PRK

Park National

Fundamental data last updated:April 13, 2026

We may earn a commission from partner links. This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Information may be delayed or inaccurate.

company profile

SECTOR

Financial Services

industry

Banks - Regional

Exchange

NYSE

County of HQ

United States

Next Earnings Date

04/24/26

Business Summary

Park National operates as a traditional regional bank, generating cash primarily through net interest income on loans and securities while supplementing with fee-based services. Its moat is relationship-driven banking within its regional footprint, where local market knowledge and long-standing customer ties create stickiness in deposits and lending. The stability of its funding base and disciplined underwriting determine how effectively it converts deposits into profitable loan spreads. In a commoditized banking landscape, its competitive edge rests less on scale and more on credit quality, capital allocation discipline, and community entrenchment.

 


VALUATION

P/E

15.6

Market Cap ($M USD)

$3,119

Forward P/E

13.8

PEG

4

PRICE TO SALES

5

PRICE TO BOOK

2.3

EV / EBITDA

-

5-Year Average P/E

Free Cash Flow Yield

DCF Value

Graham Number

Price to FCF

EV to FCF

Earnings Yield

FCF Yield

DIVIDEND

Yield

2.50%

Annual Payout

$4.31

Payout Ratio

38.30%

Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth

8

5-Year Dividend Growth Rate

1.30%

Financial Health & Profitability

Earnings Per Share

$11.18

Next Year EPS Growth Estimate

$12.52

Next Year Revenue Growth Estimate

3.60%

Return on Equity (ROE)

13.30%

FREE CASH FLOW

Operating Margin

42.00%

Debt-to-Equity

0

Piotroski F-Score

7

Altman Z-Score

0.5

Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)

21.00%

Current Ratio

-

Quick Ratio

Net Debt to EBITDA

Interest Coverage

Gross Profit margin

FCF PER SHARE

REVENUE PER SHARE

Gainseekers Quantitative Analysis

Summary

At 15.6x earnings and 13.8x forward earnings, PRK screens as optically reasonable for a regional bank, but the PEG of 4 signals growth that is nowhere near sufficient to justify even that multiple. The 0.5 Altman Z-Score is the real flashing red light — that level implies material balance sheet stress risk, which is not something you dismiss in a leveraged financial institution. A 3.60% ROE is weak for a bank, yet ROIC sits at 21.00%, creating a strange profitability disconnect that demands scrutiny. The market is not clearly mispricing this — it appears to be assigning a middling valuation to a bank with fragile stability metrics and limited growth acceleration.

AI Exposure / Tech Reliance

As a regional bank in Financial Services, PRK’s AI exposure is indirect and operational rather than transformative. AI will likely impact cost efficiencies, underwriting precision, and fraud detection rather than top-line disruption. The industry’s tech evolution favors scale and data leverage, meaning execution—not innovation hype—will determine resilience.

The Bull Case

A value-oriented or GARP investor could justify ownership based on capital efficiency and operational discipline. A 21.00% ROIC is strong for a regional bank, and a Piotroski F-Score of 7 suggests solid underlying financial quality with improving fundamentals. Operating margins of 13.30% show the bank retains meaningful profitability, and a Debt/Equity ratio of 42.00% is not extreme relative to financial peers. With a forward P/E of 13.8 and estimated EPS next year of $11.18, there is a pathway to earnings-driven upside if execution stabilizes and the balance sheet concerns prove overstated.

The Bear Case

The bear case centers on structural fragility and poor growth efficiency. A PEG ratio of 4 indicates investors are paying a premium relative to expected growth, and the 0.5 Altman Z-Score raises serious solvency questions that cannot be ignored in a cyclical lending environment. ROE at just 3.60% signals weak shareholder capital productivity, and a Price/Sales ratio of 5 is not cheap for a regional bank with modest profitability. Even though short interest is only 1.30%, complacency rather than conviction may explain that figure — the risk is that deterioration happens faster than the market anticipates.

Market Sentiment & Smart Money

Short Interest %

2.20%

Analyst Consensus

3

Average Analyst Price Target

$178.17

Institutional Ownership %

51.60%

1-Year Beta

0.8

Insider Buying % (6 Mo)

2.20%%

Distance to 52-Week High

96.20%

Distance to 52-Week Low

123.50%

EARNINGS SURPRISE %

50-DAY SMA

200-DAY SMA

⚠️ Financial Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Information may be delayed or inaccurate. We may earn a commission from partner links.