First Savings Financial Group (FSFG) Competitors

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

Is FSFG or IBCP a better dividend stock?

First Savings Financial Group pays an annual dividend of $0.64 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. Independent Bank pays an annual dividend of $1.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. First Savings Financial Group pays out 22.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Independent Bank pays out 33.1% 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. First Savings Financial Group has increased its dividend for 12 consecutive years and Independent Bank has increased its dividend for 11 consecutive years.

Which has more volatility and risk, FSFG or IBCP?

First Savings Financial Group has a beta of 0.39, indicating that its stock price is 61% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Independent Bank has a beta of 0.84, indicating that its stock price is 16% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Is FSFG or IBCP more profitable?

Independent Bank has a net margin of 20.62% compared to First Savings Financial Group's net margin of 13.68%. Independent Bank's return on equity of 14.71% beat First Savings Financial Group's return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
First Savings Financial Group	13.68%	9.61%	0.70%
Independent Bank	20.62%	14.71%	1.25%

Do analysts prefer FSFG or IBCP?

First Savings Financial Group presently has a consensus price target of $32.33, indicating a potential upside of 24.07%. Independent Bank has a consensus price target of $36.67, indicating a potential upside of 8.67%. Given First Savings Financial Group's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe First Savings Financial Group is more favorable than Independent Bank.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
First Savings Financial Group	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Hold rating(s)	3 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	3.00
Independent Bank	0 Sell rating(s)	3 Hold rating(s)	0 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.00

Does the media refer more to FSFG or IBCP?

In the previous week, First Savings Financial Group had 1 more articles in the media than Independent Bank. MarketBeat recorded 2 mentions for First Savings Financial Group and 1 mentions for Independent Bank. Independent Bank's average media sentiment score of 1.61 beat First Savings Financial Group's score of 1.34 indicating that Independent Bank is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company	Overall Sentiment
First Savings Financial Group	Positive
Independent Bank	Very Positive

Which has better earnings & valuation, FSFG or IBCP?

Independent Bank has higher revenue and earnings than First Savings Financial Group. First Savings Financial Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Independent Bank, 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
First Savings Financial Group	$134.52M	1.34	$13.59M	$2.81	9.27
Independent Bank	$323.14M	2.16	$66.79M	$3.14	10.75

Do insiders and institutionals hold more shares of FSFG or IBCP?

35.2% of First Savings Financial Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 79.4% of Independent Bank shares are owned by institutional investors. 16.1% of First Savings Financial Group shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 5.7% of Independent Bank shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Independent Bank beats First Savings Financial Group on 12 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.