Provident Financial (NASDAQ:PROV – Get Free Report) and LifeStore Financial Group (OTCMKTS:LSFG – Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, earnings, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Provident Financial and LifeStore Financial Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Provident Financial | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 |
| LifeStore Financial Group | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Provident Financial currently has a consensus price target of $16.00, indicating a potential downside of 6.19%. Given Provident Financial’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Provident Financial is more favorable than LifeStore Financial Group.
Dividends
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares Provident Financial and LifeStore Financial Group”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Provident Financial | $60.15 million | 1.77 | $6.26 million | $0.92 | 18.54 |
| LifeStore Financial Group | $33.78 million | 1.65 | $5.56 million | N/A | N/A |
Provident Financial has higher revenue and earnings than LifeStore Financial Group.
Profitability
This table compares Provident Financial and LifeStore Financial Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Provident Financial | 10.27% | 4.76% | 0.49% |
| LifeStore Financial Group | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Risk and Volatility
Provident Financial has a beta of 0.34, meaning that its stock price is 66% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, LifeStore Financial Group has a beta of 0.45, meaning that its stock price is 55% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
71.3% of Provident Financial shares are held by institutional investors. 11.5% of Provident Financial shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 12.2% of LifeStore Financial Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Summary
Provident Financial beats LifeStore Financial Group on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Provident Financial
Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. operates as the holding company for Provident Savings Bank, F.S.B. that provides community banking services to consumers and small to mid-sized businesses in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. The company's deposit products include checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as time deposits; and loan portfolio consists of single-family, multi-family, commercial real estate, construction, mortgage, commercial business, and consumer loans. It also offers investment services comprising the sale of investment products, such as annuities and mutual funds; and trustee services for real estate transactions. The company operates through full-service banking offices in Riverside County and San Bernardino County. Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Riverside, California.
About LifeStore Financial Group
LifeStore Financial Group, Inc. operates as a federally chartered thrift holding company for LifeStore Bank that provides personal and business banking products and services in North Carolina. The company offers checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; mortgage loans, automobile loans, home equity lines of credit, commercial real estate loans, commercial construction loans, investment property loans, equipment loans, working capital loans/lines of credit, and small business administration loans; and credit cards. It also provides insurance agency products and services; investment and cash management services; and online and mobile banking services. The company was formerly known as AF Financial Group and changed its name to LifeStore Financial Group, Inc. in September 2009. LifeStore Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in West Jefferson, North Carolina. Lifestore Financial Group, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of AsheCo MHC, Inc.
Receive News & Ratings for Provident Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Provident Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
