tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
East West Bancorp (EWBC)
NASDAQ:EWBC

East West Bancorp (EWBC) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
321 Followers

Top Page

EW

East West Bancorp

(NASDAQ:EWBC)

Rating:80Outperform
Price Target:
$108.00
▲(15.37%Upside)
East West Bancorp's robust financial performance, coupled with positive momentum and fair valuation, supports a strong overall stock score. The positive sentiment from recent earnings calls and corporate events further enhance its outlook, despite economic uncertainties.
Positive Factors
Growth Opportunities
Management highlighted expansion investments made in several major cities, indicating growth opportunities.
Revenue and NII Guidance
Management could no longer justify the low-end of their NII and revenue guidance, citing both are now trending above previous ranges.
Negative Factors
Expense Guidance
Expense guide (ex amortization) of +7-9% y/y was higher than MS/consensus estimates, especially given the higher base after the 4Q24 miss.
Tariff Risks
The July expiration of the 90-day tariff pause creates the next headline risk for EWBC.

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

East West Bancorp Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionEast West Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for East West Bank that provides a range of personal and commercial banking services to businesses and individuals. It operates through three segments: Consumer and Business Banking, Commercial Banking, and Other. The company accepts various deposit products, such as personal and business checking and savings accounts, money market, and time deposits. Its loan products include mortgage and home equity, commercial and residential real estate, working capital lines of credit, construction, trade finance, letters of credit, commercial business, affordable housing loans, asset-based lending, asset-backed finance, project finance, and equipment financing, as well as financing services to clients needing a financial bridge to facilitate their business transactions between the United States and China. The company also provides various wealth management, treasury management, foreign exchange, and interest rate and commodity risk hedging services; and mobile and online banking services. As of January 27, 2022, it operated approximately 120 locations in the United States and China; full-service branches in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shantou, and Shenzhen; and representative offices in Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Taipei, and Xiamen. East West Bancorp, Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Pasadena, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyEast West Bancorp makes money through a variety of financial services and products. Its primary revenue streams include net interest income, which is earned from the difference between interest income generated from loans and interest expense on deposits. Additionally, the company generates non-interest income from service charges, fees on deposit accounts, wealth management services, and international banking transactions. The bank also benefits from significant partnerships and a strong presence in both the U.S. and Greater China markets, allowing it to facilitate cross-border business transactions and serve a diverse client base. These factors contribute to its earnings by expanding its customer reach and enhancing its service offerings.

East West Bancorp Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 22, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 18.18%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 22, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflected strong financial performance with record revenue, solid loan growth, and robust capital and efficiency metrics. However, the bank is cautious due to economic uncertainties, especially regarding potential impacts from tariffs and increased criticized loans.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Revenue and Loan Growth
East West Bancorp reported another quarter of record revenue. Loan growth was solid, with end of period loans up 1% quarter-over-quarter to a new record level of $54 billion.
Strong Fee Income
A record quarter of fee income was delivered, with fees up 8%, driven by strong customer activity across various sectors.
Improved Asset Quality
Asset quality remained solid with annualized net charge-offs totaling 12 basis points, a decrease in non-performing assets ratio by two basis points to 24 basis points, and a strengthened allowance for loan losses to 1.35%.
Robust Capital Ratios
East West's CET1 capital ratio stands at a robust 14.3%, while the tangible common equity ratio rose to 9.9%.
Efficiency and Profitability
The Q1 efficiency ratio was 36.4%, with a near 16% return on tangible common equity and a 1.6% return on average assets.
Negative Updates
Economic Uncertainty
The bank has increased downside scenario weightings in its allowance for credit losses due to recent economic uncertainty and potential impacts of tariffs.
Criticized Loan Ratio Increase
The criticized loans ratio increased during the quarter due to 2.3% of loans, with special mentioned loans ratio increasing eight basis points and classified loans ratio increasing three basis points.
Company Guidance
During the East West Bancorp First Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, management provided guidance reflecting a strong financial performance with several key metrics highlighted. The bank achieved record revenue with solid loan growth, seeing a 1% increase quarter-over-quarter to a record $54 billion in loans. Fee income grew by 8% driven by robust customer activity. Asset quality remained strong with annualized net charge-offs of 12 basis points, totaling $15 million, and a decrease in the non-performing assets ratio to 24 basis points. The allowance for loan losses was increased to 1.35% due to recent economic uncertainties. On the capital front, the bank reported a near 16% return on tangible common equity and a 1.6% return on average assets, while tangible book value per share grew 3% quarter-over-quarter and 15% year-over-year. Additionally, the bank continues to maintain strong capital ratios, with a CET1 capital ratio of 14.3% and a tangible common equity ratio of 9.9%. Management reaffirmed their full-year guidance, expecting continued growth in net interest income and fee revenue, while strategically managing expenses and capital.

East West Bancorp Financial Statement Overview

Summary
East West Bancorp demonstrates strong profitability and financial stability, with effective cost management and prudent leverage. However, recent operational and cash flow fluctuations pose potential risks.
Income Statement
70
Positive
East West Bancorp's income statement reveals mixed results. The gross profit margin remains high consistently with strong net income figures, reflecting effective cost control and profitability. However, the EBIT margin for 2024 is negative due to a significant drop in EBIT, indicating potential operational challenges. Revenue growth has been volatile, with a decline observed in 2024. Overall, profitability is strong, but operational issues are a concern.
Balance Sheet
75
Positive
The balance sheet exhibits a solid equity base with a healthy return on equity. The debt-to-equity ratio is favorable, reflecting prudent leverage management. The equity ratio shows a stable position, though slight fluctuations are noted. Strong stockholders' equity and manageable debt levels highlight financial stability, though attention should be paid to recent asset trends.
Cash Flow
65
Positive
East West Bancorp's cash flow statements show robustness in operating cash flow relative to net income, indicating strong cash generation capabilities. However, free cash flow growth has been inconsistent, with a notable decline in 2024. The company's ability to convert earnings into cash flows is generally positive, but recent fluctuations suggest potential cash management concerns.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
4.48B2.36B2.59B1.89B1.82B
Gross Profit
2.39B2.36B2.16B1.84B1.39B
EBIT
1.48B1.46B1.41B1.06B685.76M
EBITDA
1.68B1.62B1.57B1.21B805.67M
Net Income Common Stockholders
1.17B1.16B1.13B872.98M567.80M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
5.90B11.60B10.45B16.97B11.83B
Total Assets
75.98B69.61B64.11B60.87B52.16B
Total Debt
3.63B4.76B564.33M806.86M1.23B
Net Debt
-1.67B129.88M-3.06B-3.84B-3.60B
Total Liabilities
68.25B62.66B58.13B55.03B46.89B
Stockholders Equity
7.72B6.95B5.98B5.84B5.27B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
1.41B1.42B2.07B1.16B690.67M
Operating Cash Flow
1.44B1.42B2.07B1.17B693.33M
Investing Cash Flow
-6.30B-4.25B-4.58B-9.12B-6.85B
Financing Cash Flow
5.53B3.96B2.11B7.84B6.91B

East West Bancorp Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price93.61
Price Trends
50DMA
87.91
Positive
100DMA
90.41
Positive
200DMA
92.12
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.90
Positive
RSI
55.23
Neutral
STOCH
37.11
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For EWBC, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 93.61 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 92.32, above the 50-day MA of 87.91, and above the 200-day MA of 92.12, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.90 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 55.23 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 37.11 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for EWBC.

East West Bancorp Risk Analysis

East West Bancorp disclosed 38 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
NTNTB
83
Outperform
$1.76B8.6021.11%4.16%5.36%9.07%
80
Outperform
$12.90B11.1715.66%2.56%8.74%5.81%
BCBCS
77
Outperform
$61.11B8.879.36%3.10%11.33%47.74%
NWNWG
77
Outperform
$56.08B9.3813.70%3.78%18.85%14.85%
INING
76
Outperform
$63.74B9.6611.92%13.12%-0.63%-6.01%
NUNU
75
Outperform
$58.98B27.3327.91%33.20%68.09%
64
Neutral
$12.77B9.787.84%78.83%12.06%-7.99%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
EWBC
East West Bancorp
93.61
23.25
33.04%
BCS
Barclays
17.66
7.53
74.33%
ING
ING Groep
20.78
5.16
33.03%
NWG
NatWest Group
14.17
6.30
80.05%
NTB
Bank of NT Butterfield & Son
42.31
9.89
30.51%
NU
Nu Holdings
12.24
>-0.01
-0.08%

East West Bancorp Corporate Events

Financial Disclosures
East West Bancorp Reports Strong Q1 2025 Financials
Positive
Jun 9, 2025

East West Bancorp, Inc. reported strong financial performance for the first quarter of 2025, with a net income of $290 million and a record quarterly revenue. The company achieved a 2% increase in net interest income and an 11 basis point expansion in net interest margin, alongside a reduction in nonaccrual loans and nonperforming assets. These results reflect steady growth in loans, optimized deposit costs, and increased customer activity, positioning the company for continued efficiency and top-quartile returns.

The most recent analyst rating on (EWBC) stock is a Buy with a $100.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on East West Bancorp stock, see the EWBC Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
East West Bancorp Holds 2025 Annual Stockholders Meeting
Neutral
May 21, 2025

On May 20, 2025, East West Bancorp, Inc. held its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders where three proposals were considered. The stockholders elected ten directors for a one-year term, approved the executive compensation for 2024, and ratified KPMG LLP as the independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.

The most recent analyst rating on (EWBC) stock is a Buy with a $100.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on East West Bancorp stock, see the EWBC Stock Forecast page.

Financial Disclosures
East West Bancorp Reports Strong Q1 2025 Results
Positive
Apr 22, 2025

On April 22, 2025, East West Bancorp, Inc. announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, reporting a net income of $290 million and diluted earnings per share of $2.08. The company achieved record levels in loans, revenue, and fee income, with a notable 16% return on average tangible common equity. The net interest margin expanded by 11 basis points due to a focus on deposit cost optimization, resulting in over $600 million of net interest income. Credit performance improved with decreased nonaccrual loans and nonperforming assets, and the allowance for loan losses was increased to 1.35% of loans. East West Bancorp continues to leverage its strong financial position to capitalize on opportunities and support its customers.

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.