USB vs ZION Stock Comparison
Compare USB and ZION across AIQ Score, fundamentals, valuation, momentum, risk, analyst expectations and current market evidence.
What is the main difference between USB and ZION?
ZION leads the current stock comparison as Zions Bancorporation, National Association, with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
U.S. Bancorp vs Zions Bancorporation, National Association
ZION leads
ZION leads by 2 AIQ points, primarily on Quality and Value, but the lead has narrowed from 6 points over 30 sessions.
Fragile: 2 of 6 evidence groups support ZION, its lead is narrowing, and its signal state is cleanly positive.
U.S. Bancorp
Zions Bancorporation, National Association
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors ZION over USB, 59 versus 57 as of Sep 6, 2026. ZION's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality and value, while USB holds the stronger risk resilience profile. ZION also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 2 of 6 covered evidence groups favor ZION today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. ZION lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 6 to 2 points over 30 sessions.
Compare U.S. Bancorp and Zions Bancorporation, National Association across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Price-return comparison using available daily close history.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000
Based on available close-price history. Distribution reinvestment is not added unless already reflected in the source series.
Compare USB and ZION 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.
- Quality30%50 vs 70ZION +20
- Risk Resilience15%77 vs 61USB +16
- Momentum25%54 vs 39USB +15
- Value30%56 vs 64ZION +8
2 of 6 evidence groups favor ZION. ZION’s edge is concentrated in quality and value; USB keeps a meaningful risk resilience edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-05, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-04.
No factor moved materially.
No new signals fired.
No factor moved materially.
No new signals fired.
ZION's lead was unchanged in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — USB and ZION both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
ZION (Zions Bancorporation, National Association): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality and value.
USB (U.S. Bancorp): the counter-case, on risk resilience, momentum.
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
ZIONZION on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value at 30% each.
Growth
ZIONZION on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
ZIONZION on the peer-relative Value factor, by 8 points.
Momentum
USBUSB on the Momentum factor, by 15 points.
Lower downside
USBUSB on Risk Resilience, by 16 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 | USB | ZION | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +7% | +6.3% | Level |
| Target dispersion | +22.1% | +27.1% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 15 | 10 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
2 of 6 covered evidence groups favor ZION. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | Even | 57 vs 59 |
| Fundamentals | ZION | EPS growth 14.4% vs 95.5%; TTM ROE 12.5% vs 16.1%; gross margin 63.8% vs 71.4%; operating margin 23.9% vs 29.1% |
| Valuation | ZION | Value 56 vs 64 |
| Technicals | Even | Price vs 50-day 0.5% vs -0.6%; vs 200-day 11.7% vs 11.2% |
| Risk Resilience | USB | Risk Resilience 77 vs 61 |
| Analyst expectations | Even | Target upside 7% vs 6.3% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of USB and ZION and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Only 2 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (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 ZION.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Apr 24 – Sep 5ZION lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 6 to 2 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- ZION +2
- 57 vs 59
- 7 sessions ago
- ZION +5
- 51 vs 56
- 30 sessions ago
- ZION +6
- 62 vs 68
- 90 sessions ago
- ZION +5
- 62 vs 67
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.
2 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (11.16%)
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
2 bullish / 0 bearish / 1 neutral
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (11.92%)
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon
USB 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 -0.25%, AIQ 0 points).
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +0.09%, AIQ 0 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.
- 1USB closes the Quality gap — currently 20 points behind, the largest single contributor to ZION's edge.
- 2USB's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend.
- 3ZION's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict.
- 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 4 points over 30 sessions, and a further 2-point move would eliminate ZION's advantage entirely.
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
ZION leads on balance| Metric | USB | ZION |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 0.8% | 25% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 14.4% | 95.5% |
| Gross margin | 63.8% | 71.4% |
| Operating margin | 23.9% | 29.1% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 12.5% | 16.1% |
| Debt to equity | 1.42 | 0.41 |
Performance
USB leads 4 of 6 windows| Metric | USB | ZION |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | 1.4% | 2.3% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -0.9% | -1.4% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 13.8% | 9.7% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 21% | 24.5% |
| Year to date | 18.8% | 18.5% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 30.6% | 20.8% |
Technicals
Split| Metric | USB | ZION |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 41 | 39.2 |
| ADX (14) | 15.6 | 17.7 |
| Price vs 50-day | 0.5% | -0.6% |
| Price vs 200-day | 11.7% | 11.2% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 18.6% | 21.1% |
Risk
USB is the more resilient| Metric | USB | ZION |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.67 | 0.9 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.08 | 0.61 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.55 | 0.69 |
| Max drawdown | -16.2% | -20.7% |
| Current drawdown | -3.1% | -5.4% |
| Annualized volatility | 22.3% | 30.3% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2.1% | -2.8% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, USB or ZION?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, ZION is the stronger of the two as of Sep 6, 2026, scoring 59 against USB's 57. The edge comes from quality and value. USB 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 USB or ZION the better buy right now?
ZION carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 6, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 2 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor ZION over USB?
The composite weights Quality at 30%, Value at 30%, Momentum at 25% and Risk Resilience at 15%. ZION leads Quality by 20 points; USB leads Risk Resilience by 16 points; USB leads Momentum by 15 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, USB or ZION?
Analyst price targets imply +7% upside for USB and +6.3% for ZION. 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, USB or ZION?
ZION is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. ZION on the peer-relative Value factor, by 8 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, USB or ZION?
ZION 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, USB or ZION?
USB on the Momentum factor, by 15 points. Momentum carries 25% of 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, USB or ZION?
USB is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. USB on Risk Resilience, by 16 points. The Risk Resilience factor weights 15% of the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is USB more profitable than ZION?
ZION leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 63.8% vs 71.4%; operating margin 23.9% vs 29.1%; ttm roe 12.5% vs 16.1%.
Is ZION's lead over USB getting stronger or weaker?
ZION lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 6 to 2 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-04-24 and 2026-09-05. The lead has not changed hands in that window.
What would change the USB vs ZION verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: USB closes the Quality gap — currently 20 points behind, the largest single contributor to ZION's edge; USB's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend; ZION's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 4 points over 30 sessions, and a further 2-point move would eliminate ZION's advantage entirely.
What do the current signals say about USB and ZION?
USB: 2 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. ZION: 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 USB is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On ZION it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare USB and ZION with others
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality (30%), Value (30%), Momentum (25%) and Risk (15%). 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.