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Heritage Financial Corp. (HFWA)
NASDAQ:HFWA
US Market
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Heritage Financial (HFWA) AI Stock Analysis

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HFWA

Heritage Financial

(NASDAQ:HFWA)

Rating:70Neutral
Price Target:
$26.00
▲(11.40% Upside)
Heritage Financial's overall stock score reflects a solid financial performance with steady growth and strong cash flow generation. The earnings call provided a positive outlook, although some concerns about credit quality and deposit declines were noted. The valuation is fair with an attractive dividend yield, but technical indicators suggest caution due to potential overbought conditions. Overall, the company is well-positioned within the regional banking sector, but investors should remain mindful of the highlighted risks.

Heritage Financial (HFWA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Heritage Financial Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionHeritage Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Heritage Bank that provides various financial services to small and medium sized businesses and individuals in the United States. The company accepts various deposit products, such as noninterest demand deposits, interest bearing demand deposits, money market accounts, savings accounts, personal checking accounts, and certificates of deposit. Its loan portfolio includes commercial and industrial loans, owner-occupied and non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans, one-to-four family residential loans, real estate construction and land development loans, consumer loans, commercial business loans, lines of credit, term equipment financing, and term real estate loans, as well as commercial business loans to a range of businesses in industries that include real estate and rental and leasing, healthcare, accommodation and food services, retail trade, and construction. The company also originates loans that are guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration; and offers trust services, as well as objective advice. As of January 27, 2022, it had a network of 49 banking offices located in Washington and Oregon. The company was formerly known as Heritage Financial Corporation, M.H.C. and changed its name to Heritage Financial Corporation in 1998. Heritage Financial Corporation was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Olympia, Washington.
How the Company Makes MoneyHeritage Financial generates revenue through multiple key streams. Primarily, the company earns interest income from loans issued to consumers and businesses, including mortgages, personal loans, and commercial lending. Additionally, HFWA collects fees from various banking services, such as account maintenance, transaction fees, and ATM usage. The wealth management sector contributes to revenue through advisory fees and commissions on investment products. Significant partnerships with local businesses and real estate developers enhance their lending portfolio, while their commitment to community banking fosters customer loyalty, driving deposits that are crucial for funding loan operations.

Heritage Financial Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 24, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: -5.51%|
Next Earnings Date:Oct 16, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call revealed strong earnings growth, strategic repositioning, and robust loan production, indicating positive business momentum. However, challenges such as the decline in deposit balances, increased nonperforming loans, and concerns in credit quality highlight areas of concern that balance the optimism.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Improved Earnings Per Share
Earnings per share increased by 8.2% versus last quarter and 17.8% versus the same quarter in 2024.
Increase in Loan Production
Commercial lending teams closed $248 million in new loan commitments, up from $183 million last quarter and $218 million in the second quarter of 2024.
Net Interest Margin Growth
Net interest margin increased to 3.51% from 3.44% in the prior quarter.
Strong Capital Ratios
Regulatory capital ratios remain above well-capitalized thresholds with a TCE ratio of 9.4%, up from 9.3% in the prior quarter.
Strategic Balance Sheet Repositioning
A strategic repositioning involved a pretax loss of $6.9 million on securities sales, with proceeds reinvested in higher-yielding loans.
Negative Updates
Decrease in Total Deposits
Total deposits decreased by $60.9 million in Q2 due to a seasonal decline related to tax payments.
Increased Nonperforming Loans
Nonperforming loans increased from 0.09% of total loans at the end of the first quarter to 0.39%.
Credit Quality Concerns
There was a modest deterioration in credit quality with criticized loans increasing by $35.8 million during the quarter.
Loan Yield Decline
The average interest rate for new commercial loans was 6.55%, down 28 basis points from the previous quarter.
Company Guidance
During the Heritage Financial 2025 Q2 Earnings Call, the company provided detailed guidance reflecting strong financial performance and growth trends. Key metrics highlighted included an 8.2% increase in earnings per share from the previous quarter and a 17.8% rise compared to the same period in 2024. The net interest margin improved to 3.51%, up from 3.44% in Q1, primarily due to increased yields on loans and investment portfolios. Total loan balances grew by $10 million, while yields on the loan portfolio increased to 5.50%. Conversely, total deposits decreased by $60.9 million due to seasonal tax-related outflows. The cost of interest-bearing deposits rose slightly to 1.94%. Noninterest expense guidance remained in the $41 million to $42 million range for the year. Heritage reported nonaccrual loans at 0.21% of total loans, with a slight increase in nonperforming loans to 0.39%. The company executed a strategic repositioning of its balance sheet, incurring a pretax loss of $6.9 million from the sale of securities but reinvesting in higher-yielding loans. Heritage also repurchased 193,700 shares at a cost of $4.5 million, maintaining strong regulatory capital ratios with a TCE ratio of 9.4%. Overall, the call conveyed optimism for continued profitability and growth through prudent risk management and strategic initiatives.

Heritage Financial Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Heritage Financial shows steady revenue growth and solid financial stability. While profit margins have slightly compressed, the company maintains a strong cash flow position and improved leverage metrics. Overall, the financial performance remains robust within the regional banking sector.
Income Statement
72
Positive
Heritage Financial's income statement shows a steady increase in total revenue over the analyzed periods, with a notable revenue growth rate of approximately 9% from 2023 to 2024 and 3% from 2024 to TTM. The gross profit margin remains strong, though it has slightly decreased from previous years. The net profit margin is stable at around 15.7% for TTM, reflecting consistent profitability. However, EBIT and EBITDA margins have decreased compared to historical levels, indicating potential cost pressures.
Balance Sheet
68
Positive
The balance sheet reveals a strong equity position, as evidenced by a solid equity ratio of 12.4% in TTM. The debt-to-equity ratio has improved, decreasing from 0.47 in 2024 to 0.32 in TTM, indicating reduced leverage and potential risk mitigation. Return on Equity (ROE) remains healthy at 5.83%, but has declined from previous years, suggesting moderate profitability. The overall financial stability is supported by the company's reduced debt levels.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
Cash flow analysis shows robust free cash flow generation, with a positive free cash flow growth rate of 9.96% in TTM. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is strong at 1.38, indicating efficient cash conversion. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 1.31 further supports the company's ability to generate cash above net earnings. Overall, cash flows are strong, providing a buffer for future investments or debt repayments.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue327.00M317.19M303.13M257.05M247.45M251.55M
Gross Profit220.86M210.56M239.54M250.40M269.78M202.12M
EBITDA64.56M55.49M78.52M102.53M101.88M53.09M
Net Income51.42M43.26M61.76M81.88M98.03M46.57M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets7.13B7.11B7.17B6.98B7.43B6.62B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments891.51M881.49M1.36B1.44B2.62B1.55B
Total Debt286.53M405.06M521.76M68.07M72.02M56.57M
Total Liabilities6.25B6.24B6.32B6.18B6.58B5.79B
Stockholders Equity881.51M863.53M853.26M797.89M854.43M820.44M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow67.10M61.02M99.15M90.44M66.51M63.33M
Operating Cash Flow70.84M64.48M109.52M94.46M69.53M70.33M
Investing Cash Flow-40.19M-85.90M-93.45M-1.21B163.76M-538.55M
Financing Cash Flow28.36M-86.45M105.31M-506.38M746.68M982.97M

Heritage Financial Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price23.34
Price Trends
50DMA
23.59
Negative
100DMA
23.13
Positive
200DMA
23.65
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.13
Negative
RSI
50.26
Neutral
STOCH
70.37
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HFWA, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 23.34 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 23.04, below the 50-day MA of 23.59, and below the 200-day MA of 23.65, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.13 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 50.26 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 70.37 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for HFWA.

Heritage Financial Risk Analysis

Heritage Financial disclosed 42 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Heritage Financial 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

Heritage Financial Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
$868.19M11.029.02%2.86%5.94%12.97%
74
Outperform
$896.24M8.6614.19%3.65%113.60%1224.38%
73
Outperform
$904.94M10.709.87%2.57%5.18%13.05%
70
Neutral
$786.70M16.175.69%4.07%6.92%13.94%
68
Neutral
$17.57B11.6410.45%3.85%9.71%1.93%
67
Neutral
$808.76M12.945.92%5.57%6.49%
64
Neutral
$828.73M0.44%1.79%-6.88%-131.00%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
HFWA
Heritage Financial
23.34
2.41
11.51%
CFFN
Capitol Federal Financial
6.11
0.64
11.70%
UVSP
Univest Of Pennsylvania
30.03
4.29
16.67%
FMBH
First Mid-Illinois Bancshares
38.25
1.40
3.80%
AMTB
Amerant Bancorp
20.01
-0.25
-1.23%
BHRB
Burke & Herbert Bank & Company
60.20
-0.44
-0.73%

Heritage Financial Corporate Events

DividendsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Heritage Financial Reports Q2 2025 Earnings and Dividend
Neutral
Jul 24, 2025

On July 24, 2025, Heritage Financial Corporation announced its second quarter results, reporting a net income of $12.2 million, a decrease from the previous quarter’s $13.9 million. The company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share, to be paid on August 20, 2025. The quarter included a pre-tax loss of $6.9 million from the sale of investment securities as part of a strategic balance sheet repositioning, impacting earnings per share by $0.15. Despite these losses, Heritage Financial saw growth in core earnings, attributed to increased yields on loans and investment securities, and a $100 million increase in total deposits since the end of 2024. The company remains optimistic about future profitability and sustainable long-term returns for shareholders.

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: Aug 19, 2025