Contrasting Kentucky First Federal Bancorp (NASDAQ:KFFB) and Mid-Southern Bancorp (NASDAQ:MSVB)

Volatility & Risk

Kentucky First Federal Bancorp has a beta of 0.15, suggesting that its stock price is 85% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Mid-Southern Bancorp has a beta of 0.18, suggesting that its stock price is 82% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Kentucky First Federal Bancorp and Mid-Southern Bancorp’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Kentucky First Federal Bancorp	-6.43%	-0.49%	-0.06%
Mid-Southern Bancorp	9.43%	3.08%	0.45%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Kentucky First Federal Bancorp and Mid-Southern Bancorp”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Kentucky First Federal Bancorp	$8.01 million	2.90	-$1.72 million	($0.14)	-20.50
Mid-Southern Bancorp	$8.88 million	5.23	$1.46 million	($2.61)	-6.16

Mid-Southern Bancorp has higher revenue and earnings than Kentucky First Federal Bancorp. Kentucky First Federal Bancorp is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Mid-Southern Bancorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

3.2% of Kentucky First Federal Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.1% of Mid-Southern Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.9% of Kentucky First Federal Bancorp shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 10.2% of Mid-Southern Bancorp shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Kentucky First Federal Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 13.9%. Mid-Southern Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $0.24 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.5%. Kentucky First Federal Bancorp pays out -285.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Mid-Southern Bancorp pays out -9.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Kentucky First Federal Bancorp is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Summary

Mid-Southern Bancorp beats Kentucky First Federal Bancorp on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Kentucky First Federal Bancorp

Kentucky First Federal Bancorp operates as the holding company for First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Hazard, and Frankfort First Bancorp, Inc. that provide various banking products and services in Kentucky. It accepts deposit products include passbook savings and certificate accounts, checking accounts, and individual retirement accounts. The company's loan portfolio comprises one-to four-family residential mortgage loans; construction loans; mortgage loans secured by multi-family property; nonresidential loans that are secured by commercial office buildings, churches, and properties used for other purposes; commercial non-mortgage loans; and consumer loans, such as home equity lines of credit, loans secured by savings deposits, automobile loans, and unsecured or personal loans. It also invests in mortgage-backed securities. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is based in Hazard, Kentucky. Kentucky First Federal Bancorp is a subsidiary of First Federal MHC.

About Mid-Southern Bancorp

Mid-Southern Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Mid-Southern Savings Bank, FSB that provides various banking products and services to individuals and business customers. It accepts various deposit products, including checking, savings, money market, and demand accounts, as well as certificates of deposit and term deposits. The company also offers loans secured by first mortgages on one- to four-family residences, including home equity loans and lines of credit; commercial and multifamily real estate loans; construction loans secured by single-family residences; commercial and multifamily real estate loans; land and lot loans; commercial business loans; consumer loans, including new and used manufactured homes, automobiles and truck, boats, and motorcycles and recreational vehicle loans; loans secured by savings deposits and other personal loans; and unsecured consumer loans. In addition, it holds and manages an investment securities portfolio. The company provides its products and services through its main office in Salem; and through its branch offices located in Mitchell and Orleans, Indiana, as well as through loan production offices located in New Albany, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky. The company was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Salem, Indiana.