Contrasting Renasant (NASDAQ:RNST) & Benchmark Bankshares (OTCMKTS:BMBN)

Renasant (NASDAQ:RNST) and Benchmark Bankshares (OTCMKTS:BMBN) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, earnings and valuation.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

77.3% of Renasant shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 3.2% of Benchmark Bankshares shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.8% of Renasant shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 14.0% of Benchmark Bankshares shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Renasant pays an annual dividend of $0.88 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.6%. Benchmark Bankshares pays an annual dividend of $0.88 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.4%. Renasant pays out 27.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Renasant and Benchmark Bankshares”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Renasant	$668.43 million	3.20	$195.46 million	$3.22	10.43
Benchmark Bankshares	$73.53 million	1.58	$15.85 million	N/A	N/A

Renasant has higher revenue and earnings than Benchmark Bankshares.

Risk and Volatility

Renasant has a beta of 0.93, indicating that its share price is 7% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Benchmark Bankshares has a beta of 0.11, indicating that its share price is 89% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Renasant and Benchmark Bankshares’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Renasant	17.91%	6.58%	0.93%
Benchmark Bankshares	N/A	N/A	N/A

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Renasant and Benchmark Bankshares, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Renasant	0	2	3	1	2.83
Benchmark Bankshares	0	0	0	0	0.00

Renasant presently has a consensus price target of $41.50, suggesting a potential upside of 23.54%. Given Renasant’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Renasant is more favorable than Benchmark Bankshares.

Summary

Renasant beats Benchmark Bankshares on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Renasant

Renasant Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Renasant Bank that provides a range of financial, wealth management, fiduciary, and insurance services to retail and commercial customers. The company operates through Community Banks, Insurance, and Wealth Management segments. The Community Banks segment offers checking and savings accounts, business and personal loans, asset-based lending, and factoring equipment leasing services, as well as safe deposit and night depository facilities. It also provides commercial, financial, and agricultural loans; equipment financing and leasing; real estate1-4 family mortgage; real estatecommercial mortgage; real estateconstruction loans for the construction of single family residential properties, multi-family properties, and commercial projects; installment loans to individuals; and interim construction loans, as well as automated teller machine (ATM), online and mobile banking, call center, and treasury management services. The Insurance segment provides insurance agency services, such as commercial and personal insurance products through insurance carriers. The Wealth Management segment offers a range of wealth management and fiduciary services, including administration and management of trust accounts, such as personal and corporate benefit accounts, and custodial accounts, as well as accounting and money management for trust accounts; annuities, mutual funds, and other investment services through a third party broker-dealer; administrative and compliance services; and qualified retirement plans, IRAs, employee benefit plans, personal trusts, and estates. Renasant Corporation was founded in 1904 and is headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi.

About Benchmark Bankshares

Benchmark Bankshares, Inc. operates as the holding company for Benchmark Community Bank that provides various banking products and services in the United States. The company accepts various deposits, such as checking, saving, commercial services, and youth accounts. Its loan products include personal, mortgage, other real estate, business, auto, and student loans. The company also offers credit and debit cards; wealth management services comprising financial solutions, financial and retirement planning, and portfolio management, as well as estate, charitable giving, and trust services; and reorder checks, safe deposit boxes, wire transfers, bill pay, and internet and mobile banking services. The company was founded in 1971 and is based in Kenbridge, Virginia.