FFIN vs FNLC Stock Comparison
FNLC currently leads FFIN in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 56 vs 52. The clearest difference is momentum, while FFIN has the stronger risk resilience profile.
What is the main difference between FFIN and FNLC?
FNLC leads the current stock comparison as The First Bancorp, Inc., with the clearest separation coming from momentum and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
First Financial Bankshares, Inc. vs The First Bancorp, Inc.
FNLC leads
FNLC leads by 4 AIQ points, primarily on Momentum and Value.
Competitive: 3 of 5 evidence groups support FNLC, and its signal state is cleanly positive.
First Financial Bankshares, Inc.
The First Bancorp, Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors FNLC over FFIN, 56 versus 52 as of Oct 21, 2026. FNLC's advantage is driven primarily by stronger momentum and value, while FFIN holds the stronger risk resilience profile. FNLC also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 3 of 5 covered evidence groups favor FNLC today, and the comparison is rated Competitive on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 4 points. FNLC lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 4 points over 30 sessions.
Compare First Financial Bankshares, Inc. and The First Bancorp, 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 FFIN and FNLC against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
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.
- Momentum27 vs 57FNLC +30
- Risk Resilience78 vs 50FFIN +28
- Value37 vs 58FNLC +21
- Quality75 vs 57FFIN +18
3 of 5 evidence groups favor FNLC. FNLC’s edge is concentrated in momentum and value; FFIN keeps a meaningful risk resilience 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 +2, not enough on its own to move the overall score.
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 3 active signals are unchanged.
Largest factor move: Momentum +7
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 3 active signals are unchanged.
FNLC's lead widened by 2 AIQ points in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — FFIN and FNLC both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
FNLC (The First Bancorp, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by momentum and value.
FFIN (First Financial Bankshares, Inc.): the counter-case, on risk resilience, quality, fundamentals.
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
FNLCFNLC on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
FNLCFNLC on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
FNLCFNLC on the peer-relative Value factor, by 21 points.
Momentum
FNLCFNLC on the Momentum factor, by 30 points.
Lower downside
FFINFFIN on Risk Resilience, by 28 points.
Analyst upside
EvenAnalyst targets are level or not covered for both names.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | FFIN | FNLC | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +16.9% | — | Level |
| Target dispersion | +5.7% | — | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Hold | — | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 3 | 0 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | FFIN | FNLC |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 8.02% | 3.66% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $0.510 | $1.220 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $0.750 | $1.460 |
| Years increased | 5 | 5 |
| No cut in window | Yes | Yes |
| Cohort rank | #145 | #292 |
FFIN grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 8.02% a year against FNLC's 3.66%. 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 5 covered evidence groups favor FNLC. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | FNLC | 52 vs 56 |
| Fundamentals | FFINon balance | revenue growth 1.3% vs 13.7%; EPS growth 4% vs 6.2%; TTM ROE 15.1% vs 13.3%; gross margin 76.3% vs 54.4%; operating margin 40.5% vs 23.8% — FFIN takes 3 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | FNLC | Value 37 vs 58 |
| Technicals | FNLC | Price vs 50-day -9.1% vs 0.2%; vs 200-day -7.2% vs 10.9% |
| Risk Resilience | FFIN | Risk Resilience 78 vs 50 |
| Analyst expectations | Not covered | Not covered |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of FFIN and FNLC 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 narrow at 4 points. (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 FNLC.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20FNLC lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 4 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- FNLC +4
- 52 vs 56
- 7 sessions ago
- FNLC +4
- 49 vs 53
- 30 sessions ago
- FNLC +2
- 49 vs 51
- 90 sessions ago
- FNLC +1
- 56 vs 57
The lead changed hands 2 times in this window, most recently on Oct 19 when FNLC moved ahead of FFIN.
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.
1 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
Only FFIN
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
2 bullish / 0 bearish / 1 neutral
Only FNLC
- MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon
Both carry 2 more signals that do not separate them: Bollinger Band Squeeze, Golden Cross Active.
FFIN is conflicted, so the timing case there is weaker than the score alone suggests.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price -1.39%, AIQ 0 points).
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +0.52%, AIQ +2 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.
- 1FFIN closes the Momentum gap — currently 30 points behind, the largest single contributor to FNLC's edge.
- 2FFIN's MACD Bearish Crossover resolves — a bearish momentum rule currently active against it.
- 3FNLC'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
FFIN leads on balance| Metric | FFIN | FNLC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 1.3% | 13.7% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 4% | 6.2% |
| Gross margin | 76.3% | 54.4% |
| Operating margin | 40.5% | 23.8% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 15.1% | 13.3% |
| Debt to equity | 0.04 | 0.73 |
Performance
FNLC leads 6 of 6 windows| Metric | FFIN | FNLC |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -2% | 2.4% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -6.6% | -0.8% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -12.9% | 1.4% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | -6.4% | 19.8% |
| Year to date | 1.1% | 30% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | -3.7% | 40.9% |
Technicals
FNLC has the stronger structure| Metric | FFIN | FNLC |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 33.1 | 60.5 |
| ADX (14) | 43.7 | 29.4 |
| Price vs 50-day | -9.1% | 0.2% |
| Price vs 200-day | -7.2% | 10.9% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 21.1% | 19.3% |
Risk
FFIN is the more resilient| Metric | FFIN | FNLC |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.46 | 0.16 |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.24 | 1.29 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.33 | 2.24 |
| Max drawdown | -18% | -10.4% |
| Current drawdown | -17.3% | -3.6% |
| Annualized volatility | 23.5% | 25.5% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2.3% | -2.1% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, FFIN or FNLC?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, FNLC is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 56 against FFIN's 52. The edge comes from momentum and value. FFIN is not without a case — it holds the better risk resilience 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 FFIN or FNLC the better buy right now?
FNLC carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Competitive — 3 of 5 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 FNLC over FFIN?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. FNLC leads Momentum by 30 points; FFIN leads Risk Resilience by 28 points; FNLC leads Value by 21 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, FFIN or FNLC?
Analyst price targets imply +16.9% upside for FFIN and not covered for FNLC. 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, FFIN or FNLC?
FNLC is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. FNLC on the peer-relative Value factor, by 21 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, FFIN or FNLC?
FNLC 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, FFIN or FNLC?
FNLC on the Momentum factor, by 30 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, FFIN or FNLC?
FFIN is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. FFIN on Risk Resilience, by 28 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is FFIN more profitable than FNLC?
FFIN leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 76.3% vs 54.4%; operating margin 40.5% vs 23.8%; ttm roe 15.1% vs 13.3%.
Is FNLC's lead over FFIN getting stronger or weaker?
FNLC lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 4 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has changed hands 2 times in that window, most recently on 2026-10-19, when FNLC moved ahead of FFIN.
What would change the FFIN vs FNLC verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: FFIN closes the Momentum gap — currently 30 points behind, the largest single contributor to FNLC's edge; FFIN's MACD Bearish Crossover resolves — a bearish momentum rule currently active against it; FNLC'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 FFIN and FNLC?
FFIN: 1 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. FNLC: 2 bullish / 0 bearish / 1 neutral. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on FFIN is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On FNLC it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare FFIN and FNLC 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.