First Merchants Corporation (FRME)vsHartford Financial Services Group (HIG)
FRME
First Merchants Corporation
$40.44
+1.56%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $2.53B
HIG
Hartford Financial Services Group
$136.81
+0.12%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $37.46B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Hartford Financial Services Group generates 4414% more annual revenue ($28.79B vs $637.81M). FRME leads profitability with a 31.2% profit margin vs 14.1%. HIG appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.12. HIG earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 77/100 (B+).
FRME
Buy62
out of 100
Grade: C+
HIG
Strong Buy77
out of 100
Grade: B+
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
Keeps 31 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 22.6%
Growing faster than its price suggests
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Every $100 of equity generates 23 in profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Reasonable price relative to book value
Earnings expanding 41.4% YoY
Areas to Watch
ROE of 8.0% — below average capital efficiency
Revenue declined 2.5%
Earnings declined 52.1%
Distress zone — elevated risk
No major concerns identified
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : FRME
The strongest argument for FRME centers on P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 31.2% and operating margin at 22.6%. PEG of 1.40 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : HIG
The strongest argument for HIG centers on PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Return on Equity. PEG of 0.12 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : FRME
The primary concerns for FRME are Return on Equity, Revenue Growth, EPS Growth.
Bear Case : HIG
No major red flags identified for HIG, but monitor valuation.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
FRME profiles as a declining stock while HIG is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
FRME carries more volatility with a beta of 0.88 — expect wider price swings.
HIG is growing revenue faster at 6.1% — sustainability is the question.
HIG generates stronger free cash flow (1.0B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
HIG scores higher overall (77/100 vs 62/100). Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
First Merchants Corporation
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - REGIONAL · USA
First Merchants Corporation is the financial holding company for First Merchants Bank providing community banking services. The company is headquartered in Muncie, Indiana.
Hartford Financial Services Group
FINANCIAL SERVICES · INSURANCE - DIVERSIFIED · USA
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., usually known as The Hartford, is a United States-based investment and insurance company.
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