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Western Alliance (WAL)
NYSE:WAL

Western Alliance (WAL) AI Stock Analysis

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Western Alliance

(NYSE:WAL)

Rating:74Outperform
Price Target:
$91.00
â–²(8.10%Upside)
Western Alliance's stock score is bolstered by strong technical momentum and a positive earnings call outlook. While facing financial performance challenges related to cash flow and leverage, the company's valuation remains reasonable. Stability in leadership and optimistic growth projections further enhance the stock's attractiveness.
Positive Factors
Capital Position
Risk/reward is seen as positively skewed given capital positioning, superior growth/return potential, potential lift to valuation from a pick-up in bank M&A activity, and a strong management team.
Growth Prospects
Despite superior growth prospects, the stock trades at a meaningful discount to peers, indicating potential undervaluation.
Valuation
The discount valuation looks particularly attractive given the forecast which implies ~18% average annual EPS growth for 2025 and 2026, or nearly twice peer average.
Negative Factors
Credit Reserves
Persistent concerns tied to credit reserves, potential headwinds to management’s loan/deposit growth target, and fading hopes for a mortgage rebound could continue to weigh on investor sentiment.
Expense Guidance
Shares lagged peers by ~300bps after raising FY25 expense guidance, implying a 2% reduction to FY25 PPNR.
Interest Rates
Elevated interest rates are likely to remain a concern for stock valuation due to impacts on funding costs and perceived credit risk.

Western Alliance (WAL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Western Alliance Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionWestern Alliance Bancorporation (WAL) is a leading financial services company headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. It operates as the bank holding company for Western Alliance Bank, offering a wide range of banking and financial solutions. The company primarily serves commercial clients, providing services such as commercial and industrial loans, real estate loans, and deposit products. Western Alliance is recognized for its robust regional banking network, catering to businesses and individual clients across several states in the U.S., with a focus on growth-oriented companies across diverse industries.
How the Company Makes MoneyWestern Alliance Bancorporation generates revenue through various financial services and products. The primary source of income is interest income from loans and leases, including commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate loans, and consumer loans. The company also earns non-interest income through service fees, which include deposit account fees, treasury management services, and card-related fees. Additionally, Western Alliance benefits from strategic partnerships and investments in sectors that complement its core banking operations, enhancing its ability to generate diverse revenue streams. The company's earnings are further supported by a strong focus on managing interest rate spreads and maintaining asset quality.

Western Alliance Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 21, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 30.37%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 17, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Western Alliance Bancorporation reported strong growth in pre-provision net revenue and maintained a solid capital and liquidity position. However, challenges such as a slight decline in net interest margin, an increase in classified assets, and flat noninterest income were noted. Overall, the positives of revenue growth and strong balance sheet management outweigh the negatives.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Pre-Provision Net Revenue Growth
Western Alliance's pre-provision net revenue reached $278 million, a $31 million or 12% year-over-year increase, driven by a 9% increase in net interest income.
Strong Capital and Liquidity Position
The company maintained a CET1 ratio of 11.1%, with total equity increasing by $508 million. The issuance of REIT preferred equity contributed $293 million, enhancing capital strength.
Loan and Deposit Growth
The balance sheet expanded by $2.1 billion, with HFI loan and deposit growth of $1.1 billion and $3 billion respectively. The company projects $5 billion in loan growth and $8 billion in deposit growth for the full year.
Positive Outlook for Net Interest Income
Net interest income is expected to increase 6% to 8% for 2025, supported by sustained loan growth and expanding net interest margin.
Negative Updates
Decline in Net Interest Margin
The net interest margin slightly declined by 1 basis point to 3.47%, with factors such as rate cuts and pricing pressure affecting yields.
Increase in Classified Assets
Classified assets rose by $186 million, indicating some deterioration in asset quality, though non-accrual loans declined by $25 million.
Flat Noninterest Income
Noninterest income was relatively stable year-over-year at $127 million, with mortgage banking revenue facing a quarterly decline due to lower gain on sale margins.
Company Guidance
During Western Alliance Bancorporation's First Quarter 2025 Earnings Call, the company provided detailed financial guidance for the year. The company expects loan growth to reach $5 billion and deposit growth to reach $8 billion for the full year, supported by strong client engagement and active pipelines. Net interest income is projected to increase by 6% to 8%, driven by sustained loan growth and an expanding net interest margin that is expected to approximate 2024's level. Noninterest income is also anticipated to grow in line with net interest income, reflecting deepening client relationships and enhanced commercial banking fees. The company forecasts noninterest expenses to range between 0% growth and a 5% decline, aided by declining ECR costs resulting from two projected 25 basis point rate cuts before the year's end. Asset quality is anticipated to remain stable, with full-year net charge-offs around 20 basis points, and the effective tax rate for 2025 is expected to be approximately 20%.

Western Alliance Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Western Alliance demonstrates financial resilience with a strong balance sheet and improving cash flows. However, the income statement raises concerns due to missing revenue data for 2024, creating uncertainty about revenue-generating ability.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
The income statement shows volatility in revenue and profit margins. The company experienced a drop in total revenue in the latest year, with total revenue at zero for 2024, which is unusual and suggests data inconsistency or reporting issues. The net income for 2024 is higher than in previous years, indicating some level of profitability. However, the absence of revenue figures raises concerns about sustainability.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet displays a solid equity base with stockholders' equity rising to $6.7 billion in 2024 from $6.1 billion in 2023. The debt-to-equity ratio improved significantly, with total debt dropping to zero, indicating strong balance sheet management. The equity ratio increased, reflecting a stable capital structure. Overall, the balance sheet indicates financial stability with reduced leverage.
Cash Flow
55
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals improvements but also inconsistencies. The operating cash flow turned positive in 2024 after a negative outflow in 2023, showing better cash generation. Free cash flow also improved significantly, swinging from negative to positive. However, the volatility in cash flows over recent years suggests some operational challenges.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue5.12B5.08B4.32B3.02B2.06B1.33B
Gross Profit3.05B3.02B2.56B2.47B1.97B1.12B
EBITDA1.13B1.11B1.02B1.39B1.17B657.10M
Net Income809.40M787.70M722.40M1.06B899.20M506.60M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets83.04B80.93B70.86B67.73B55.98B36.46B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments7.01B8.53B12.74B8.13B6.71B7.38B
Total Debt5.20B6.63B8.30B7.38B2.54B649.60M
Total Liabilities75.83B74.23B64.78B62.38B51.02B33.05B
Stockholders Equity6.92B6.71B6.08B5.36B4.96B3.41B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-874.80M235.90M-442.90M2.10B-2.72B643.40M
Operating Cash Flow-866.90M235.90M-328.60M2.25B-2.65B670.20M
Investing Cash Flow-3.40B-8.88B-2.16B-13.13B-14.71B-7.54B
Financing Cash Flow7.73B11.23B3.02B11.41B15.21B9.10B

Western Alliance Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price84.18
Price Trends
50DMA
73.79
Positive
100DMA
75.47
Positive
200DMA
80.95
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.92
Negative
RSI
73.68
Negative
STOCH
90.79
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For WAL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 84.18 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 75.02, above the 50-day MA of 73.79, and above the 200-day MA of 80.95, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.92 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 73.68 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 90.79 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for WAL.

Western Alliance Risk Analysis

Western Alliance disclosed 41 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Western Alliance 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

Western Alliance Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (58)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
82
Outperform
$8.72B12.8811.58%1.53%7.10%4.65%
WBWBS
79
Outperform
$9.72B13.008.59%2.77%2.69%-9.07%
CFCFR
78
Outperform
$8.64B14.7715.26%2.97%5.99%7.75%
75
Outperform
$9.07B18.917.77%0.82%8.08%-11.31%
WAWAL
74
Outperform
$8.95B11.1312.36%1.88%11.01%6.63%
CMCMA
72
Outperform
$8.19B11.8211.11%4.55%-9.81%5.22%
58
Neutral
$12.53B5.19-2.71%5.24%5.88%-56.03%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
WAL
Western Alliance
84.18
22.35
36.15%
CMA
Comerica
62.35
14.77
31.04%
CFR
Cullen/Frost Bankers
134.47
39.61
41.76%
PNFP
Pinnacle Financial Partners
117.00
40.52
52.98%
WBS
Webster Financial
57.76
16.01
38.35%
WTFC
Wintrust Financial
130.31
35.44
37.36%

Western Alliance Corporate Events

Shareholder Meetings
Western Alliance Concludes Annual Stockholders Meeting
Neutral
Jun 11, 2025

On June 11, 2025, Western Alliance held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, where 91.9% of the company’s shares were voted. During the meeting, all thirteen director nominees were elected, executive compensation was approved on a non-binding basis, and RSM US LLP was ratified as the independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.

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

Executive/Board ChangesFinancial Disclosures
Western Alliance Reappoints Kenneth Vecchione as CEO
Positive
Apr 21, 2025

Western Alliance Bancorporation announced the reappointment of Kenneth A. Vecchione as President and CEO, effective April 15, 2025, following his temporary medical leave. Dale Gibbons, who served as interim CEO, will continue as Vice Chair and CFO. The company reported solid financial results for the first quarter of 2025, with net income of $199.1 million and earnings per share of $1.79. Despite a decrease in net revenue compared to the previous quarter, the company saw growth in loans and deposits, and maintained strong asset quality and capital levels, positioning it well for future business momentum.

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: Jul 02, 2025