Analyzing West Shore Bank (OTCMKTS:WSSH) and Hingham Institution for Savings (NASDAQ:HIFS)

West Shore Bank (OTCMKTS:WSSH) and Hingham Institution for Savings (NASDAQ:HIFS) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation and dividends.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares West Shore Bank and Hingham Institution for Savings”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
West Shore Bank	$48.89 million	1.08	$6.25 million	N/A	N/A
Hingham Institution for Savings	$236.78 million	2.71	$54.55 million	$30.02	9.80

Hingham Institution for Savings has higher revenue and earnings than West Shore Bank.

Risk and Volatility

West Shore Bank has a beta of 0.01, indicating that its stock price is 99% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Hingham Institution for Savings has a beta of 0.84, indicating that its stock price is 16% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares West Shore Bank and Hingham Institution for Savings’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
West Shore Bank	N/A	N/A	N/A
Hingham Institution for Savings	25.94%	8.43%	0.88%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for West Shore Bank and Hingham Institution for Savings, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
West Shore Bank	0	0	0	0	0.00
Hingham Institution for Savings	0	0	1	0	3.00

Dividends

West Shore Bank pays an annual dividend of $0.96 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Hingham Institution for Savings pays an annual dividend of $2.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Hingham Institution for Savings pays out 8.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

49.3% of Hingham Institution for Savings shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Hingham Institution for Savings beats West Shore Bank on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About West Shore Bank

West Shore Bank Corp. operates as the bank holding company for West Shore Bank that provides various banking products and services for individuals and businesses. The company accepts checking, saving, money market, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. Its loan products include auto, recreational, personal term, commercial real estate, small business administration, municipal, business term, and home mortgage and equity loans; business lines of credit; and letters of credit. The company also offers ATM/debit, credit, and gift and travel cards; wealth planning process, investment management, trusts and estates, retirement planning, west shore investment services; savings bonds; and direct deposit, overdraft, safe deposit boxes, wire transfer, remote deposit capture, merchant card, ACH and wire, sweep accounts, positive pay, bill pay, and online and mobile banking services. The company was founded in 1898 and is based in Ludington, Michigan.

About Hingham Institution for Savings

Hingham Institution for Savings provides various financial products and services to individuals and small businesses in the United States. It offers savings, checking, money market, demand, and negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company provides commercial and residential real estate, construction, home equity, commercial, consumer, and mortgage loans. In addition, it offers ATMs, debit cards, and Internet-based banking services. The company offers its services through a network of offices in Boston; Washington, D.C.; and San Francisco Bay Area. Hingham Institution for Savings was incorporated in 1834 and is headquartered in Hingham, Massachusetts.