Analyzing Finward Bancorp (NASDAQ:FNWD) and Powell Max (NASDAQ:PMAX)

Finward Bancorp (NASDAQ:FNWD) and Powell Max (NASDAQ:PMAX) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, earnings and risk.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Finward Bancorp and Powell Max, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Finward Bancorp	0	1	1	0	2.50
Powell Max	1	0	0	0	1.00

Finward Bancorp currently has a consensus price target of $41.00, indicating a potential upside of 19.92%. Given Finward Bancorp’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Finward Bancorp is more favorable than Powell Max.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Finward Bancorp and Powell Max”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Finward Bancorp	$101.06 million	1.46	$8.09 million	$2.29	14.93
Powell Max	$6.12 million	0.64	-$3.02 million	N/A	N/A

Finward Bancorp has higher revenue and earnings than Powell Max.

Profitability

This table compares Finward Bancorp and Powell Max’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Finward Bancorp	9.72%	5.92%	0.48%
Powell Max	N/A	N/A	N/A

Risk and Volatility

Finward Bancorp has a beta of 0.2, suggesting that its share price is 80% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Powell Max has a beta of 2.22, suggesting that its share price is 122% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

26.6% of Finward Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. 13.1% of Finward Bancorp shares are owned by 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

Finward Bancorp beats Powell Max on 11 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Finward Bancorp

Finward Bancorp operates as the holding company for Peoples Bank that provides various banking products and services. The company’s deposit products include non-interest- and interest-bearing demand accounts, savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, certificate accounts, and retirement savings plans. Its loan products portfolio comprises residential mortgage loans that enable borrowers to purchase existing homes, refinance existing homes, or construct new homes; construction loans primarily to individuals and contractors; commercial real estate loans; consumer loans to individuals for personal, household, or family purposes; home equity line of credit; home improvement loans and equity loans; commercial business loans; government loans; and loans to municipalities. The company also offers estate and retirement planning, custodial services, guardianships, IRA accounts, and investment agency accounts, as well as serves as the personal representative of estates, and acts as trustee for revocable and irrevocable trusts. In addition, it provides insurance and annuity investments to wealth management customers; holds real estate properties; and operates as a real estate investment trust. The company was formerly known as NorthWest Indiana Bancorp and changed its name to Finward Bancorp in May 2021. Finward Bancorp was founded in 1916 and is headquartered in Munster, Indiana.

About Powell Max

Powell Max Limited is a financial communications services provider. Powell Max Limited is based in JERSEY CITY, N.J.