First Savings Financial Group pays out 20.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Esquire Financial has increased its dividend for 4 consecutive years and First Savings Financial Group has increased its dividend for 12 consecutive years. First Savings Financial Group is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Do analysts rate ESQ or FSFG?

Esquire Financial currently has a consensus target price of $100.50, suggesting a potential downside of 3.98%. First Savings Financial Group has a consensus target price of $32.33, suggesting a potential upside of 1.49%. Given First Savings Financial Group's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe First Savings Financial Group is more favorable than Esquire Financial.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Esquire Financial	0 Sell rating(s)	2 Hold rating(s)	2 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.50
First Savings Financial Group	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Hold rating(s)	4 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	3.00

Which has more risk and volatility, ESQ or FSFG?

Esquire Financial has a beta of 0.53, suggesting that its stock price is 47% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, First Savings Financial Group has a beta of 0.54, suggesting that its stock price is 46% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Is ESQ or FSFG more profitable?

Esquire Financial has a net margin of 30.96% compared to First Savings Financial Group's net margin of 14.92%. Esquire Financial's return on equity of 18.87% beat First Savings Financial Group's return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Esquire Financial	30.96%	18.87%	2.41%
First Savings Financial Group	14.92%	10.60%	0.79%

Does the media refer more to ESQ or FSFG?

In the previous week, Esquire Financial and Esquire Financial both had 1 articles in the media. Esquire Financial's average media sentiment score of 1.70 beat First Savings Financial Group's score of 0.00 indicating that Esquire Financial is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company	Very Positive	Positive	Neutral	Negative	Very Negative	Overall Sentiment
Esquire Financial	1 Very Positive mention(s)	0 Positive mention(s)	0 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Very Positive
First Savings Financial Group	0 Very Positive mention(s)	0 Positive mention(s)	1 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Neutral

Which has better valuation & earnings, ESQ or FSFG?

Esquire Financial has higher revenue and earnings than First Savings Financial Group. First Savings Financial Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Esquire Financial, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Esquire Financial	$138.27M	6.46	$43.66M	$5.42	19.31
First Savings Financial Group	$134.52M	1.65	$13.59M	$3.09	10.31

Do institutionals and insiders believe in ESQ or FSFG?

54.7% of Esquire Financial shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 35.2% of First Savings Financial Group shares are held by institutional investors. 18.0% of Esquire Financial shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 16.1% of First Savings Financial Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Esquire Financial beats First Savings Financial Group on 12 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.