Head-To-Head Analysis: Pioneer Bancorp (NASDAQ:PBFS) vs. Avidbank (NASDAQ:AVBH)
by Mitch Edgeman · The Markets DailyAvidbank (NASDAQ:AVBH – Get Free Report) and Pioneer Bancorp (NASDAQ:PBFS – Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, profitability, risk and analyst recommendations.
Profitability
This table compares Avidbank and Pioneer Bancorp’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Avidbank | -8.69% | 10.85% | 1.21% |
| Pioneer Bancorp | N/A | 4.05% | 0.58% |
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares Avidbank and Pioneer Bancorp”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Avidbank | $151.76 million | 2.25 | -$19.55 million | ($1.92) | -16.21 |
| Pioneer Bancorp | $104.65 million | 4.14 | $13.41 million | $0.54 | 32.31 |
Pioneer Bancorp has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Avidbank. Avidbank is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Pioneer Bancorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
15.9% of Avidbank shares are held by institutional investors. 9.6% of Avidbank shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.8% of Pioneer Bancorp shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Volatility & Risk
Avidbank has a beta of 0.33, suggesting that its stock price is 67% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Pioneer Bancorp has a beta of 0.4, suggesting that its stock price is 60% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of current ratings for Avidbank and Pioneer Bancorp, as reported by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Avidbank | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2.75 |
| Pioneer Bancorp | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 |
Avidbank presently has a consensus price target of $35.33, suggesting a potential upside of 13.54%. Given Avidbank’s higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Avidbank is more favorable than Pioneer Bancorp.
About Avidbank
Avidbank Holdings, Inc. operates as a bank holding company for Avidbank that provides financial products and services to small and middle-market businesses, professionals, and individuals in the Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties. It offers business and personal deposit products, such as checking, money market, and savings accounts; and certificates of deposit. The company also provides personal lending products include secured and unsecured lines of credit, home equity lines of credit, remodel and new home construction loans, and term loans; corporate banking comprises working capital lines of credit, equipment loans, acquisition financing, shareholder buyouts, ESOP loans, and owner-occupied real estate loans; and commercial real estate lending, such as permanent loans and bridge financing products. In addition, it offers construction lending products, including land acquisition loans, pre-development loans, construction spec SFD, owner-occupied SFD, condominiums, subdivision, unsecured business lines, real estate bridge loans, and RLOC – real estate secured loans. Further, the company provides various financing solutions, such as structured finance, venture lending, asset-based lending, and sponsor finance. Additionally, it offers various services, such as automated clearing house payments and collections, bill pay, wire transfer, lockbox, merchant, remote deposit capture, ATM/debit cards, credit cards, business courier, cash management, and notary services, as well as online and mobile banking. The company was formerly known as Peninsula Bank Holding Co. and changed its name to Avidbank Holdings, Inc. in August 2011. Avidbank Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.
About Pioneer Bancorp
Pioneer Bancorp, Inc. operates as a holding company for Pioneer Savings Bank that provides various banking products and services in New York. The company accepts various deposit products, such as demand, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit accounts. Its loan products include commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, commercial construction, residential mortgage lending, consumer loans, and home equity lines of credit. The company also invests in the U.S. governmental securities, fixed rate collateralized mortgage obligations, mortgage-backed securities, fixed-rate investment grade bonds, and equity securities. In addition, the company offers personal and commercial insurance products, including homeowners, automobile, and comprehensive business insurance; employee benefit products and services, such as group health, dental, disability, and life insurance products, as well as defined contribution, defined benefit administration, and human resource management services; and wealth management services comprising investment advice, retirement income planning, estate planning, business succession, and employer retirement planning. The company was founded in 1889 and is based in Albany, New York. Pioneer Bancorp, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Pioneer Bancorp, MHC.