Stephens has increased its 12-month price target for East West Bancorp (NASDAQ:EWBC) to $125.00 from $120.00 and left its rating at Equal Weight. At the stock's current level of $111.71, the new target implies about 12% upside, though it still sits below an analyst high target of $150. According to InvestingPro's Fair Value assessment cited in the firm's market data, EWBC appears slightly overvalued relative to that benchmark.
The revision follows the bank's fourth-quarter operating results, where operating earnings per share came in at $2.52. That result edged past Stephens' own estimate of $2.51 and the broader Wall Street consensus of $2.50. Pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) for the quarter was reported at $490.2 million, roughly 1.0% ahead of analyst projections.
Operationally, East West has shown meaningful top-line momentum over the last year. The company recorded 13.05% revenue growth on a trailing-twelve-month basis and delivered a 16% return on common equity. Those metrics underpin the bank's recent move to raise its quarterly common dividend by 33% to $0.80 per share, a payout increase consistent with its capital position. The firm's CET1 ratio was 15.1% in the fourth quarter.
On capital deployment, repurchases during the quarter were minimal - approximately $1 million - and East West retains $215 million of buyback authority available. InvestingPro data highlighted that EWBC has increased its dividend for eight consecutive years and currently yields 2.87% for shareholders, a point noted in the platform's Pro Research report that aggregates ProTips and analysis across more than 1,400 U.S. stocks.
Following the quarterly release, Stephens adjusted its 2026 pre-provision net revenue forecast for East West upward by 1.2%. The firm attributed the change primarily to stronger-than-expected net interest income, which was partly offset by higher operating expenses. For fiscal year 2026, East West provided guidance calling for loan growth in the 5-7% range and expense growth of 7-9%.
Stephens also observed that there could be upside to the bank's loan growth guidance if commercial real estate growth accelerates, leaving room for potential improvement in lending volumes tied to that sector. The bank's management did not quantify a revised loan-growth scenario beyond the guidance range.
Separately, recent company reporting referenced a fourth-quarter 2025 earnings release in which East West reported EPS of $2.55, above an analyst projection of $2.49. The company did not disclose specific revenue figures in that announcement, though it characterized revenue performance as strong. Those results were noted as another example of the company's ability to exceed market forecasts.
In aggregate, the data points driving Stephens' target change include modest beats to near-term operating results, an upward tweak to 2026 PPNR forecasts, a meaningful dividend increase, and capital metrics that support continued shareholder returns. At the same time, the InvestingPro Fair Value assessment and remaining buyback capacity are factors investors may consider when evaluating the stock versus the newly issued target.
What to watch next:
- Whether commercial real estate activity picks up and translates into loan growth above the 5-7% guide.
- How operating expenses trend against management's 7-9% guidance for fiscal 2026 and the impact on net margins.
- Management commentary on capital deployment priorities versus available buyback authorization.