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East West Bancorp (EWBC)
NASDAQ:EWBC

East West Bancorp (EWBC) AI Stock Analysis

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EWEast West Bancorp
(NASDAQ:EWBC)
68Neutral
East West Bancorp shows strong profitability and strategic growth plans, reflected in record earnings and positive earnings call sentiment. However, operational challenges and bearish technical indicators pose risks. Valuation metrics indicate the stock might be undervalued, offering potential upside if operational issues are managed effectively.
Positive Factors
Financial performance
NII results have consistently exceeded estimates, indicating strong financial performance.
Valuation
The stock is trading at an unwarranted discount to the peer median, indicating potential upside.
Negative Factors
Earnings
Adjusted EPS of $2.08 missed MS/consensus estimates of $2.17/$2.11 on higher provisions and expenses.

East West Bancorp (EWBC) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

East West Bancorp Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionEast West Bancorp, Inc. (EWBC) is a publicly traded bank holding company headquartered in Pasadena, California. It operates through its principal subsidiary, East West Bank, which provides a full range of banking services to consumer and commercial customers. The company primarily serves the United States, with a focus on the Chinese-American community, and has a presence in key markets such as California, New York, and China. East West Bancorp offers products and services including business and personal banking, wealth management, and international banking services.
How the Company Makes MoneyEast West Bancorp generates revenue primarily through the interest income from its lending operations, which include commercial loans, residential mortgage loans, and consumer loans. The company also earns money from non-interest income sources such as fees and service charges related to deposit accounts, wealth management services, and international banking transactions. Additionally, East West Bancorp benefits from its strategic positioning in cross-border banking, leveraging its expertise and network to facilitate trade and investment flows between the United States and Greater China, which significantly contributes to its earnings. Key revenue factors include net interest margin, loan portfolio growth, and fee-based income.

East West Bancorp Financial Statement Overview

Summary
East West Bancorp displays strong overall financial health with notable revenue growth and profitability margins. The balance sheet is stable with prudent leverage management, though a high percentage of liabilities to assets suggests cautious monitoring is required. Cash flow remains strong, underpinning the company's ability to generate and manage liquidity effectively. The combination of solid growth, profitability, and cash generation positions the company favorably within the banking industry, although vigilance towards leverage and sustainability of revenue growth is advisable.
Income Statement
78
Positive
East West Bancorp demonstrates robust profitability with a gross profit margin of 66.77% and a net profit margin of 25.16% for TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). Revenue growth from the previous year shows a significant increase of 87.06%, indicating strong business performance. EBIT and EBITDA margins remain solid at 36.24% and 28.65%, respectively, evidencing efficient operations. However, the steep revenue increase may not be sustainable long-term, posing a potential risk.
Balance Sheet
75
Positive
The company maintains a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, indicating a balanced leverage position. The return on equity is impressive at 14.50% for TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), reflecting effective use of equity capital. The equity ratio stands at 10.29%, suggesting a stable financial base, though slightly low for a banking institution. This stability is somewhat offset by a higher liability percentage of 89.71% of total assets, highlighting potential leverage risks.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
East West Bancorp's cash flow analysis reveals a positive trajectory, with operating cash flow to net income ratio of 1.33, indicating strong cash generation capabilities. Free cash flow has increased by 3.90% from the previous period, showcasing growth in liquidity. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 1.33, underlining efficient conversion of income into cash flow, crucial for sustaining growth and investments.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020Dec 2019
Income StatementTotal Revenue
4.42B2.36B2.32B1.80B1.60B1.66B
Gross Profit
2.95B3.97B2.32B1.80B1.60B1.66B
EBIT
1.60B1.75B1.69B1.06B685.76M843.92M
EBITDA
1.27B1.62B1.57B1.21B805.67M988.10M
Net Income Common Stockholders
1.11B1.16B1.13B872.98M567.80M674.03M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
4.61B4.61B9.66B14.61B10.37B6.77B
Total Assets
69.61B69.61B64.11B60.87B52.16B44.20B
Total Debt
4.76B4.76B264.33M506.86M928.19M1.03B
Net Debt
140.38M140.38M-3.36B-4.14B-3.90B-2.42B
Total Liabilities
62.66B62.66B58.13B55.03B46.89B39.18B
Stockholders Equity
6.95B6.95B5.98B5.84B5.27B5.02B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
1.48B1.42B2.07B1.16B690.67M725.97M
Operating Cash Flow
1.48B1.42B2.07B1.17B693.33M735.83M
Investing Cash Flow
-6.14B-4.25B-4.58B-9.12B-6.85B-2.57B
Financing Cash Flow
4.94B3.96B2.11B7.84B6.91B2.12B

East West Bancorp Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price90.30
Price Trends
50DMA
97.61
Negative
100DMA
98.48
Negative
200DMA
87.65
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.96
Positive
RSI
29.10
Positive
STOCH
24.37
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For EWBC, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 90.3 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 96.82, below the 50-day MA of 97.61, and above the 200-day MA of 87.65, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -1.96 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 29.10 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 24.37 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for EWBC.

East West Bancorp Risk Analysis

East West Bancorp disclosed 41 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. East West Bancorp reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

East West Bancorp Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (64)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
72
Outperform
$28.93B13.8611.78%3.34%11.21%-2.26%
PNPNC
71
Outperform
$75.95B13.9710.82%3.35%7.24%7.51%
69
Neutral
$7.99B10.9112.80%3.17%7.91%13.79%
68
Neutral
$12.50B10.8415.09%2.40%13.84%2.04%
64
Neutral
$14.34B10.619.28%4.07%18.04%-9.54%
CMCMA
63
Neutral
$8.45B12.8510.67%4.41%-6.54%-21.90%
KEKEY
51
Neutral
$19.14B1,663.64>-0.01%4.83%-11.11%-133.79%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
EWBC
East West Bancorp
90.30
15.11
20.10%
CMA
Comerica
59.52
10.92
22.47%
FITB
Fifth Third Bancorp
41.63
6.90
19.87%
KEY
KeyCorp
16.24
1.97
13.81%
PNC
PNC Financial
180.45
35.42
24.42%
ZION
Zions Bancorporation National Association
51.03
11.08
27.73%

East West Bancorp Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Jan 23, 2025 | % Change Since: -12.24% | Next Earnings Date: Apr 22, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted record financial performance, strong deposit growth, and shareholder returns, indicating a positive outlook despite challenges with problem credits in the technology sector. The overall financial health and strategic initiatives suggest a robust future.
Highlights
Record Financial Performance
East West Bancorp achieved new record levels for revenue, fee income, net income, and earnings per share in 2024. Average deposits grew by 9% year-over-year, and loans grew by 6%.
Strong Deposit Growth
Deposits increased by 13% to a record $63.2 billion. The company repaid $4.5 billion of BTFP borrowings, reflecting confidence in core deposit growth.
Shareholder Returns
The company reported a 17% return on tangible common equity and a 13% growth in tangible book value per share. An incremental share repurchase authorization of $300 million and a 9% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.60 per share were approved.
Fee Income Growth
Fee income grew by 12% in 2024, driven by wealth management, foreign exchange, and treasury management sales.
Net Interest Margin Stability
Net interest margin remained stable at 3.24%, with a 9 basis point increase in interest rate spread quarter-over-quarter.
Lowlights
Problem Credits in Technology Sector
Two unrelated domestic commercial and industrial credits in the technology sector led to $64 million in net charge-offs.
Credit Loss Provision Increase
Provision for credit losses increased by $28 million from the third quarter to $70 million.
Company Guidance
During East West Bancorp's Q4 2024 earnings call, the company provided comprehensive guidance for 2025, highlighting several key metrics. They anticipate end-of-period loan growth between 4% to 6%, driven by strong C&I and residential lending. Net interest income is expected to rise by 4% to 6%, supported by balance sheet growth and improving deposit costs. Total revenue growth is projected in the range of 5% to 7%, bolstered by consistent performance in fee income businesses. Operating expenses are forecasted to increase by 7% to 9%, primarily due to investments in personnel and technology. The company foresees full-year net charge-offs between 25 to 35 basis points and an effective tax rate of 21% to 23%. Additionally, East West plans to manage capital efficiently, leveraging a robust common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 14.3% and a newly authorized $300 million share repurchase program.

East West Bancorp Corporate Events

Stock BuybackDividendsFinancial Disclosures
East West Bancorp Reports Record Income and Dividend Increase
Positive
Jan 23, 2025

On January 23, 2025, East West Bancorp announced a record net income of $1.2 billion for the full year 2024, with diluted earnings per share of $8.33. The company reported significant growth in deposits, reflecting strong customer relationships, and a 12% increase in fee income. East West Bancorp also revealed an additional $300 million share repurchase authorization and a 9% increase in its common stock dividend, showcasing its robust capital base and profitability. The announcement highlights the company’s commitment to supporting communities affected by wildfires in Southern California and its continued dedication to serving its clients.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.