Chemung Financial (NASDAQ:CHMG) versus Benchmark Bankshares (OTCMKTS:BMBN) Head-To-Head Review

Benchmark Bankshares (OTCMKTS:BMBN) and Chemung Financial (NASDAQ:CHMG) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares Benchmark Bankshares and Chemung Financial’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Benchmark Bankshares	N/A	N/A	N/A
Chemung Financial	14.95%	10.47%	0.82%

Risk and Volatility

Benchmark Bankshares has a beta of 0.14, meaning that its share price is 86% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Chemung Financial has a beta of 0.37, meaning that its share price is 63% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

3.2% of Benchmark Bankshares shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 47.5% of Chemung Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. 14.0% of Benchmark Bankshares shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 12.4% of Chemung Financial shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Benchmark Bankshares pays an annual dividend of $0.88 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. Chemung Financial pays an annual dividend of $1.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. Chemung Financial pays out 27.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Chemung Financial has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings for Benchmark Bankshares and Chemung Financial, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Benchmark Bankshares	0	0	0	0	0.00
Chemung Financial	0	2	0	0	2.00

Chemung Financial has a consensus target price of $52.50, suggesting a potential upside of 4.06%. Given Chemung Financial’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Chemung Financial is more favorable than Benchmark Bankshares.

Valuation & Earnings

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

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Benchmark Bankshares	$73.53 million	1.76	$15.85 million	N/A	N/A
Chemung Financial	$150.79 million	1.60	$23.67 million	$4.74	10.64

Chemung Financial has higher revenue and earnings than Benchmark Bankshares.

Summary

Chemung Financial beats Benchmark Bankshares on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

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.

About Chemung Financial

Chemung Financial Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Chemung Canal Trust Company that provides a range of banking, financing, fiduciary, and other financial services. The company provides demand, savings, and time deposits; non-interest and interest-bearing checking accounts; and insured money market accounts. It also offers commercial and agricultural loans comprising loans to small to mid-sized businesses; commercial and residential mortgage loans; and consumer loans, including home equity lines of credit and home equity term loans. In addition, the company provides interest rate swaps, letters of credit, employee benefit plans, insurance products, mutual fund, brokerage, and tax preparation services. Further, it offers guardian, custodian, trustee, investment, pension, estate planning, and employee benefit administrative services, as well as acts as an agent for pension, profit-sharing, and other employee benefit trusts. Chemung Financial Corporation was founded in 1833 and is headquartered in Elmira, New York.