FBNC vs FIBK Stock Comparison
FBNC currently leads FIBK in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 51 vs 45. The clearest difference is quality, while FIBK has the stronger value profile.
What is the main difference between FBNC and FIBK?
FBNC leads the current stock comparison as First Bancorp, with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
First Bancorp vs First Interstate BancSystem, Inc.
FBNC leads
FBNC leads by 6 AIQ points, primarily on Quality and Momentum.
Competitive: 3 of 6 evidence groups support FBNC, and its signal state is cleanly positive.
First Bancorp
First Interstate BancSystem, Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors FBNC over FIBK, 51 versus 45 as of Oct 21, 2026. FBNC's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality and momentum, while FIBK holds the stronger value profile. FBNC also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor FBNC today, and the comparison is rated Competitive on stability: only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. FBNC lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 6 points over 30 sessions.
Compare First Bancorp and First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare FBNC and FIBK against another ticker
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AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Quality66 vs 37FBNC +29
- Value30 vs 48FIBK +18
- Momentum51 vs 40FBNC +11
- Risk Resilience60 vs 62Even
3 of 6 evidence groups favor FBNC. FBNC’s edge is concentrated in quality and momentum; FIBK keeps a meaningful value edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.
Largest factor move: Momentum +12
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 3 active signals are unchanged.
Largest factor move: Momentum +13
New signals
- MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon
FBNC's lead was unchanged in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — FBNC and FIBK both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
FBNC (First Bancorp): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality and momentum.
FIBK (First Interstate BancSystem, Inc.): the counter-case, on value, fundamentals, valuation.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
FBNCFBNC on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
FIBKFIBK on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
FIBKFIBK on the peer-relative Value factor, by 18 points.
Momentum
FBNCFBNC on the Momentum factor, by 11 points.
Lower downside
FIBKFIBK carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility.
Analyst upside
FBNCFBNC on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | FBNC | FIBK | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +15.2% | +0.2% | FBNC has more room |
| Target dispersion | +14.2% | +16.8% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 2 | 4 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | FBNC | FIBK |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 4.80% | 6.07% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $0.720 | $1.400 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $0.910 | $1.880 |
| Years increased | 3 | 3 |
| No cut in window | Yes | Yes |
| Cohort rank | #259 | #209 |
FIBK grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 6.07% a year against FBNC's 4.80%. Neither company reduced its regular dividend in any year of the window.
Yield and payout ratio shown elsewhere on this page are current values, not part of the study window.
Split-adjusted regular dividends per share, 2020–2025, excluding special dividends. Research as of Sep 19, 2026.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor FBNC. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | FBNC | 51 vs 45 |
| Fundamentals | FIBK | revenue growth -86.5% vs -74.6%; EPS growth 8% vs 42.6%; TTM ROE 8% vs 9.6%; gross margin 63.6% vs 105.2%; operating margin 11.1% vs 43.8% |
| Valuation | FIBK | Value 30 vs 48 |
| Technicals | FBNC | Price vs 50-day -3.1% vs -2.7%; vs 200-day 2.3% vs -1.9% |
| Risk Resilience | Even | Risk Resilience 60 vs 62 |
| Analyst expectations | FBNC | Target upside 15.2% vs 0.2% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of FBNC and FIBK and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The two are close enough that your objective, not the score, should decide.
- The AIQ gap is moderate at 6 points.
- Only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has been steady session to session. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader's signal state is cleanly positive. (supports the conclusion holding)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on FBNC.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20FBNC lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 6 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- FBNC +6
- 51 vs 45
- 7 sessions ago
- FBNC +6
- 47 vs 41
- 30 sessions ago
- FBNC +4
- 48 vs 44
- 90 sessions ago
- FBNC +7
- 59 vs 52
The lead has not changed hands in this window.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
FBNC and FIBK carry the same 3 signals, so the signals do not separate them: Bollinger Band Squeeze, Golden Cross Active, MACD Bullish Crossover.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price is down while the AIQ Score moved up 3 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price -0.86%, AIQ +3 points).
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +0.31%, AIQ +3 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1FIBK closes the Quality gap — currently 29 points behind, the largest single contributor to FBNC's edge.
- 2FIBK's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend.
- 3FBNC's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
FIBK leads on balance| Metric | FBNC | FIBK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -86.5% | -74.6% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 8% | 42.6% |
| Gross margin | 63.6% | 105.2% |
| Operating margin | 11.1% | 43.8% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 8% | 9.6% |
| Debt to equity | 0.04 | 0.23 |
Performance
FBNC leads 6 of 6 windows| Metric | FBNC | FIBK |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -2.3% | -2.7% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -1.7% | -7.4% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 4.1% | 3.9% |
| Year to date | 21.2% | 2.8% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 32.9% | 21.3% |
Technicals
FBNC has the stronger structure| Metric | FBNC | FIBK |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 52.3 | 47.9 |
| ADX (14) | 27.2 | 27.6 |
| Price vs 50-day | -3.1% | -2.7% |
| Price vs 200-day | 2.3% | -1.9% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 22.6% | 18.5% |
Risk
Split| Metric | FBNC | FIBK |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.58 | 0.83 |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.99 | 0.66 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.42 | 0.99 |
| Max drawdown | -15.3% | -17.9% |
| Current drawdown | -7.2% | -11.6% |
| Annualized volatility | 25.3% | 25.1% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2.3% | -2.3% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, FBNC or FIBK?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, FBNC is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 51 against FIBK's 45. The edge comes from quality and momentum. FIBK is not without a case — it holds the better value profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is FBNC or FIBK the better buy right now?
FBNC carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Competitive — 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Competitive rating means the two are close enough that your objective, not the score, should decide.
Why does the AIQ Score favor FBNC over FIBK?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. FBNC leads Quality by 29 points; FIBK leads Value by 18 points; FBNC leads Momentum by 11 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, FBNC or FIBK?
Analyst price targets imply +15.2% upside for FBNC and +0.2% for FIBK, so the Street currently favors FBNC. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, FBNC or FIBK?
FIBK is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. FIBK on the peer-relative Value factor, by 18 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, FBNC or FIBK?
FIBK on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, FBNC or FIBK?
FBNC on the Momentum factor, by 11 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, FBNC or FIBK?
FIBK is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. FIBK carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is FBNC more profitable than FIBK?
FIBK leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 63.6% vs 105.2%; operating margin 11.1% vs 43.8%; ttm roe 8% vs 9.6%.
Is FBNC's lead over FIBK getting stronger or weaker?
FBNC lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 6 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has not changed hands in that window.
What would change the FBNC vs FIBK verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: FIBK closes the Quality gap — currently 29 points behind, the largest single contributor to FBNC's edge; FIBK's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend; FBNC's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about FBNC and FIBK?
FBNC: 2 bullish / 0 bearish / 1 neutral. FIBK: 2 bullish / 0 bearish / 1 neutral. The most decision-relevant rule on FBNC is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On FIBK it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare FBNC and FIBK with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.