Columbia Financial (CLBK) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $1.89B
• Dividend Yield: N/A
• Average Volume (3M): 147.05K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 35.7
• Beta (1Y): 0.75
• Revenue Growth: -3.60%
• EPS Growth: -8.63%
• Country: US
• Employees: 708
• Sector: Financial
• Sector Strength: 70
• Industry: Banks - Regional
• EPS (TTM): 0.15
• Shares Outstanding: 103,984,650
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 158,776
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 147,054
• PEG Ratio: -0.05
• Price to Book (P/B): 1.36
• Price to Sales (P/S): 3.11
• P/FCF Ratio: 0.00
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.44
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 5.36
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 10.66
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 39.47
• 1Y Price Target: N/A
• Price Target Upside: N/A
• Rating Consensus: Hold
• Number of Analyst Covering: 0
• EPS Forecast (FY): N/A
• Revenue Forecast (FY): N/A

• Rating: 66 Neutral
• Price Target: $19.00 ▲(4.74% Upside)
• Action: Reiterated Date: 02/03/26
• Date: Action: Reiterated 02/03/26

Overall score is driven primarily by moderate financial performance (improving operations but weak profitability and ROE) and supportive technicals (uptrend with positive momentum, though RSI indicates the move may be stretched). Corporate events add upside from the conversion and acquisition plan, while valuation is a notable headwind due to the elevated P/E and no dividend yield provided.

Positive Factors

Free Cash Flow Strength

Exceptionally strong free cash flow growth provides durable internal funding for loan originations, technology investments, and the planned acquisition. Robust FCF reduces reliance on volatile funding markets and supports capital deployment over the next several quarters.

Strategic Acquisition and Conversion

Planned Northfield acquisition and MHC-to-stock conversion materially increase scale (pro forma ~$18B assets) and market presence in NJ/NY. The deal targets structural EPS accretion (~50% 2027 midpoint), expanding deposit and lending franchises and long-term growth optionality.

Improving Operating Margins

Healthy gross margin and a shift from negative to positive operating margins indicate improving cost control and a more profitable asset mix. Sustained margin expansion from commercial lending and efficiency investments supports durable earnings improvement.

Negative Factors

Weak Net Profitability

Very low net margin and near-zero ROE indicate limited ability to convert revenue into shareholder returns. Persistently weak profitability constrains retained earnings, capital generation, and the bank’s capacity to fund growth or absorb credit stress over the medium term.

Poor Operating Cash Conversion

Low conversion of net income into operating cash implies earnings quality concerns and potential reliance on accruals. This can limit the practical fungibility of reported profits for lending or dividends and complicate liquidity planning during growth or stress periods.

Execution and Regulatory Risk from Conversion/Merger

The conversion and large acquisition require multiple regulatory and stakeholder approvals and involve integration of two banks and management teams. Execution delays, approval failure, or integration costs could dilute projected benefits, strain capital, and delay accretion.

Columbia Financial Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Columbia Financial, Inc., a bank holding company, provides financial services to businesses and consumers in the United States. The company offers non-interest-bearing demand deposits, such as individual and commercial checking accounts; interest bearing demand accounts comprising interest earning checking accounts and municipal accounts; and savings and club accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. It also provides loans, including multifamily and commercial real estate loans, commercial business loans, one-to-four family residential loans, construction loans, home equity loans and advances, and other consumer loans that include automobiles and personal loans, as well as unsecured and overdraft lines of credit. In addition, the company offers title insurance products; wealth management services; and cash management services, including remote deposit, lockbox service, and sweep accounts. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 62 full-service banking offices in 12 of New Jersey's 21 counties; and 2 branch offices in Freehold, New Jersey. The company was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Columbia Financial, Inc. is a subsidiary of Columbia Bank MHC.

How the Company Makes Money

Columbia Financial generates revenue primarily through interest income from loans, which includes residential and commercial mortgages, consumer loans, and business loans. In addition to interest income, the company earns non-interest income through service fees, deposit account fees, and investment advisory services. The bank's focus on community banking allows it to establish strong relationships with local customers, contributing to customer loyalty and retention. Partnerships with local businesses and organizations also enhance its revenue opportunities. Furthermore, Columbia Financial's strategic management of its asset portfolio and interest rate spread is crucial in optimizing its earnings.

Columbia Financial Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Moderate fundamentals: healthy gross margin (44.5%) and improving EBIT/EBITDA margins, but very low net margin (1.4%) and low ROE (0.6%). Cash flow is a bright spot with strong free cash flow growth (1272.5% TTM), though operating cash flow conversion versus net income is weak.

Income Statement

Columbia Financial shows a mixed performance in its income statement. The TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) gross profit margin is healthy at 44.5%, indicating efficient cost management. However, the net profit margin is low at 1.4%, suggesting challenges in converting revenue into profit. Revenue growth is positive at 4.7% TTM, but lower than previous years, indicating a slowdown. EBIT and EBITDA margins have improved from negative to positive, reflecting operational improvements.

Balance Sheet

The balance sheet reflects moderate stability with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11 TTM, which is reasonable for the banking industry but indicates a reliance on debt. Return on equity is low at 0.6% TTM, suggesting limited profitability from equity. The equity ratio is stable, showing a solid base of stockholders' equity relative to total assets.

Cash Flow

Cash flow analysis reveals strong free cash flow growth of 1272.5% TTM, indicating improved cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is low, suggesting potential issues in converting income into cash. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio is high at 87.5%, showing effective cash management relative to net income.

Breakdown	Dec 2025	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue	507.44M	453.32M	422.36M	340.07M	308.98M
Gross Profit	255.00M	165.43M	228.47M	291.69M	281.92M
EBITDA	68.86M	-1.35M	60.32M	130.23M	137.82M
Net Income	51.77M	-11.65M	36.09M	86.17M	92.05M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	11.02B	10.48B	10.65B	10.41B	9.22B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	340.81M	1.06B	1.52B	1.51B	1.77B
Total Debt	1.18B	1.08B	1.53B	1.13B	377.31M
Total Liabilities	9.86B	9.40B	9.61B	9.35B	8.15B
Stockholders Equity	1.16B	1.08B	1.04B	1.05B	1.08B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	0.00	25.88M	33.08M	134.95M	93.21M
Operating Cash Flow	0.00	33.32M	40.72M	142.16M	98.70M
Investing Cash Flow	0.00	39.47M	39.65M	-614.73M	-443.61M
Financing Cash Flow	0.00	-206.81M	163.66M	580.83M	-7.09M

Columbia Financial Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Positive
• Last Price: 18.14
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Positive
• 200DMA: Positive
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CLBK, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 18.14 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 17.65, above the 50-day MA of 16.71, and above the 200-day MA of 15.36, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.55 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 59.96 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 50.02 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for CLBK.

Columbia Financial Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
LKFN	77 Outperform	$1.55B	15.17	13.50%	3.37%	-2.90%	-1.47%
STEL	73 Outperform	$1.97B	19.51	6.38%	1.82%	-4.40%	-8.80%
SRCE	72 Outperform	$1.72B	10.92	13.25%	2.37%	5.09%	15.78%
LOB	72 Outperform	$1.84B	18.01	6.31%	0.33%	10.41%	-19.43%
Sector *	68 Neutral	$18.00B	11.42	9.92%	3.81%	9.73%	1.22%
CLBK	66 Neutral	$1.89B	35.73	1.34%	―	-3.60%	-8.63%
CCB	62 Neutral	$1.29B	27.59	11.82%	―	-2.11%	6.48%

Columbia Financial Corporate Events

Columbia Financial Announces Conversion Plan and Northfield Acquisition

On January 31, 2026, Columbia Financial, Inc. approved a plan to convert from a mutual holding company to a fully public stock holding company and simultaneously agreed to acquire Northfield Bancorp, Inc. in an approximately $597 million transaction. The second-step conversion will see Columbia Bank MHC’s majority stake sold to the public at $10 per share, existing minority Columbia shareholders exchanged into a new Maryland holding company, and MHC-owned shares cancelled, with depositors as of December 31, 2024 receiving first-priority subscription rights in the offering; completion of the conversion is subject to regulatory, depositor, and shareholder approvals. Immediately after the conversion, Northfield will merge into the new holding company, with Northfield shareholders able to elect stock or cash within set limits and valuation-based price tiers, creating a combined institution with about $18 billion in pro forma assets and positioning it as the third-largest regional bank headquartered in New Jersey. The deal, unanimously approved by both boards and targeted to close in early third quarter 2026 pending customary regulatory and shareholder approvals, is designed to deploy newly raised capital into an earnings-accretive acquisition—estimated to boost Columbia’s 2027 EPS by 50% at the midpoint valuation—while broadening the franchise’s New Jersey and New York footprint and integrating Northfield’s management and directors into Columbia’s leadership structure.

The most recent analyst rating on (CLBK) stock is a Hold with a $16.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Columbia Financial stock, see the CLBK Stock Forecast page.

Columbia Financial Announces Strategic Growth Presentation

On November 10, 2025, Columbia Financial, Inc. announced the availability of a slide presentation detailing its operating and growth strategies and financial performance. The company reported significant financial growth for the nine months ending September 30, 2025, with net income increasing by $26.5 million to $36.1 million compared to the previous year. The company also achieved loan and deposit growth, maintained strong asset quality, and authorized a new share repurchase program. These developments indicate a robust financial position and strategic focus on capital deployment through organic growth, acquisitions, and stock repurchases.

The most recent analyst rating on (CLBK) stock is a Hold with a $15.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Columbia Financial stock, see the CLBK Stock Forecast page.