Head to Head Survey: USCB Financial (NASDAQ:USCB) vs. Peoples Financial (OTCMKTS:PFBX)

USCB Financial (NASDAQ:USCB) and Peoples Financial (OTCMKTS:PFBX) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, dividends, earnings and institutional ownership.

Dividends

USCB Financial pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Peoples Financial pays an annual dividend of $0.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.9%. USCB Financial pays out 32.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Peoples Financial pays out 7.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

Volatility and Risk

USCB Financial has a beta of 0.64, meaning that its stock price is 36% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Peoples Financial has a beta of 0.49, meaning that its stock price is 51% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares USCB Financial and Peoples Financial’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
USCB Financial	17.14%	12.14%	0.99%
Peoples Financial	54.68%	26.99%	2.51%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares USCB Financial and Peoples Financial”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
USCB Financial	$75.39 million	4.82	$24.67 million	$1.23	14.89
Peoples Financial	$39.52 million	2.25	$21.70 million	$4.66	4.13

USCB Financial has higher revenue and earnings than Peoples Financial. Peoples Financial is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than USCB Financial, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for USCB Financial and Peoples Financial, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
USCB Financial	0	1	2	1	3.00
Peoples Financial	0	0	0	0	0.00

USCB Financial currently has a consensus target price of $17.50, suggesting a potential downside of 4.48%. Given USCB Financial’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe USCB Financial is more favorable than Peoples Financial.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

61.3% of USCB Financial shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.8% of Peoples Financial shares are held by institutional investors. 48.5% of USCB Financial shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 28.1% of Peoples Financial shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

USCB Financial beats Peoples Financial on 12 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About USCB Financial

USCB Financial Holdings, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for U.S. Century Bank that engages in the provision of various personal and business banking products and services in the United States. It accepts various deposit products, including commercial and consumer checking, money market deposit, savings, and time deposit accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. It also offers loan products, such as small business administration loans, yacht financing, residential and commercial real estate loans; commercial and industrial loans; foreign bank loans; and secured and unsecured consumer loans comprising personal loans, overdrafts, and deposit account collateralized loans. The company also offers lockbox, treasury, commercial payments, cash management, and online banking services, as well as provides title insurance policies for real estate transactions. USCB Financial Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

About Peoples Financial

Peoples Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for The Peoples Bank that provides banking, financial, and trust services to government entities, individuals, and small and commercial businesses in Mississippi. The company accepts various deposits, such as interest and non-interest-bearing checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). It offers business, commercial, real estate, construction, personal, and installment loans; and personal trust, agencies, and estate services, including living and testamentary trusts, executorships, guardianships, and conservatorships. In addition, the company provides self-directed IRAs; and escrow management, stock transfer, and bond paying agency accounts to corporate customers. Further, it offers other services consisting of safe deposit box rental, wire transfer, night drop facilities, collection, cash management, and Internet banking services. the company provides services to customers of various industries, such as seafood, retail, hospitality, hotel/motel, gaming, and construction. Peoples Financial Corporation was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in Biloxi, Mississippi.