Analyzing University Bancorp (OTCMKTS:UNIB) & SB Financial Group (NASDAQ:SBFG)

SB Financial Group (NASDAQ:SBFG) and University Bancorp (OTCMKTS:UNIB) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares SB Financial Group and University Bancorp”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
SB Financial Group	$91.03 million	1.42	$13.97 million	$2.20	9.30
University Bancorp	$125.26 million	0.85	$10.47 million	N/A	N/A

SB Financial Group has higher earnings, but lower revenue than University Bancorp.

Dividends

SB Financial Group pays an annual dividend of $0.62 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. University Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $0.30 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.5%. SB Financial Group pays out 28.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. SB Financial Group has increased its dividend for 12 consecutive years. SB Financial Group is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Volatility and Risk

SB Financial Group has a beta of 0.23, meaning that its stock price is 77% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, University Bancorp has a beta of 0.21, meaning that its stock price is 79% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for SB Financial Group and University Bancorp, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
SB Financial Group	0	1	1	0	2.50
University Bancorp	0	0	0	0	0.00

Institutional and Insider Ownership

66.7% of SB Financial Group shares are held by institutional investors. 6.0% of SB Financial Group shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 63.7% of University Bancorp shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares SB Financial Group and University Bancorp’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
SB Financial Group	15.35%	10.88%	0.98%
University Bancorp	N/A	N/A	N/A

Summary

SB Financial Group beats University Bancorp on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About SB Financial Group

SB Financial Group, Inc. operates as the financial holding company for the State Bank and Trust Company that provides a range of commercial banking and wealth management services to individual and corporate customers primarily in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. It offers checking, savings, money market accounts, as well as time certificates of deposit; and commercial, consumer, agricultural, and residential mortgage loans. The company also provides automatic teller machine, personal and corporate trust, commercial leasing, bank credit card, safe deposit box rental, internet banking, private client group, and other personalized banking products and services; and various trust and financial services comprising asset management services for individuals and corporate employee benefit plans, as well as brokerage services. In addition, it sells insurance products to retail and commercial customers. The company was formerly known as Rurban Financial Corp. and changed its name to SB Financial Group, Inc. in April 2013. SB Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1902 and is based in Defiance, Ohio.

About University Bancorp

University Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for University Bank that provides various personal, business, and community banking services in the United States. It offers checking, NOW, savings, money market, time deposit, and certificates of deposit accounts. The company's consumer loans include home equity, short term, automobile, personal, and recreational vehicle loans, as well as home equity lines of credits; SBA, commercial real estate, equipment, home improvement, and other instalment loans; and non-profit loans, as well as working capital lines of credit. In addition, the company provides foreign currency exchange; reverse mortgage; online banking and bill pay; online reorder checks; wire transfer; and courier services, as well as credit card and ATM services. Further, it offers life, health, property, and casualty insurance products, as well as investment products, including annuities. University Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1890 and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.