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First Western Financial Inc (MYFW)
NASDAQ:MYFW

First Western Financial (MYFW) AI Stock Analysis

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MYFW

First Western Financial

(NASDAQ:MYFW)

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Neutral 58 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:58Neutral
Price Target:
$26.00
▼(-0.12% Downside)
The score is driven primarily by improving fundamentals and a cleaner leverage profile, supported by constructive earnings-call guidance on NIM expansion and growth. Offsetting these positives are weak technical momentum (below key moving averages with low RSI) and uneven cash-flow consistency, which keeps the overall score in the upper-middle range rather than high.
Positive Factors
Net interest margin expansion
Sustained NIM expansion increases core net interest income, the bank's primary revenue driver, improving baseline earnings power and supporting reinvestment. If management sustains deposit cost control and loan repricing, margin gains provide durable revenue growth and reduce reliance on volatile fee income.
Stronger balance sheet / lower leverage
Transition to no reported debt and materially improved leverage enhances capital resilience against credit stress, supports organic loan growth and selective M&A, and lowers funding risk. A safer balance sheet improves operational flexibility and reduces downside risk over the next several quarters.
Repeatable loan and deposit growth
Quarterly deposit inflows and solid average-deposit growth underpin a stable, low-cost funding base that supports sustainable lending. Coupled with consistent new loan production, this funding mix reduces wholesale reliance, helps sustain NIM expansion, and supports durable balance-sheet-driven earnings growth.
Negative Factors
Inconsistent cash generation
Volatile operating and free cash flow weakens the link between reported earnings and actual cash available for investment or distributions. This inconsistency reduces confidence in self-funding capacity, heightens reliance on capital markets if stress occurs, and complicates sustainable capital allocation decisions.
AUM withdrawals pressuring fee income
A meaningful quarterly AUM decline reduces recurring management fees and delays the benefits of wealth-restructuring initiatives. Persistent outflows, especially from low-fee products, can depress fee-income growth, elongate the timeline to diversify revenue away from interest income, and heighten earnings cyclicality.
Moderate returns despite safer balance sheet
Despite improved leverage and no reported debt, ROE and overall profitability remain modest and below prior peaks. Management's near-term ROA target (~1%) implies limited capital efficiency, which may constrain long-term shareholder returns and make it harder to justify slower balance-sheet normalization versus pursuit of higher yields.

First Western Financial (MYFW) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

First Western Financial Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionFirst Western Financial, Inc., a financial holding company, provides wealth management, private banking, personal trust, investment management, mortgage lending, and institutional asset management services. The company operates through two segments: Wealth Management and Mortgage. The Wealth Management segment provides deposit, loan, insurance, and trust and investment management advisory products and services. The Mortgage segment engages in soliciting, originating, and selling mortgage loans into the secondary market. It serves entrepreneurs, professionals, high-net worth individuals or families, and philanthropic and business organizations. The company operates 18 profit centers, including 14 boutique private trust bank offices with 2 locations in Arizona, 9 locations in Colorado, and 3 location in Wyoming; 2 loan production offices with 1 location in Ft. Collins, Colorado, and 1 location in Greenwood Village, Colorado; and 2 trust offices with 1 location in Laramie, Wyoming, and 1 location in Century City, California. First Western Financial, Inc. was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.
How the Company Makes MoneyFirst Western Financial generates revenue through multiple key streams. Primarily, the company earns interest income from its loan portfolio, which includes commercial real estate loans, construction loans, and personal loans. Additionally, it collects fees from various banking services, such as account maintenance and transaction services. The wealth management division contributes significantly to the company's earnings through management fees charged on investment accounts and advisory services. The firm may also derive income from trust and estate planning services, which include fees for managing trusts and estates. Significant partnerships with investment firms and other financial institutions enhance its product offerings and client acquisition, further supporting its revenue growth.

First Western Financial Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 22, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 23, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call presented a predominantly constructive picture: margin expansion, strong net interest income growth, quarter-over-quarter loan and deposit growth, stable asset quality, and strategic investments in talent and wealth/mortgage capabilities. Most negatives were one-time, seasonal, or operational timing items (OREO write-down, AUM withdrawals, seasonal mortgage and noninterest income declines). Management reiterated a positive 2026 outlook (expecting similar loan/deposit growth, further NIM improvement, and a path toward a 1% ROA), supporting a forward-looking constructive view.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Net Interest Margin Expansion and Net Interest Income Growth
NIM expanded 17 basis points quarter-over-quarter to 2.71% (≈+26 bps year-over-year). Net interest income increased 5.6% from the prior quarter and 21.7% versus Q4 2024, driving the primary revenue improvement.
Revenue and Profitability Improvement
Gross revenue rose 1.5% quarter-over-quarter and 12.2% year-over-year. The company generated net income of $3.3 million, or $0.34 per diluted share in Q4, and reported a normalized operating run rate equivalent to roughly $2.00 per share annualized when adjusting for the one-time OREO write-down.
Strong Loan Production and Loan Growth
New loan production was $146 million in Q4 and loans held for investment increased by $59 million quarter-over-quarter. Management expects loan growth in 2026 similar to 2025, driven by diversified origination across markets and loan types and about $250 million of fixed-rate loans repricing over the next year (avg yield in low-5% range).
Deposit Growth and Balance Sheet Optimization
Total deposits increased $102 million quarter-over-quarter and average deposits increased 10% versus Q4 2024. Management reduced high-cost deposits, lowering cost of funds (spot deposit rate at year-end ~2.86%) and reported a deposit beta of ~54% in the quarter that management believes is sustainable.
Asset Quality Stability
Loan portfolio showed generally stable trends with decreases in nonaccrual loans and NPAs, minimal net charge-offs in the quarter, and allowance coverage unchanged at 81 basis points of total loans. Remaining OREO is under contract with expected close in Q1.
Strategic Talent and Business Build — Mortgage and Wealth
Mortgage production capability increased via hiring: eight new MLOs in 2025 (≈45% increase year-over-year). Wealth/Trust restructuring and shift toward fiduciary/planning and a new B2B offering are underway with management expecting improved fee income results into 2026.
Negative Updates
One-Time OREO Write-Down Impacting Earnings
A one-time $1.4 million write-down on an OREO property increased noninterest expense (QoQ noninterest expense up $1.2M) and reduced EPS by approximately $0.10 after tax in Q4.
Decline in Assets Under Management
Assets under management decreased by $155 million in Q4, primarily due to net withdrawals in low-fee and fixed-fee product categories; partially offset by a $15 million (≈+1%) increase in higher-variable-fee investment agency accounts.
Quarterly Drop in Noninterest Income
Noninterest income decreased by approximately $800,000 quarter-over-quarter, driven by seasonal declines in gain on sale of mortgage loans and lower risk management and insurance fees during the quarter.
Seasonal/Market Weakness in Mortgage Production
Mortgage volumes were seasonally lower in Q4 (and typically Q1), reflecting industry-wide softness; while the bank is building production capacity, near-term mortgage revenue remains muted versus peak periods.
Lumpy Deposit/Balance Sheet Flows
Management described deposit flows as lumpy (seasonal outflows from title company accounts in Q4 and noninterest-bearing deposits down at year-end), requiring active balance sheet optimization and occasional reliance on borrowings.
Tax Rate Volatility
Effective tax rate has been variable quarter-to-quarter due to LIHTC/K-1 timing and equity compensation effects; management expects a normalized effective tax rate around 23%–24% going forward but Q4 showed lumpy impacts.
Company Guidance
Management guided to continued balance-sheet growth in 2026 with loan and deposit growth expected to be similar to 2025, further net interest margin expansion (Q4 NIM 2.71%, up 17 bps QoQ and 26 bps YoY; December NIM 2.72%; long‑run target ~3.10–3.15%), improving fee income and operating leverage, and disciplined expense control while selectively investing in the business. Supporting Q4 metrics cited: net income $3.3M ($0.34 diluted), loans held for investment +$59M QoQ with new loan production $146M (avg new production rate 6.36%), total deposits +$102M QoQ (average deposits +10% YoY, spot deposit cost 2.86%, deposit beta ~54%), net interest income +5.6% QoQ (+21.7% YoY), gross revenue +1.5% QoQ (+12.2% YoY), noninterest income down ~$0.8M QoQ, noninterest expense up $1.2M QoQ (incl. $1.4M OREO write‑down that reduced EPS by $0.10), AUM -$155M (but variable‑fee AUM +$15M, ~+1%), allowance coverage ~81 bps of loans, ~$250M of fixed‑rate loans maturing next 12 months (avg yields in low‑5s), a normalized operating run‑rate of about $0.50/quarter (~$2 annualized), eight new MLOs in 2025 (+45% YoY), and a near‑term objective to reach a 1.0% ROA.

First Western Financial Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Recent profitability is improving (TTM step-up vs. 2024) and leverage has strengthened materially (TTM shows no debt), but cash flow quality is a clear weak spot due to inconsistent operating/free cash flow and large historical swings.
Income Statement
62
Positive
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) shows a clear profitability step-up versus 2024 (higher operating profit and net income) with modest revenue growth. Margins in the most recent periods look more stable than the unusually strong 2021–2022 levels, but the longer-term pattern is uneven (notably the sharp swing in 2022 margin figures versus subsequent years). Overall: improving recent earnings power, but profitability has been volatile across the cycle.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
Leverage improved materially from 2020–2023 into 2024, and TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) reports no debt with equity continuing to build—both positives for resilience. That said, returns on equity remain moderate in the latest periods (well below the peak levels seen earlier), suggesting the balance sheet is safer but not currently generating standout shareholder returns. Asset growth is steady, but prior years show leverage fluctuation that adds some risk to the historical profile.
Cash Flow
44
Neutral
Cash generation is the weakest area. Operating and free cash flow have been inconsistent, including negative cash flow in 2024 and a very large decline in free cash flow in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). While TTM free cash flow is positive and roughly tracks net income, the year-to-year volatility (including large swings earlier in the period) reduces confidence in earnings-to-cash consistency.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue179.97M177.77M165.38M127.51M101.04M103.06M
Gross Profit92.95M87.51M80.57M106.56M94.39M91.15M
EBITDA19.22M14.14M9.44M30.84M28.54M34.18M
Net Income12.62M8.47M5.22M21.70M20.61M24.53M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets3.24B2.92B2.98B2.87B2.53B1.97B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments355.64M236.04M254.44M196.51M441.70M192.66M
Total Debt95.59M109.60M178.05M199.02M77.66M173.85M
Total Liabilities2.98B2.67B2.73B2.63B2.31B1.82B
Stockholders Equity261.50M252.32M242.74M240.86M219.04M154.96M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.48M-1.76M19.53M45.31M160.41M-94.52M
Operating Cash Flow4.54M-544.00K21.88M48.28M162.51M-93.32M
Investing Cash Flow-251.86M66.44M-66.39M-558.80M-43.02M-456.02M
Financing Cash Flow324.83M-84.30M102.44M320.05M111.50M626.69M

First Western Financial Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price26.03
Price Trends
50DMA
25.59
Positive
100DMA
24.26
Positive
200DMA
23.17
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.03
Positive
RSI
52.67
Neutral
STOCH
72.11
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MYFW, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 26.03 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 26.03, above the 50-day MA of 25.59, and above the 200-day MA of 23.17, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of -0.03 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 52.67 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 72.11 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for MYFW.

First Western Financial Risk Analysis

First Western Financial disclosed 62 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. First Western 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

First Western 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
72
Outperform
$262.26M9.7710.89%2.55%8.53%42.73%
72
Outperform
$249.55M13.626.73%3.50%12.92%56.52%
69
Neutral
$249.63M10.5514.27%2.39%0.16%258.06%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
66
Neutral
$238.37M10.2412.50%1.95%7.65%69.41%
58
Neutral
$252.68M19.354.95%1.53%109.74%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MYFW
First Western Financial
26.03
4.67
21.86%
CFFI
C&F Financial
80.03
-1.53
-1.87%
FSFG
First Savings Financial Group
33.98
9.44
38.48%
HWBK
Hawthorn Bancshares
35.92
4.02
12.60%
BPRN
Bank of Princeton
36.13
5.06
16.28%

First Western Financial Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
First Western Financial Reports Stronger Q4 2025 Earnings
Positive
Jan 22, 2026

On January 22, 2026, First Western Financial reported improved fourth-quarter 2025 results, with net income available to common shareholders rising to $3.3 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, up from $3.2 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2025 and $2.7 million, or $0.28 per share, a year earlier. The bank’s performance was driven by a 17-basis-point sequential increase in net interest margin to 2.71%, a 5.6% rise in net interest income to $20.6 million, and 2.3% linked-quarter growth in loans held for investment to $2.65 billion, partially offset by lower non-interest income and higher non-interest expenses, including an OREO write-down. Management highlighted healthy economic conditions in its markets, stable asset quality, and stronger loan demand supporting disciplined growth, which contributed to higher book and tangible book value per share and signaled continued balance sheet strength and improving profitability for shareholders going into 2026.

The most recent analyst rating on (MYFW) stock is a Hold with a $29.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on First Western Financial stock, see the MYFW Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
First Western Financial Highlights Strong November Performance
Positive
Nov 4, 2025

In November 2025, First Western Financial, Inc. presented investor materials highlighting its robust financial performance and strategic growth initiatives. The company has experienced significant revenue growth and improved profitability since its IPO, with total assets increasing by 210%. The management team has a proven track record of combining organic growth with strategic acquisitions, enhancing the company’s franchise value. The institution operates in high growth markets with a stable deposit base, and its conservative underwriting has resulted in minimal credit losses. The company’s strong operational and financial momentum is expected to continue driving efficiencies and shareholder value.

The most recent analyst rating on (MYFW) stock is a Hold with a $25.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on First Western Financial stock, see the MYFW 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: Jan 26, 2026