First Merchants [FRME] vs SouthState [SSB] Detailed Stock Comparison
TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary
Based on 19 vital metrics comparison: First Merchants Corporation wins in 7 metrics, SouthState Corporation wins in 12 metrics, with 0 ties. SouthState Corporation appears stronger overall.
View Metrics Details
Vital Metrics Comparison
| Metric | First Merchants Corporation | SouthState Corporation | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 10.40 | 12.53 | First Merchants Corporation |
| Price-to-Book Ratio | 0.94 | 1.08 | First Merchants Corporation |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio | 0.43 | 0.26 | SouthState Corporation |
| PEG Ratio | -1.04 | 0.40 | SouthState Corporation |
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 35.22% | 31.25% | First Merchants Corporation |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 42.70% | 51.08% | SouthState Corporation |
| EBITDA Margin (TTM) | 42.70% | 51.08% | SouthState Corporation |
| Return on Equity | 9.47% | 10.69% | SouthState Corporation |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 1.21% | 1.41% | SouthState Corporation |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $283.65M | $230.59M | First Merchants Corporation |
| Dividend Yield | 4.26% | 2.17% | First Merchants Corporation |
| 1-Year Return | 16.98% | 16.12% | First Merchants Corporation |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 3.99 | 3.88 | SouthState Corporation |
| Enterprise Value | $3.32B | $8.87B | SouthState Corporation |
| EV/Revenue Ratio | 5.18 | 3.47 | SouthState Corporation |
| Revenue per Share (TTM) | $11 | $25 | SouthState Corporation |
| Earnings per Share (Diluted) | $3.88 | $7.87 | SouthState Corporation |
| Beta (Stock Volatility) | 0.88 | 0.75 | SouthState Corporation |
| Short % of Float | 2.25% | 2.43% | First Merchants Corporation |
First Merchants Corporation vs SouthState Corporation Stock Performance Analysis
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Performance Comparison
Short-term Returns
| Stock | 1D | 1W | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Merchants Corporation | -2.23% | 2.82% | 5.24% | 11.94% | 5.54% | 9.73% |
| SouthState Corporation | -1.37% | 3.01% | 5.83% | 7.81% | 0.54% | 3.58% |
Long-term Returns
| Stock | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | 15Y | 20Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Merchants Corporation | 16.98% | 46.40% | 1.40% | 72.15% | 389.42% | 82.05% |
| SouthState Corporation | 16.12% | 39.64% | 22.19% | 50.90% | 253.30% | 205.62% |
Performance & Financial Health Analysis: First Merchants Corporation vs SouthState Corporation
| Metric | FRME | SSB |
|---|---|---|
| Market Information | ||
| Market Cap | $2.52B | $9.86B |
| Market Cap Category | Mid cap | Mid cap |
| 10 Day Avg. Volume | 355,599 | 888,466 |
| 90 Day Avg. Volume | 417,340 | 875,845 |
| Last Close | $41.15 | $97.60 |
| 52 Week Range | $34.66 - $43.22 | $84.48 - $108.46 |
| % from 52W High | -4.79% | -10.01% |
| All-Time High | $50.65 (Mar 08, 2021) | $114.27 (Nov 25, 2024) |
| % from All-Time High | -18.76% | -14.59% |
| Growth Metrics | ||
| Quarterly Revenue Growth | -0.05% | 0.52% |
| Quarterly Earnings Growth | -0.11% | 0.72% |
| Financial Health | ||
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 0.35% | 0.31% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 0.43% | 0.51% |
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 0.09% | 0.11% |
| Debt to Equity (MRQ) | 0.43 | 0.26 |
| Cash & Liquidity | ||
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $42.87 | $91.38 |
| Cash per Share (MRQ) | $5.19 | $32.67 |
| Operating Cash Flow (TTM) | $283.65M | $300.85M |
| Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $224.13M | $798.67M |
| Dividends | ||
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 4.26% | 2.17% |
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $1.79 | $2.34 |
Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: First Merchants Corporation vs SouthState Corporation
| Metric | FRME (Apr 24, 2026) | SSB (Apr 24, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Price Ratios | ||
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 10.40 | 12.53 |
| Forward P/E | 8.90 | 9.27 |
| PEG Ratio | -1.04 | 0.40 |
| Price to Sales (TTM) | 3.99 | 3.88 |
| Price to Book (MRQ) | 0.94 | 1.08 |
| Market Capitalization | ||
| Market Capitalization | $2.52B | $9.86B |
| Enterprise Value | $3.32B | $8.87B |
| Enterprise Value Metrics | ||
| Enterprise to Revenue | 5.18 | 3.47 |
| Enterprise to EBITDA | N/A | N/A |
| Risk & Other Metrics | ||
| Beta | 0.88 | 0.75 |
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $42.87 | $91.38 |
Financial Statements Comparison: First Merchants Corporation vs SouthState Corporation
Financial Metrics
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Revenue
Operating Margin
Profit Margin
Long Term Debt
Income Flow Analysis
Financial Statements Comparison
Income Statement
| Metric | FRME (2025) | SSB (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue/Sales | 662.95M | 2.62B |
| Cost of Goods Sold | N/A | N/A |
| COGS % of Revenue | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Gross Profit | N/A | N/A |
| Gross Margin | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Research & Development | N/A | N/A |
| Operating Income (EBIT) | N/A | N/A |
| Operating Margin | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| EBITDA | N/A | N/A |
| EBITDA Margin | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Pre-Tax Income | 259.11M | 1.04B |
| Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue | 39.1% | 39.7% |
| Income Tax | 33.11M | 241.54M |
| Income Tax % of Revenue | 5.0% | 9.2% |
| Net Income (Profit) | 226.00M | 798.67M |
| Profit Margin | 34.1% | 30.5% |
Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics
| Metric | FRME (2025) | SSB (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash & Equivalents | 280.46M | 885.56M |
| Total Current Assets | N/A | N/A |
| Total Current Assets % of Revenue | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Total Current Liabilities | N/A | N/A |
| Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Long-Term Debt | 856.18M | 686.23M |
| Long-Term Debt % of Revenue | 129.1% | 26.2% |
| Total Shareholders Equity | 2.47B | 9.06B |
| Retained Earnings | 1.41B | 2.61B |
| Retained Earnings % of Revenue | 213.3% | 99.9% |
| Property, Plant & Equipment | 140.49M | 516.00M |
Cash Flow Statement Comparison
| Metric | FRME (2025) | SSB (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash Flow | 278.47M | 506.84M |
| Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue | 42.0% | 19.4% |
| Capital Expenditures | N/A | -69.26M |
| Free Cash Flow | 283.65M | 230.59M |
| FCF Margin | 42.8% | 8.8% |
| Debt Repayment | -1.01B | -1.11B |
| Common Stock Repurchase | -46.89M | -235.82M |
Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis
| Metric | FRME | SSB |
|---|---|---|
| Shares Short | 1.25M | 2.15M |
| Short Ratio | 2.85 | 2.44 |
| Short % of Float | 2.25% | 2.43% |
| Shares Outstanding | 56.95M | 99.14M |
| Float Shares | 62.25M | 96.62M |
| % Held by Insiders | 2.05% | 1.26% |
| % Held by Institutions | 71.44% | 85.27% |
| % Held by Public | 26.51% | 13.47% |
Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: First Merchants Corporation vs SouthState Corporation
| Metric | FRME | SSB |
|---|---|---|
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $1.79 | $2.34 |
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 4.26% | 2.17% |
| 3-Year Avg Annual Dividend | $1.51 | $2.18 |
| 3-Year Avg Dividend Yield | 0.97% | 0.64% |
| 3-Year Total Dividends | $4.52 | $6.54 |
| Ex-Dividend Date | Mar 06, 2026 | Feb 06, 2026 |