WallStSmart

Valley National Bancorp (VLY)vsWells Fargo & Company (WFC)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Wells Fargo & Company generates 4080% more annual revenue ($81.14B vs $1.94B). VLY leads profitability with a 33.8% profit margin vs 26.7%. VLY appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.16. VLY earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 79/100 (B+).

VLY

Strong Buy

79

out of 100

Grade: B+

Growth: 8.7Profit: 7.5Value: 6.3Quality: 6.5
Piotroski: 4/9

WFC

Strong Buy

74

out of 100

Grade: B

Growth: 7.3Profit: 7.5Value: 6.3Quality: 5.8
Piotroski: 4/9Altman Z: 0.43

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

VLY6 strengths · Avg: 9.3/10
Price/BookValuation
1.0x10/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

Profit MarginProfitability
33.8%10/10

Keeps 34 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Operating MarginProfitability
46.4%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 46.4%

EPS GrowthGrowth
58.1%10/10

Earnings expanding 58.1% YoY

P/E RatioValuation
12.2x8/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

Revenue GrowthGrowth
23.8%8/10

Revenue surging 23.8% year-over-year

WFC6 strengths · Avg: 8.5/10
Market CapQuality
$247.29B10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

Profit MarginProfitability
26.7%9/10

Keeps 27 of every $100 in revenue as profit

P/E RatioValuation
12.5x8/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

Price/BookValuation
1.5x8/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

Operating MarginProfitability
29.4%8/10

Strong operational efficiency at 29.4%

Free Cash FlowQuality
$9.14B8/10

Generating 9.1B in free cash flow

Areas to Watch

VLY0 concerns · Avg: 0/10

No major concerns identified

WFC1 concerns · Avg: 2.0/10
Altman Z-ScoreHealth
0.432/10

Distress zone — elevated risk

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : VLY

The strongest argument for VLY centers on Price/Book, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 33.8% and operating margin at 46.4%. Revenue growth of 23.8% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bull Case : WFC

The strongest argument for WFC centers on Market Cap, Profit Margin, P/E Ratio. Profitability is solid with margins at 26.7% and operating margin at 29.4%. PEG of 1.44 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.

Bear Case : VLY

No major red flags identified for VLY, but monitor valuation.

Bear Case : WFC

The primary concerns for WFC are Altman Z-Score.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

VLY profiles as a growth stock while WFC is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.

WFC carries more volatility with a beta of 1.06 — expect wider price swings.

VLY is growing revenue faster at 23.8% — sustainability is the question.

WFC generates stronger free cash flow (9.1B), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

VLY scores higher overall (79/100 vs 74/100), backed by strong 33.8% margins and 23.8% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Strong 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.

Valley National Bancorp

FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - REGIONAL · USA

Valley National Bancorp is the parent company of Valley National Bank offering various commercial, retail, insurance and wealth management financial services products. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.

Wells Fargo & Company

FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - DIVERSIFIED · USA

Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with corporate headquarters in San Francisco, California, operational headquarters in Manhattan, and managerial offices throughout the United States and overseas.

Want to dig deeper into these stocks?