tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Heritage Financial Corp. (HFWA)
NASDAQ:HFWA
US Market

Heritage Financial (HFWA) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
84 Followers

Top Page

HF

Heritage Financial

(NASDAQ:HFWA)

Rating:72Outperform
Price Target:
$25.00
▲(9.84%Upside)
Heritage Financial's overall stock score is 72, reflecting a stable financial foundation with strong balance sheet metrics. Technical analysis indicates a neutral trend, and the valuation offers a moderate P/E ratio with a solid dividend yield. The earnings call presented a balanced outlook with both positive and negative aspects impacting the sentiment.

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 makes money primarily through interest income generated from its loan portfolio, which includes commercial and consumer loans. The company also earns revenue from non-interest income sources such as service charges on deposit accounts, fees from mortgage banking activities, and income from investment securities. Additionally, Heritage Financial may benefit from partnerships with other financial institutions or service providers, enhancing its product offerings and revenue potential. Overall, the company's earnings are influenced by factors such as interest rate fluctuations, credit quality of its borrowers, and regional economic conditions.

Heritage Financial Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 24, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 0.09%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 17, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a balanced view with strong deposit growth, improved net interest margin, and stable credit quality as highlights. However, these were offset by a decrease in loan balances, a significant investment loss, and increased non-interest expenses. The overall sentiment is neutral given the balance of positive and negative aspects.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Deposit Growth
Total deposits increased $160.7 million in Q1, with 95% of this growth in non-mature deposits. The majority of growth was in money market accounts.
Improved Net Interest Margin
Net interest margin increased to 3.44% for Q1 from 3.36% in the prior quarter due to decreases in the cost of both deposits and borrowings.
Stable Credit Quality
Non-accrual loans totaled just over $4.4 million, representing 0.09% of total loans, with criticized loans decreasing by $1 million during the quarter.
Increased Capital Ratio
The TCE ratio increased to 9.3%, up from 9% in the prior quarter, maintaining a strong capital position.
Higher Interest Rates on New Loans
The average first quarter interest rate for new commercial loans was 6.83%, up 20 basis points from the last quarter.
Negative Updates
Decrease in Loan Balances
Total loan balances decreased by $37 million in Q1 due to elevated payoffs and prepayments, despite similar loan production to Q1 2024.
Investment Loss
A pretax loss of $3.9 million was recognized on the sale of $61 million of securities as part of a strategic repositioning of the balance sheet.
Increased Non-Interest Expense
Non-interest expense increased by $1.8 million from the prior quarter, mostly due to higher benefit costs and payroll taxes.
Reduced Loan Commitments
New loan commitments in commercial lending were $183 million, down from $316 million last quarter, although up from $133 million in Q1 2024.
Company Guidance
During the Heritage Financial Q1 2025 earnings call, the company provided guidance highlighting several key metrics. The total loan balances decreased by $37 million due to elevated payoffs and prepayments, with loan yields at 5.45%, reflecting a 2 basis point decrease from Q4 2024. However, strong deposit growth was observed, with total deposits increasing by $160.7 million, primarily in non-mature money market accounts. The cost of interest-bearing deposits decreased slightly to 1.92% from 1.98% in the previous quarter. The net interest margin improved to 3.44% from 3.36% in Q4 2024. Heritage Financial reported a provision for credit losses of $51,000, and noninterest expense increased by $1.8 million, mostly due to higher benefits and payroll taxes. The company maintains a stable credit quality with nonaccrual loans at $4.4 million, representing 0.09% of total loans. Heritage Financial is guiding for quarterly noninterest expenses in the range of $41 million to $42 million for the year. The company also noted that its total capital equity ratio increased to 9.3% from 9% in the prior quarter, supporting potential stock buybacks, though none were executed in Q1.

Heritage Financial Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Heritage Financial maintains a stable financial position with a strong balance sheet and efficient operations. However, inconsistent revenue growth and declining profitability margins indicate areas for improvement. The cash flow is stable but shows signs of pressure.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Heritage Financial shows a mixed performance in its income statement. Gross profit margins are stable, indicating good cost management. However, net profit margin has decreased from the previous year, reflecting lower profitability. Revenue growth is inconsistent, with recent declines indicating potential challenges. EBIT margins are strong, suggesting efficient operations, although EBITDA margins are not applicable due to zero EBITDA reported.
Balance Sheet
85
Very Positive
The balance sheet for Heritage Financial is strong, with a zero total debt indicating no leverage risk. The equity ratio is robust, showcasing financial stability and a strong asset base. Return on equity is positive, albeit lower than previous years, suggesting some efficiency concerns. Overall, the company's balance sheet reflects solid financial health with ample equity support.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Cash flow analysis reveals a slight decline in operating cash flow, yet free cash flow remains positive, indicating operational efficiency. Free cash flow growth is negative, reflecting challenges in maintaining cash generation levels. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is stable, but the declining free cash flow to net income ratio suggests potential pressure on liquidity.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
317.19M239.54M257.05M247.22M238.23M
Gross Profit
210.56M239.54M248.98M269.78M238.23M
EBIT
74.34M97.03M120.80M120.51M53.18M
EBITDA
55.49M78.52M102.53M101.88M9.11M
Net Income Common Stockholders
43.26M61.76M81.88M98.03M46.57M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
823.22M1.19B1.44B2.62B1.55B
Total Assets
7.11B7.17B6.98B7.43B6.62B
Total Debt
405.06M21.77M21.47M21.18M20.89M
Net Debt
287.96M-203.21M-82.12M-1.70B-722.43M
Total Liabilities
6.24B6.32B21.47M21.18M20.89M
Stockholders Equity
863.53M853.26M797.89M854.43M820.44M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
61.02M99.15M90.44M66.51M63.33M
Operating Cash Flow
67.44M109.52M94.46M69.53M70.33M
Investing Cash Flow
-85.90M-93.45M-1.21B163.76M-538.55M
Financing Cash Flow
-86.45M105.31M-506.38M746.68M982.97M

Heritage Financial Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price22.76
Price Trends
50DMA
22.82
Negative
100DMA
23.49
Negative
200DMA
23.32
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.01
Positive
RSI
43.67
Neutral
STOCH
43.72
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HFWA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 22.76 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 23.36, below the 50-day MA of 22.82, and below the 200-day MA of 23.32, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of 0.01 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 43.67 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 43.72 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative 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 (64)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
72
Outperform
$776.24M15.345.95%4.22%9.12%11.62%
72
Outperform
$838.68M10.908.93%3.03%7.16%12.20%
72
Outperform
$850.65M10.549.65%2.71%10.25%8.73%
70
Outperform
$854.11M16.2210.71%3.87%181.68%28.77%
64
Neutral
$12.77B9.717.85%78.06%12.07%-7.97%
63
Neutral
$775.56M14.465.09%5.82%6.02%
49
Neutral
$711.51M-1.83%2.12%-5.38%-186.90%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
HFWA
Heritage Financial
22.76
6.43
39.38%
CFFN
Capitol Federal Financial
5.84
0.76
14.96%
UVSP
Univest Of Pennsylvania
29.04
8.32
40.15%
FMBH
First Mid-Illinois Bancshares
35.46
5.60
18.75%
AMTB
Amerant Bancorp
17.01
-4.21
-19.84%
BHRB
Burke & Herbert Bank & Company
56.92
9.35
19.66%

Heritage Financial Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
Heritage Financial Announces New CEO Appointment
Positive
May 6, 2025

On May 6, 2025, Heritage Financial Corporation announced the completion of its CEO succession plan, with Bryan D. McDonald assuming the roles of President and CEO of both the company and Heritage Bank. This transition follows the retirement of Jeffrey J. Deuel, who will continue in an advisory role until 2027. The appointment aims to ensure a seamless leadership transition, enhancing shareholder value and maintaining the company’s focus on quality customer service and community support.

DividendsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Heritage Financial Reports Strong Q1 2025 Results
Positive
Apr 24, 2025

On April 24, 2025, Heritage Financial announced its first-quarter results, reporting a net income of $13.9 million, an increase from the previous quarter. The company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share, to be paid on May 21, 2025. Despite a pre-tax loss on the sale of securities, Heritage Financial saw improvements in net interest margin and deposit growth, reflecting a strategic repositioning of its balance sheet aimed at enhancing future profitability.

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.