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

Heritage Financial (HFWA) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
87 Followers

Top Page

HFWA

Heritage Financial

(NASDAQ:HFWA)

Select Model
Select Model
Select Model
Outperform 70 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:70Outperform
Price Target:
$25.00
â–²(11.36% Upside)
Heritage Financial's overall stock score reflects its strong financial performance and positive earnings call, which highlight earnings growth and improved margins. The fair valuation and attractive dividend yield further support the score. However, technical indicators suggest caution due to bearish momentum, and challenges such as flat loan balances and increased nonaccrual loans temper the outlook.

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:Oct 23, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jan 22, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted strong earnings growth, improved net interest margin, and robust deposit growth, alongside stable credit quality. However, challenges included flat loan balances and increased nonaccrual loans. Despite these challenges, the pending merger with Olympic Bancorp presents a positive outlook.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Improved Earnings and Net Interest Margin
Earnings per share increased by 5.7% quarter-over-quarter and 24.4% year-over-year. The net interest margin improved to 3.64% from 3.51% in the prior quarter and from 3.30% in the third quarter of 2024.
Deposit Growth
Total deposits increased by $73 million in Q3, with noninterest-bearing deposits growing by $33.7 million. This growth was achieved despite a decrease in certificates of deposit accounts.
Stable Credit Quality
Credit quality remained strong with nonperforming loans at a low level, and net charge-offs remained at very low levels. Substandard and special mention loans decreased by 5% and 12%, respectively.
Pending Merger with Olympic Bancorp
The anticipated merger with Olympic Bancorp is expected to enhance profitability and growth potential in the Puget Sound market.
Negative Updates
Flat Loan Balances
Total loan balances were relatively flat in Q3, decreasing by $5.7 million. Although loan originations increased, payoffs and prepayments also rose, impacting growth.
Increased Nonaccrual Loans
Nonaccrual loans increased to $17.6 million at quarter end, up from 0.21% at the end of the second quarter to 0.37% of total loans.
Higher Noninterest Expenses
Noninterest expenses increased by $530,000 due to higher compensation and benefits, as well as professional services expenses. Merger-related expenses were $635,000.
Company Guidance
During the Heritage Financial 2025 Q3 earnings call, the company reported several key metrics indicating strong financial performance. Adjusted earnings per share increased by 5.7% compared to the previous quarter and by 24.4% year-over-year, with the return on average assets (ROAA) rising to 1.11% from 0.87% in Q3 2024. Net interest income grew by $2.4 million or 4.3% from the prior quarter, driven by an improved net interest margin of 3.64%, up from 3.51% in Q2 2025 and 3.30% a year earlier. Total deposits rose by $73 million, including a $33.7 million increase in noninterest-bearing deposits, although certificates of deposit decreased by $31.4 million. The cost of interest-bearing deposits dropped to 1.89% from 1.94% in the previous quarter. Credit quality remained robust, with nonaccrual loans at 0.37% of total loans and nonperforming loans slightly increasing to 0.44%. The anticipated merger with Olympic Bancorp is expected to enhance profitability and market presence.

Heritage Financial Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Heritage Financial demonstrates a solid financial position with strong profitability and cash flow management. Despite a decline in revenue growth, the company maintains robust margins and a stable balance sheet with low leverage. Positive cash flow trends further enhance its financial health.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Heritage Financial's income statement shows a mixed performance. The TTM data reveals a decline in revenue growth rate, indicating potential challenges in revenue generation. However, the company maintains a healthy gross profit margin of 68.06% and a net profit margin of 15.21%, which are strong indicators of profitability. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are also solid, reflecting efficient operational management. Despite the recent revenue decline, the company has demonstrated resilience in maintaining profitability.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet of Heritage Financial is stable with a manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32 in the TTM period, indicating a conservative approach to leveraging. The return on equity is modest at 5.64%, suggesting room for improvement in generating returns for shareholders. The equity ratio is strong, reflecting a solid capital structure with a significant portion of assets financed by equity. Overall, the balance sheet reflects financial stability with low leverage risk.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
The cash flow statement indicates positive trends, with a notable free cash flow growth rate of 22.28% in the TTM period. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is low, suggesting potential inefficiencies in converting income to cash. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio is high at 94.79%, indicating effective cash generation relative to net income. The company shows strong cash flow management, supporting its operational and investment activities.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue323.04M317.19M303.13M257.05M247.45M251.55M
Gross Profit168.96M210.56M239.54M250.40M269.78M202.12M
EBITDA71.67M55.49M78.52M102.53M101.88M53.09M
Net Income57.22M43.26M61.76M81.88M98.03M46.57M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets7.01B7.11B7.17B6.98B7.43B6.62B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments705.26M881.49M1.36B1.44B2.62B1.55B
Total Debt160.28M405.06M521.76M68.07M72.02M56.57M
Total Liabilities6.11B6.24B6.32B6.18B6.58B5.79B
Stockholders Equity904.06M863.53M853.26M797.89M854.43M820.44M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow86.65M61.02M99.15M90.44M66.51M63.33M
Operating Cash Flow87.45M64.48M109.52M94.46M69.53M70.33M
Investing Cash Flow119.69M-85.90M-93.45M-1.21B163.76M-538.55M
Financing Cash Flow-137.22M-86.45M105.31M-506.38M746.68M982.97M

Heritage Financial Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price22.45
Price Trends
50DMA
23.43
Negative
100DMA
23.51
Negative
200DMA
23.22
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.30
Negative
RSI
46.28
Neutral
STOCH
36.23
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HFWA, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 22.45 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 22.43, below the 50-day MA of 23.43, and below the 200-day MA of 23.22, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.30 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 46.28 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 36.23 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral 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
78
Outperform
$834.33M8.3813.88%1.97%4.33%-2.20%
71
Outperform
$687.71M11.468.80%0.43%6.48%8.78%
70
Outperform
$760.63M13.496.43%4.28%8.27%54.96%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
67
Neutral
$787.92M12.0911.65%3.78%1.22%15.97%
63
Neutral
$819.78M―-26.60%3.95%-78.71%-913.67%
57
Neutral
$822.70M11.916.54%5.33%6.27%79.32%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
HFWA
Heritage Financial
22.45
-2.88
-11.37%
CFFN
Capitol Federal Financial
6.37
-0.20
-3.04%
CPF
Central Pacific Financial
29.61
-0.67
-2.21%
HBNC
Horizon Bancorp
16.21
-1.60
-8.98%
MCB
Metropolitan Bank Holding
69.74
5.32
8.26%
AMAL
Amalgamated Bank
28.42
-7.59
-21.08%

Heritage Financial Corporate Events

Heritage Financial’s Earnings Call Highlights Growth and Strategic Merger
Oct 25, 2025

The recent earnings call for Heritage Financial showcased a positive sentiment, highlighting strong earnings growth, an improved net interest margin, and robust deposit growth. Despite facing challenges such as flat loan balances and increased nonaccrual loans, the company remains optimistic about its future, particularly with the upcoming merger with Olympic Bancorp, which is expected to bolster growth prospects.

Heritage Financial Reports Strong Q3 2025 Results
Oct 24, 2025

Heritage Financial Corporation, based in Olympia, Washington, operates as a bank holding company with Heritage Bank as its sole subsidiary, offering full-service commercial banking across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. In its third quarter of 2025, Heritage Financial reported a net income of $19.2 million, a significant increase from the previous quarter’s $12.2 million, alongside a regular cash dividend of $0.24 per share. The company also announced a definitive agreement to acquire Olympic Bancorp, Inc., which is expected to enhance its balance sheet and profitability.

DividendsFinancial DisclosuresM&A Transactions
Heritage Financial Reports Strong Q3 Results and Dividend
Positive
Oct 23, 2025

On October 23, 2025, Heritage Financial Corporation announced its third-quarter results, reporting a net income of $19.2 million, a significant increase from the previous quarter. The company also declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share, payable on November 19, 2025. Heritage Financial’s financial performance was marked by an increase in net interest income and a decrease in borrowing costs, contributing to an improved net interest margin. Additionally, the company is set to acquire Olympic Bancorp, Inc., which is expected to strengthen its balance sheet and enhance profitability.

The most recent analyst rating on (HFWA) stock is a Hold with a $26.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Heritage Financial stock, see the HFWA Stock Forecast page.

M&A Transactions
Heritage Financial Announces Merger with Olympic Bancorp
Positive
Sep 26, 2025

On September 25, 2025, Heritage Financial Corporation announced a merger agreement to acquire Olympic Bancorp, Inc., the holding company for Kitsap Bank, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $176.6 million. The merger, expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, will see Kitsap Bank’s operations integrated into Heritage Bank, enhancing Heritage’s market presence in the Puget Sound region and making it the second largest community bank in the area. The merger is anticipated to improve Heritage’s financial metrics and provide significant benefits for stakeholders, including an 18% earnings per share accretion post-merger.

The most recent analyst rating on (HFWA) stock is a Buy with a $28.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Heritage Financial stock, see the HFWA 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: Oct 24, 2025