ASB vs. UMBF: Which Stock Should Value Investors Buy Now?

Core Insights - The article compares Associated Banc-Corp (ASB) and UMB Financial (UMBF) to determine which stock is more attractive to value investors [1] Valuation Metrics - ASB has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a more favorable earnings estimate revision trend compared to UMBF, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - ASB's forward P/E ratio is 10.19, while UMBF's forward P/E ratio is 11.80 [5] - ASB has a PEG ratio of 1.02, compared to UMBF's PEG ratio of 1.39, suggesting ASB is better positioned in terms of expected earnings growth [5] - ASB's P/B ratio is 0.96, indicating a lower market value relative to its book value, while UMBF has a P/B ratio of 1.34 [6] - Based on these valuation metrics, ASB holds a Value grade of B, while UMBF has a Value grade of D, making ASB the superior value option [6]