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FFBC vs WASH
Which Stock Would AI Choose? First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) vs. Washington Trust Bancorp (WASH) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) has shown stronger year-to-date performance at approximately 19.65%, outperforming Washington Trust Bancorp (WASH)'s 6.71%.
- FFBC boasts a larger market capitalization of $3.11 billion compared to WASH's $579 million, indicating greater scale and diversification across multiple states.
- Both stocks trade at similar trailing P/E ratios around 11, but WASH offers a higher dividend yield of 6.20% versus FFBC's 3.34%.
- Recent market activity highlights FFBC's upward momentum with gains in recent weeks, while WASH faced pressure following a Q1 earnings miss.
- FFBC reported record full-year 2025 results, boosting sentiment, in contrast to WASH's softer Q1 2026 net income.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines FFBC and WASH, two regional banking stocks offering exposure to community lending and deposit services amid fluctuating interest rates. Investors seeking dividend income or growth in the financial sector may find value in analyzing their relative performance, valuation metrics, and market positioning. With similar P/E ratios but divergent recent momentum and yields, this analysis highlights trade-offs for traders monitoring banking sector trends, such as net interest income (NII, revenue from interest-bearing assets minus interest expenses) sensitivity and regional economic drivers. Understanding these dynamics aids in portfolio diversification within regional banks.
FFBC Overview and Recent Performance
First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based bank holding company operating First Financial Bank, serving customers in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois through commercial banking, real estate loans, consumer lending, and wealth management. In recent market activity, FFBC shares have exhibited upward momentum, with year-to-date gains around 19.65% and one-month returns near 8.6%. The stock recently surged following record 2025 full-year results, including strong Q4 revenue of $238.76 million and net income of $77.73 million, reflecting robust loan growth and expense discipline. Positive sentiment has been further supported by a Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, underscoring cultural strengths amid banking sector pressures. Trading near $29.67 with a 52-week range of $22.55–$31.38, FFBC maintains a beta of 0.94, indicating moderate volatility, and a payout ratio of 36.84% supporting its 3.34% dividend yield.
WASH Overview and Recent Performance
Washington Trust Bancorp (WASH), headquartered in Westerly, Rhode Island, operates through The Washington Trust Company, providing banking and wealth management services focused on commercial real estate, residential loans, and deposits in its regional market. Recent weeks have seen WASH underperform, with one-month declines around 7% and year-to-date returns at 6.71%, pressured by a Q1 2026 earnings report showing net income of $12.6 million, down from prior year despite 10.6% revenue growth to $58 million. The results missed analyst expectations, contributing to heightened volatility, with shares trading around $30.42 in a 52-week range of $25.23–$37.08. Despite challenges, WASH offers a compelling 6.20% dividend yield, appealing to income-focused investors, though its smaller scale exposes it more to local economic shifts.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Both FFBC and WASH operate regional banking models centered on deposits, commercial real estate loans, and consumer products, but FFBC benefits from broader geographic exposure across four states versus WASH’s Rhode Island focus, aiding diversification and scale (market cap disparity of $3.11B vs. $579M). Growth drivers for FFBC include stronger NII from loan expansion, while WASH leverages wealth management for fee income. Recent momentum favors FFBC with consistent gains and record earnings, contrasting WASH’s earnings miss and downside volatility. Risk factors are similar—interest rate sensitivity and non-performing loans (NPLs, loans not generating principal/interest payments)—but FFBC’s lower beta (0.94) and ROE (9.82%, return on equity measuring profitability relative to shareholders’ equity) suggest better stability. Market sentiment tilts toward FFBC amid positive awards and upcoming earnings, while WASH’s higher yield compensates for higher regional risks.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI models would likely favor FFBC in the current environment due to its superior trend consistency, YTD outperformance, larger scale, and positive catalysts like record prior-year results and cultural accolades. While WASH offers higher yield appeal, its recent earnings shortfall introduces elevated short-term uncertainty. This positioning suggests FFBC holds probabilistic edge for momentum-driven strategies, though both merit monitoring amid banking sector rotations.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is FFBC is a Hold and WASH is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
FFBC’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileWASH’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- FFBC’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- WASH’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
FFBC’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while WASH’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- FFBC’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- WASH’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
FFBC (@Regional Banks) experienced а +0.76% price change this week, while WASH (@Regional Banks) price change was +0.11% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Regional Banks industry was +0.95%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +5.31%, and the average quarterly price growth was +13.15%.
Reported Earning Dates
FFBC is expected to report earnings on Jul 16, 2026.
WASH is expected to report earnings on Jul 27, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Regional Banks (+0.95% weekly)Regional banks have a smaller reach than major banks, and cater mostly to one region of a country, such as a state or within a group of states. They offer services often similar – albeit with some limitations/smaller scale – compared to major banks. Taking deposits, making loans, mortgages, leases, credit cards , fund management, insurance and investment banking. SunTrust Banks, State Street Corp., M&T Bank Corp. are some examples of U.S. regional banks.
| FFBC | WASH | FFBC / WASH | |
| Capitalization | 3.35B | 671M | 500% |
| EBITDA | N/A | N/A | - |
| Gain YTD | 29.901 | 23.558 | 127% |
| P/E Ratio | 11.29 | 12.85 | 88% |
| Revenue | 962M | 228M | 422% |
| Total Cash | 171M | 29.5M | 580% |
| Total Debt | 1B | 637M | 157% |
FFBC | WASH | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 30 | 29 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 32 Undervalued | 13 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 33 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 34 | 61 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 43 | 44 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 38 | 49 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 75 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
WASH's Valuation (13) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as FFBC (32). This means that WASH’s stock grew similarly to FFBC’s over the last 12 months.
FFBC's Profit vs Risk Rating (33) in the Regional Banks industry is significantly better than the same rating for WASH (100). This means that FFBC’s stock grew significantly faster than WASH’s over the last 12 months.
FFBC's SMR Rating (34) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as WASH (61). This means that FFBC’s stock grew similarly to WASH’s over the last 12 months.
FFBC's Price Growth Rating (43) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as WASH (44). This means that FFBC’s stock grew similarly to WASH’s over the last 12 months.
FFBC's P/E Growth Rating (38) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as WASH (49). This means that FFBC’s stock grew similarly to WASH’s over the last 12 months.
| FFBC | WASH | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 77% | 2 days ago 75% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | 2 days ago 59% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 51% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 74% | 2 days ago 60% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 62% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 56% | 2 days ago 55% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 56% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 23 days ago 62% | 8 days ago 68% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 66% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 47% | 2 days ago 51% |
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FFBC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, FFBC has been closely correlated with UCB. These tickers have moved in lockstep 85% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if FFBC jumps, then UCB could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To FFBC | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FFBC | 100% | +1.08% | ||
| UCB - FFBC | 85% Closely correlated | +1.61% | ||
| WSFS - FFBC | 84% Closely correlated | +1.32% | ||
| PRK - FFBC | 84% Closely correlated | -0.04% | ||
| UBSI - FFBC | 84% Closely correlated | +1.17% | ||
| ASB - FFBC | 84% Closely correlated | +0.62% | ||
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WASH and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, WASH has been closely correlated with MBWM. These tickers have moved in lockstep 73% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if WASH jumps, then MBWM could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To WASH | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WASH | 100% | +0.86% | ||
| MBWM - WASH | 73% Closely correlated | +0.39% | ||
| STBA - WASH | 71% Closely correlated | +1.00% | ||
| THFF - WASH | 70% Closely correlated | +1.48% | ||
| FFBC - WASH | 70% Closely correlated | +1.08% | ||
| CCNE - WASH | 70% Closely correlated | +0.50% | ||
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