WaFd (WAFD) Competitors

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$37.78 -0.23 (-0.59%)
As of 03:34 PM Eastern
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WAFD vs. ABCB, CATY, FFBC, FULT, and HWC

Should you buy WaFd stock or one of its competitors? MarketBeat compares WaFd with other companies and stocks that may be similar based on industry, sector, market capitalization, business model, investor interest, or shared news coverage. Companies and stocks commonly compared with WaFd include Ameris Bancorp (ABCB), Cathay General Bancorp (CATY), First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC), Fulton Financial (FULT), and Hancock Whitney (HWC). These companies are all part of the "finance" sector.

How does WaFd compare to Ameris Bancorp?

Ameris Bancorp (NASDAQ:ABCB) and WaFd (NASDAQ:WAFD) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, valuation, media sentiment, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership and risk.

In the previous week, WaFd had 2 more articles in the media than Ameris Bancorp. MarketBeat recorded 5 mentions for WaFd and 3 mentions for Ameris Bancorp. Ameris Bancorp's average media sentiment score of 0.73 beat WaFd's score of -0.23 indicating that Ameris Bancorp is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Overall Sentiment
Ameris Bancorp Positive
WaFd Neutral

Ameris Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $0.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. WaFd pays an annual dividend of $1.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Ameris Bancorp pays out 12.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. WaFd pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. WaFd has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years. WaFd is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Ameris Bancorp has a net margin of 21.46% compared to WaFd's net margin of 18.25%. Ameris Bancorp's return on equity of 9.57% beat WaFd's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Ameris Bancorp21.46% 9.57% 1.32%
WaFd 18.25%8.94%0.90%

Ameris Bancorp presently has a consensus price target of $92.17, suggesting a potential upside of 1.99%. WaFd has a consensus price target of $34.80, suggesting a potential downside of 7.90%. Given Ameris Bancorp's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Ameris Bancorp is more favorable than WaFd.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Ameris Bancorp
0 Sell rating(s)
2 Hold rating(s)
5 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.71
WaFd
0 Sell rating(s)
5 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.17

91.6% of Ameris Bancorp shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 83.7% of WaFd shares are held by institutional investors. 5.7% of Ameris Bancorp shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.5% of WaFd shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Ameris Bancorp has higher earnings, but lower revenue than WaFd. WaFd is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ameris Bancorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Ameris Bancorp$1.20B5.06$358.68M$6.3614.21
WaFd$1.41B1.98$226.07M$3.0612.35

Ameris Bancorp has a beta of 0.91, indicating that its stock price is 9% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, WaFd has a beta of 0.84, indicating that its stock price is 16% less volatile than the broader market.

Summary

Ameris Bancorp beats WaFd on 15 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does WaFd compare to Cathay General Bancorp?

WaFd (NASDAQ:WAFD) and Cathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ:CATY) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, media sentiment, institutional ownership, earnings and profitability.

WaFd currently has a consensus target price of $34.80, suggesting a potential downside of 7.90%. Cathay General Bancorp has a consensus target price of $51.75, suggesting a potential downside of 16.01%. Given WaFd's higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe WaFd is more favorable than Cathay General Bancorp.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
WaFd
0 Sell rating(s)
5 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.17
Cathay General Bancorp
1 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.33

Cathay General Bancorp has lower revenue, but higher earnings than WaFd. WaFd is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Cathay General Bancorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
WaFd$1.41B1.98$226.07M$3.0612.35
Cathay General Bancorp$844.88M4.89$315.12M$4.8512.70

83.7% of WaFd shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.0% of Cathay General Bancorp shares are held by institutional investors. 1.5% of WaFd shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 4.5% of Cathay General Bancorp shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

In the previous week, WaFd had 1 more articles in the media than Cathay General Bancorp. MarketBeat recorded 5 mentions for WaFd and 4 mentions for Cathay General Bancorp. Cathay General Bancorp's average media sentiment score of 1.15 beat WaFd's score of -0.23 indicating that Cathay General Bancorp is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Overall Sentiment
WaFd Neutral
Cathay General Bancorp Positive

WaFd has a beta of 0.84, meaning that its stock price is 16% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Cathay General Bancorp has a beta of 0.86, meaning that its stock price is 14% less volatile than the broader market.

WaFd pays an annual dividend of $1.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Cathay General Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $1.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. WaFd pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Cathay General Bancorp pays out 31.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. WaFd has raised its dividend for 2 consecutive years. WaFd is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Cathay General Bancorp has a net margin of 23.79% compared to WaFd's net margin of 18.25%. Cathay General Bancorp's return on equity of 11.37% beat WaFd's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
WaFd18.25% 8.94% 0.90%
Cathay General Bancorp 23.79%11.37%1.38%

Summary

Cathay General Bancorp beats WaFd on 13 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does WaFd compare to First Financial Bancorp.?

WaFd (NASDAQ:WAFD) and First Financial Bancorp. (NASDAQ:FFBC) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation, profitability, risk, earnings, institutional ownership and media sentiment.

WaFd presently has a consensus target price of $34.80, indicating a potential downside of 7.90%. First Financial Bancorp. has a consensus target price of $33.00, indicating a potential downside of 1.52%. Given First Financial Bancorp.'s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe First Financial Bancorp. is more favorable than WaFd.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
WaFd
0 Sell rating(s)
5 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.17
First Financial Bancorp.
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.50

In the previous week, WaFd had 2 more articles in the media than First Financial Bancorp.. MarketBeat recorded 5 mentions for WaFd and 3 mentions for First Financial Bancorp.. First Financial Bancorp.'s average media sentiment score of 1.18 beat WaFd's score of -0.23 indicating that First Financial Bancorp. is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Overall Sentiment
WaFd Neutral
First Financial Bancorp. Positive

First Financial Bancorp. has lower revenue, but higher earnings than WaFd. First Financial Bancorp. is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than WaFd, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
WaFd$1.41B1.98$226.07M$3.0612.35
First Financial Bancorp.$1.26B2.79$255.60M$2.8311.84

First Financial Bancorp. has a net margin of 20.92% compared to WaFd's net margin of 18.25%. First Financial Bancorp.'s return on equity of 11.09% beat WaFd's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
WaFd18.25% 8.94% 0.90%
First Financial Bancorp. 20.92%11.09%1.49%

WaFd pays an annual dividend of $1.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. First Financial Bancorp. pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. WaFd pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. First Financial Bancorp. pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. WaFd has raised its dividend for 2 consecutive years and First Financial Bancorp. has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

83.7% of WaFd shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.2% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.5% of WaFd shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

WaFd has a beta of 0.84, suggesting that its stock price is 16% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, First Financial Bancorp. has a beta of 0.93, suggesting that its stock price is 7% less volatile than the broader market.

Summary

First Financial Bancorp. beats WaFd on 11 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does WaFd compare to Fulton Financial?

WaFd (NASDAQ:WAFD) and Fulton Financial (NASDAQ:FULT) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, media sentiment, valuation, earnings, institutional ownership and dividends.

Fulton Financial has lower revenue, but higher earnings than WaFd. Fulton Financial is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than WaFd, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
WaFd$1.41B1.98$226.07M$3.0612.35
Fulton Financial$1.33B3.49$391.61M$2.1011.53

In the previous week, WaFd had 3 more articles in the media than Fulton Financial. MarketBeat recorded 5 mentions for WaFd and 2 mentions for Fulton Financial. Fulton Financial's average media sentiment score of 0.96 beat WaFd's score of -0.23 indicating that Fulton Financial is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Overall Sentiment
WaFd Neutral
Fulton Financial Positive

Fulton Financial has a net margin of 20.85% compared to WaFd's net margin of 18.25%. Fulton Financial's return on equity of 12.69% beat WaFd's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
WaFd18.25% 8.94% 0.90%
Fulton Financial 20.85%12.69%1.28%

WaFd has a beta of 0.84, meaning that its stock price is 16% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Fulton Financial has a beta of 0.8, meaning that its stock price is 20% less volatile than the broader market.

WaFd pays an annual dividend of $1.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Fulton Financial pays an annual dividend of $0.76 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. WaFd pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Fulton Financial pays out 36.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. WaFd has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years and Fulton Financial has increased its dividend for 4 consecutive years. Fulton Financial is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

WaFd currently has a consensus target price of $34.80, indicating a potential downside of 7.90%. Fulton Financial has a consensus target price of $23.00, indicating a potential downside of 5.02%. Given Fulton Financial's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Fulton Financial is more favorable than WaFd.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
WaFd
0 Sell rating(s)
5 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.17
Fulton Financial
0 Sell rating(s)
5 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.29

83.7% of WaFd shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 72.0% of Fulton Financial shares are held by institutional investors. 1.5% of WaFd shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.0% of Fulton Financial shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Fulton Financial beats WaFd on 11 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does WaFd compare to Hancock Whitney?

WaFd (NASDAQ:WAFD) and Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:HWC) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, profitability, dividends, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership and media sentiment.

In the previous week, WaFd had 1 more articles in the media than Hancock Whitney. MarketBeat recorded 5 mentions for WaFd and 4 mentions for Hancock Whitney. Hancock Whitney's average media sentiment score of 0.62 beat WaFd's score of -0.23 indicating that Hancock Whitney is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Overall Sentiment
WaFd Neutral
Hancock Whitney Positive

83.7% of WaFd shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 81.2% of Hancock Whitney shares are held by institutional investors. 1.5% of WaFd shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.9% of Hancock Whitney shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Hancock Whitney has a net margin of 21.34% compared to WaFd's net margin of 18.25%. Hancock Whitney's return on equity of 11.20% beat WaFd's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
WaFd18.25% 8.94% 0.90%
Hancock Whitney 21.34%11.20%1.40%

WaFd has a beta of 0.84, meaning that its stock price is 16% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Hancock Whitney has a beta of 0.95, meaning that its stock price is 5% less volatile than the broader market.

WaFd presently has a consensus price target of $34.80, indicating a potential downside of 7.90%. Hancock Whitney has a consensus price target of $79.25, indicating a potential upside of 6.88%. Given Hancock Whitney's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Hancock Whitney is more favorable than WaFd.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
WaFd
0 Sell rating(s)
5 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.17
Hancock Whitney
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
2 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.80

WaFd pays an annual dividend of $1.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Hancock Whitney pays an annual dividend of $2.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. WaFd pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Hancock Whitney pays out 41.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. WaFd has raised its dividend for 2 consecutive years and Hancock Whitney has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years. WaFd is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Hancock Whitney has higher revenue and earnings than WaFd. WaFd is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Hancock Whitney, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
WaFd$1.41B1.98$226.07M$3.0612.35
Hancock Whitney$2.02B2.98$486.07M$4.8715.23

Summary

Hancock Whitney beats WaFd on 15 of the 20 factors compared between the two stocks.

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Media Sentiment Over Time

This chart shows the average media sentiment of NASDAQ and its competitors over the past 90 days as caculated by MarketBeat. The averaged score is equivalent to the following: Very Negative Sentiment <= -1.5, Negative Sentiment > -1.5 and <= -0.5, Neutral Sentiment > -0.5 and < 0.5, Positive Sentiment >= 0.5 and < 1.5, and Very Positive Sentiment >= 1.5.
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WAFD vs. The Competition

MetricWaFdBANKS IndustryFinance SectorNASDAQ Exchange
Market Cap$2.79B$2.45B$13.83B$12.18B
Dividend Yield2.86%2.99%5.73%5.90%
P/E Ratio12.3512.6820.3224.03
Price / Sales1.983.60132.5099.66
Price / Cash12.2412.1719.3453.91
Price / Book1.091.372.246.31
Net Income$226.07M$182.95M$1.14B$337.69M
7 Day Performance3.58%1.54%0.41%-0.94%
1 Month Performance5.08%0.77%0.86%-0.31%
1 Year Performance28.17%22.78%14.60%25.81%

WaFd Competitors List

CompanyMarketRankShare PriceAnalysts' Price Target1Y Price PerformanceMarket CapRevenueP/E RatioEmployee CountIndicator(s)
WAFD
WaFd
2.2347 of 5 stars
$37.79
-0.6%
$34.80
-7.9%
+31.6%$2.79B$1.41B12.352,037
ABCB
Ameris Bancorp
3.4062 of 5 stars
$88.07
+0.8%
$90.17
+2.4%
+43.1%$5.93B$1.20B16.902,850
CATY
Cathay General Bancorp
2.8111 of 5 stars
$60.58
+1.0%
$51.75
-14.6%
+38.3%$4.06B$844.88M12.491,268
FFBC
First Financial Bancorp.
3.3987 of 5 stars
$32.39
+1.4%
$33.00
+1.9%
+39.1%$3.40B$1.26B11.452,199
FULT
Fulton Financial
2.5703 of 5 stars
$23.36
+1.3%
$23.00
-1.5%
+36.5%$4.46B$1.33B11.113,400

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This page (NASDAQ:WAFD) was last updated on 6/26/2026 by MarketBeat.com Staff.
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