Kentucky First Federal Bancorp (NASDAQ:KFFB – Get Free Report) and Southern Missouri Bancorp (NASDAQ:SMBC – Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation and dividends.
Dividends
Kentucky First Federal Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 8.5%. Southern Missouri Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.7%. Kentucky First Federal Bancorp pays out 666.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Southern Missouri Bancorp pays out 18.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Southern Missouri Bancorp has raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares Kentucky First Federal Bancorp and Southern Missouri Bancorp”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Kentucky First Federal Bancorp | $9.49 million | 4.00 | $180,000.00 | $0.06 | 78.17 |
| Southern Missouri Bancorp | $187.76 million | 3.57 | $58.58 million | $5.46 | 10.97 |
Southern Missouri Bancorp has higher revenue and earnings than Kentucky First Federal Bancorp. Southern Missouri Bancorp is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Kentucky First Federal Bancorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
3.2% of Kentucky First Federal Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 49.5% of Southern Missouri Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.9% of Kentucky First Federal Bancorp shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 15.8% of Southern Missouri Bancorp shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Volatility & Risk
Kentucky First Federal Bancorp has a beta of 0.11, suggesting that its stock price is 89% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Southern Missouri Bancorp has a beta of 0.98, suggesting that its stock price is 2% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares Kentucky First Federal Bancorp and Southern Missouri Bancorp’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Kentucky First Federal Bancorp | 2.68% | 1.12% | 0.14% |
| Southern Missouri Bancorp | 19.86% | 11.57% | 1.25% |
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Kentucky First Federal Bancorp and Southern Missouri Bancorp, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Kentucky First Federal Bancorp | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 |
| Southern Missouri Bancorp | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2.25 |
Southern Missouri Bancorp has a consensus price target of $62.83, suggesting a potential upside of 4.90%. Given Southern Missouri Bancorp’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Southern Missouri Bancorp is more favorable than Kentucky First Federal Bancorp.
Summary
Southern Missouri Bancorp beats Kentucky First Federal Bancorp on 14 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Kentucky First Federal Bancorp
Kentucky First Federal Bancorp operates as the holding company for First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Hazard, and Frankfort First Bancorp, Inc. that provide various banking products and services in Kentucky. It accepts deposit products include passbook savings and certificate accounts, checking accounts, and individual retirement accounts. The company's loan portfolio comprises one-to four-family residential mortgage loans; construction loans; mortgage loans secured by multi-family property; nonresidential loans that are secured by commercial office buildings, churches, and properties used for other purposes; commercial non-mortgage loans; and consumer loans, such as home equity lines of credit, loans secured by savings deposits, automobile loans, and unsecured or personal loans. It also invests in mortgage-backed securities. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is based in Hazard, Kentucky. Kentucky First Federal Bancorp is a subsidiary of First Federal MHC.
About Southern Missouri Bancorp
Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Southern Bank that provides banking and financial services to individuals and corporate customers in the United States. The company offers deposits products, including interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing transaction accounts, saving accounts, certificates of deposit, retirement savings plans, and money market deposit accounts. It also provides loans, such as residential mortgage, commercial real estate, construction, and commercial business loans; and consumer loans comprising home equity, direct and indirect automobile loans, second mortgages, mobile home loans, and loans secured by deposits. In addition, the company offers fiduciary and investment management services; commercial and consumer insurance; online and mobile banking services; and debit or credit cards. The company was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
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