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Bridgewater Bancshares Inc (BWB)
NASDAQ:BWB

Bridgewater Bancshares (BWB) AI Stock Analysis

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BWB

Bridgewater Bancshares

(NASDAQ:BWB)

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Outperform 71 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$20.50
▲(3.38% Upside)
The score is driven primarily by solid overall financial health—especially strong cash flow metrics and a stable balance sheet—despite weak revenue growth. Technicals are mildly supportive with price above key moving averages and neutral momentum. Valuation appears reasonable on earnings, and the latest earnings call indicates continued deposit/loan growth and improving NIM, offset by higher expenses and some margin/credit headwinds.
Positive Factors
Strong free cash flow
Sustained high free cash flow growth and a strong free cash flow-to-net-income ratio provide durable internal funding for loan growth, acquisitions, and capital needs. This improves financial flexibility, limits reliance on external financing, and supports long-term strategic initiatives and dividends.
Manageable leverage & stable capital
A debt-to-equity near 1.0 with improving ROE signals a balanced capital structure for a regional bank. This level of leverage supports measured balance sheet expansion while leaving capacity to absorb shocks, finance growth, and maintain regulatory capital ratios over the medium term.
Deposit and loan growth with NIM expansion
Consistent core deposit and loan growth combined with rising NIM indicate sustainable net interest income expansion. Stable funding via deposit gains reduces wholesale funding needs and supports scalable lending margins, improving long-term earnings power if asset quality holds.
Negative Factors
Sharp revenue decline
A material drop in revenue over the trailing period signals weakening fee or non-interest income streams and/or lower loan yields. Persistent revenue contraction undermines operating leverage, constrains reinvestment capacity, and makes profitability dependent on interest-rate and balance-sheet growth.
Rising non-interest expenses
Elevated operating expenses from integrations and higher compensation reduce efficiency and compress long-term operating margins. If these expense increases prove structural rather than one-time, they will erode return on equity and require stronger revenue growth to restore historical profitability.
Loan migration & CRE concentration risk
Migration of a multifamily loan to substandard highlights concentration risks in commercial real estate verticals. Persistent CRE stress could raise credit provisions, tighten underwriting, and demand higher capital cushions, weakening credit metrics and limiting growth in cyclical downturns.

Bridgewater Bancshares (BWB) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Bridgewater Bancshares Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionBridgewater Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Bridgewater Bank that provides banking products and services to commercial real estate investors, small business entrepreneurs, and high net worth individuals in the United States. The company offers savings and money market accounts, demand deposits, time and brokered deposits, and interest and noninterest bearing transaction, as well as certificates of deposit. It also provides commercial loans to sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, and other business enterprises to finance accounts receivable or inventory, capital assets, or other business-related purposes; paycheck protection program loans; construction and land development loans; 1-4 family mortgage loans; multifamily lending products; owner and non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans; and consumer and other loans. In addition, the company online, mobile, and direct banking services. It operates through seven full-service offices located in Bloomington, Greenwood, Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Orono, and St. Paul, Minnesota. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota.
How the Company Makes MoneyBridgewater Bancshares generates revenue primarily through interest income derived from its loan portfolio, which includes commercial and residential loans. The company earns interest on loans issued to customers, with the interest rates determined by market conditions and the creditworthiness of borrowers. Additionally, Bridgewater Bank collects fees from various banking services, such as account maintenance, transaction fees, and treasury management services. The bank's revenue model is bolstered by its focus on relationship banking, which fosters long-term client relationships and encourages cross-selling of products. Furthermore, the company benefits from a diversified lending strategy and prudent risk management practices that contribute to stable earnings over time.

Bridgewater Bancshares Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 27, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 29, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call conveyed a predominantly positive tone: the company reported strong revenue growth (total revenue +32% YoY), net interest margin expansion (+12 bps to 2.75%), robust core deposit and loan growth (core deposits ~9% annualized in Q4; loans +11.4% for the year), tangible book value expansion (~15.3% YoY), improved efficiency (adjusted efficiency ratio 50.7%), and constructive guidance (targeting 3.0% NIM by end-2026 and high-single-digit loan growth). The negatives were modest and largely idiosyncratic: a small uptick in NPAs (0.41%), a $1.2M Q4 net charge-off tied to an isolated C&I loan, one multifamily loan moving to nonaccrual (now under contract), slight allowance decline (1.34% to 1.31%), swap fee volatility, and some near-term deposit seasonality and competitive pressures. Overall, highlights materially outweigh lowlights and management expressed confidence in continued momentum into 2026.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Net Interest Margin Expansion
Net interest margin increased 12 basis points to 2.75% in Q4, driven primarily by lower deposit costs; management now targets a 3.0% NIM by the end of 2026 (pulled forward from early 2027).
Revenue and Net Interest Income Growth
Total revenue increased 32% year-over-year and quarterly net interest income rose 5% as margin expanded and earning assets grew.
Strong Core Deposit and Loan Growth
Core deposits grew ~9% annualized in Q4 (7.9% for full year 2025) with noninterest-bearing deposits up roughly $100 million in Q4; loan balances increased 8.9% annualized in Q4 and 11.4% for the year, exceeding the bank's mid- to high-single-digit guide.
Tangible Book Value and Profitability Metrics
Tangible book value grew 16.5% annualized and was up 15.3% year-over-year; adjusted ROA was just under 1% in Q4 and adjusted efficiency ratio improved to 50.7% (lowest since 1Q23).
Deposit Cost Reduction and Balance Sheet Repricing
Deposit costs declined 22 basis points to 2.97% in Q4; $1.8 billion of funding tied to short-term rates (including $1.4 billion immediately adjustable), facilitating further repricing tailwinds into 2026.
Affordable Housing and Construction Growth
Affordable housing balances increased 29% for the full year and rose $41 million (27% annualized) in Q4; construction loans were a primary driver of Q4 loan growth and the affordable housing vertical is a strategic growth focus.
Improved Funding Mix and Variable Rate Positioning
Variable-rate loans increased to 22% of the loan portfolio from 14% a year ago, improving interest rate flexibility and reducing asset sensitivity to rate cuts.
Capital Position and Cost Savings Realized
CET1 ratio increased modestly from 9.08% to 9.17%; the bank exceeded its targeted >30% cost savings related to the recent acquisition and retained capital via earnings (no share repurchases during the quarter).
Negative Updates
Modest Uptick in Nonperforming Assets and Net Charge-offs
Nonperforming assets rose to 0.41% of assets in Q4; the bank recorded $1.2 million of net charge-offs during the quarter (full year net charge-offs remained low at 0.04% of average loans).
Isolated Problem Credits and Longer Workouts
A multifamily loan migrated to nonaccrual after a purchase agreement fell through (property now under contract) and a fully reserved C&I loan drove the Q4 net charge-off; a CBD office loan remains a longer-term workout with a specific reserve.
Slight Decline in Allowance Coverage
Allowance for credit losses declined slightly from 1.34% to 1.31% of loans following the Q4 charge-off, though management indicates reserve levels remain favorable relative to peers.
Swap Fee Volatility and Potential Cooling
Swap fee income was lumpy ($651,000 in Q4) and management expects swap fees to be a continuing but potentially reduced and volatile revenue source in 2026 as swap spreads normalize.
Seasonality and Competitive Pressure on Deposits and Spreads
Management highlighted seasonality risk with Q1/Q2 historically being lower for core deposits and noted increased competition in the Twin Cities market which has pressured loan competition and could affect spreads and deposit pricing.
Acquisition-Related Expense Noise in 2025
2025 experienced higher-than-normal expense growth related to acquisition systems conversion, though management expects expense growth to align with asset growth (high-single-digits) in 2026.
Company Guidance
Bridgewater guided to a constructive 2026 outlook: management now expects to reach a 3.00% net interest margin by year‑end (up from 2.75% in Q4, a 12 bp quarter-to-quarter improvement) driven by lower deposit costs (down 22 bps to 2.97%) and repricing opportunities ( $1.8B of funding tied to short‑term rates, including $1.4B of immediately adjustable deposits; $637M of fixed‑rate loan maturities at a 5.55% WA yield and $106M of ARMs repricing at 3.84%), while variable‑rate loans have risen to 22% of the book (vs. 14% a year ago). They expect high‑single‑digit loan growth in 2026 (after 11.4% FY growth and 8.9% annualized Q4), core deposit growth to continue (8.8% annualized in Q4; 7.9% FY) with the loan‑to‑deposit ratio targeted at 95%–105%, expense growth to revert to roughly in line with asset growth (high singles after Q4 expenses ex‑merger rose 9.5% annualized), and provisions to depend on loan growth and asset quality (Q4 NPAs 0.41% of assets, Q4 net charge‑offs $1.2M; FY NCOs 0.04% of avg loans; allowance 1.31%). They also expect swap fee income to remain a contributor (Q4 swap fees $651K; ~ $500K quarterly average recent trend), to continue expanding affordable housing (Q4 +$41M, +29% for 2025), and to maintain a comfortable capital position (CET1 9.17%, $13.1M repurchase authorization remaining).

Bridgewater Bancshares Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Overall financials are solid but mixed: strong cash generation (free cash flow growth 50.86% TTM; free cash flow to net income 86.05%) and a stable balance sheet with manageable leverage (debt-to-equity 0.989) support the score. Offsetting this, revenue growth is sharply negative (-23.82% TTM) and profitability/operating margins have weakened in the TTM, which caps the rating.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Bridgewater Bancshares has shown a mixed performance in its income statement. The TTM data indicates a significant decline in revenue growth rate at -23.82%, which is concerning. However, the company maintains a healthy net profit margin of 14.95% in the TTM, which suggests strong profitability despite revenue challenges. Historical data shows fluctuating but generally strong gross profit margins, although recent margins have decreased. The EBIT and EBITDA margins have also decreased in the TTM, indicating potential operational challenges.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet reflects a stable financial position with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.989 in the most recent annual report, which is manageable for a regional bank. The return on equity has slightly improved to 8.62% in the TTM, indicating efficient use of equity. The equity ratio remains stable, suggesting a balanced capital structure. However, the increase in total debt over the years could pose a risk if not managed carefully.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
Cash flow analysis shows a positive trajectory with a significant increase in free cash flow growth rate at 50.86% in the TTM. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is strong, indicating good cash generation relative to net income. The free cash flow to net income ratio is also healthy at 86.05%, suggesting effective cash management. However, historical fluctuations in free cash flow growth indicate potential volatility in cash generation.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue280.61M251.44M226.95M169.34M134.19M120.67M
Gross Profit125.69M104.22M109.94M127.64M109.67M81.05M
EBITDA57.48M45.74M55.66M74.96M64.13M37.06M
Net Income40.96M32.83M39.96M53.39M45.69M27.19M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets5.36B5.07B4.61B4.35B3.48B2.93B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments509.03M619.83M732.67M636.84M584.71M554.16M
Total Debt513.09M452.92M412.54M476.65M134.74M142.24M
Total Liabilities4.86B4.61B4.19B3.95B3.10B2.66B
Stockholders Equity497.46M457.94M425.51M394.06M379.27M265.40M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow48.69M42.30M27.05M83.37M53.46M-1.67M
Operating Cash Flow55.41M46.38M30.02M85.00M54.24M23.02M
Investing Cash Flow-467.59M-95.24M-209.18M-938.24M-571.42M-530.33M
Financing Cash Flow352.14M150.06M220.69M796.81M499.99M636.05M

Bridgewater Bancshares Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price19.83
Price Trends
50DMA
18.22
Positive
100DMA
17.58
Positive
200DMA
16.61
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.42
Negative
RSI
67.73
Neutral
STOCH
81.26
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For BWB, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 19.83 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 18.60, above the 50-day MA of 18.22, and above the 200-day MA of 16.61, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.42 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 67.73 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 81.26 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for BWB.

Bridgewater Bancshares Risk Analysis

Bridgewater Bancshares disclosed 58 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Bridgewater Bancshares 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

Bridgewater Bancshares Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
81
Outperform
$564.42M8.7921.77%2.31%36.60%92.63%
75
Outperform
$590.28M13.378.49%3.59%6.86%6.11%
71
Outperform
$547.01M13.328.63%13.96%25.74%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
65
Neutral
$552.06M14.509.18%2.78%41.95%-4.72%
54
Neutral
$570.52M30.76-5.05%5.16%-11.91%-235.73%
49
Neutral
$538.75M-3.45-16.22%-6.47%-75.82%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
BWB
Bridgewater Bancshares
19.83
4.71
31.15%
ACNB
ACNB
53.16
13.41
33.74%
AROW
Arrow Financial
35.90
9.50
35.99%
FFIC
Flushing Financial
16.89
3.18
23.19%
NRIM
Northrim Bancorp
25.55
3.55
16.14%
FFWM
First Foundation
6.50
1.00
18.18%

Bridgewater Bancshares Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Bridgewater Bancshares Posts Strong Q4 and 2025 Results
Positive
Jan 27, 2026

On January 27, 2026, Bridgewater Bancshares reported strong fourth-quarter 2025 results, with net income rising to $13.3 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, up from $11.6 million in the prior quarter and $8.2 million a year earlier, supported by higher net interest income, improved net interest margin of 2.75%, and a 52.7% jump in noninterest income. For full-year 2025, net income reached $46.1 million, or $1.49 per diluted share, as pre-provision net revenue climbed 42.1% year over year, tangible book value per share increased 15.3% to $15.55, and both deposits and loans expanded, while credit costs remained low with net loan charge-offs at 0.04% of average loans; management highlighted efficiency gains following a systems conversion, continued benefits from M&A disruption in the Twin Cities, and plans to drive profitable growth and expand key verticals such as affordable housing in 2026.

The most recent analyst rating on (BWB) stock is a Hold with a $19.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Bridgewater Bancshares stock, see the BWB Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and Strategy
Bridgewater Bancshares Unveils Strategic Investor Presentation
Positive
Nov 3, 2025

Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc. has released an investor presentation to be used by its executives in meetings with investors and analysts. The presentation outlines the company’s strategic focus on commercial real estate and multifamily lending, as well as its efficient operations and risk management practices. The company continues to demonstrate strong growth and profitability despite market disruptions, with plans for a branch closure and a new branch opening in the Twin Cities. This strategic move is expected to enhance its market presence and operational efficiency.

The most recent analyst rating on (BWB) stock is a Buy with a $18.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Bridgewater Bancshares stock, see the BWB Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

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.Date of analysis: Jan 28, 2026