Columbia Financial Announces $597M Northfield Bancorp Merger and Conversion Plan for 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 6d ago
0mins
Should l Buy CLBK?
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Deal Structure & Timing: Columbia Financial is acquiring Northfield Bancorp in a transaction valued at approximately $597 million, with plans to complete the merger and a 'second-step' conversion to a fully public holding company by early Q3 2026, offering a per-share consideration of $14.25 to $14.65, with up to 30% payable in cash.
- Strategic Footprint Expansion: The merger will create a combined bank with about $18 billion in assets and over 100 branches across 14 New Jersey counties, plus Brooklyn and Staten Island, adding roughly $1.8 billion in deposits and aiming to accelerate normalized return on equity by eliminating the mutual minority discount.
- Financial Outlook & Risk Assessment: Management anticipates approximately 50% earnings accretion in 2027, with a tangible book dilution of 4.4% and an earnback period of about 1.8 years; due diligence revealed an $81 million credit mark, representing 2.1% of loans, and executives characterized the transaction as low risk due to conservative credit profiles.
- Leadership & Governance Structure: Post-merger, CEO Thomas Kemly will continue as President and CEO of the combined entity, with a board comprising 13 directors—9 from Columbia and 4 from Northfield—ensuring stability and continuity in governance.
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Analyst Views on CLBK
Wall Street analysts forecast CLBK stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CLBK is 17.00 USD with a low forecast of 17.00 USD and a high forecast of 17.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
1 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 17.980
Low
17.00
Averages
17.00
High
17.00
Current: 17.980
Low
17.00
Averages
17.00
High
17.00
About CLBK
Columbia Financial, Inc. is the holding company of Columbia Bank. Columbia Bank is a federally chartered savings bank in Fair Lawn, New Jersey that operates approximately 68 full-service banking offices and offers traditional financial services to consumers and businesses in its market area. It attracts deposits from the general public and uses those funds to originate a variety of loans, including multifamily and commercial real estate loans, commercial business loans, one-to-four family real estate loans, construction loans, home equity loans and advances, and other consumer loans.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Merger Scrutiny: The merger between Columbia Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLBK) and Northfield Bancorp, Inc. is also under investigation, with Halper Sadeh LLC possibly seeking increased compensation and additional disclosures to protect shareholder interests.
- Shareholder Rights Protection: The sale of Ventyx Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: VTYX) to Eli Lilly and Company for $14.00 per share is similarly scrutinized, with Halper Sadeh LLC encouraging shareholders to reach out to understand their legal rights and options.
- Legal Service Model: Halper Sadeh LLC operates on a contingent fee basis, allowing shareholders to seek legal remedies and potential compensation without upfront costs, demonstrating the firm's commitment to protecting investor rights.
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- Financial Performance: In the fourth quarter of 2025, Columbia's total revenue surged over threefold from the same period in 2024 to nearly $69 million, despite a substantial loss on securities transactions in the prior year, indicating a strong recovery in business operations.
- Net Income Rebound: The company's net income, in accordance with GAAP, reached just under $15.7 million, or $0.15 per share, contrasting sharply with a loss of over $21 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, showcasing the effectiveness of its strategic initiatives.
- Strategic Investment: CEO Thomas Kemly noted that these improvements reflect the company's focus on margin expansion, ongoing growth in commercial lending, and efficiency enhancements through technology, with plans to continue investing in infrastructure necessary for sustainable growth.
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- Legal Services Offered: The firm offers legal services on a contingency fee basis, meaning shareholders incur no upfront costs, aiming to recover damages and implement corporate reforms, showcasing its expertise in securities fraud cases.
See More
Columbia Financial Announces $597M Northfield Bancorp Merger and Conversion Plan for 2026
- Deal Structure & Timing: Columbia Financial is acquiring Northfield Bancorp in a transaction valued at approximately $597 million, with plans to complete the merger and a 'second-step' conversion to a fully public holding company by early Q3 2026, offering a per-share consideration of $14.25 to $14.65, with up to 30% payable in cash.
- Strategic Footprint Expansion: The merger will create a combined bank with about $18 billion in assets and over 100 branches across 14 New Jersey counties, plus Brooklyn and Staten Island, adding roughly $1.8 billion in deposits and aiming to accelerate normalized return on equity by eliminating the mutual minority discount.
- Financial Outlook & Risk Assessment: Management anticipates approximately 50% earnings accretion in 2027, with a tangible book dilution of 4.4% and an earnback period of about 1.8 years; due diligence revealed an $81 million credit mark, representing 2.1% of loans, and executives characterized the transaction as low risk due to conservative credit profiles.
- Leadership & Governance Structure: Post-merger, CEO Thomas Kemly will continue as President and CEO of the combined entity, with a board comprising 13 directors—9 from Columbia and 4 from Northfield—ensuring stability and continuity in governance.
See More
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- Shareholder Rights Protection: The firm encourages shareholders of both Coterra and Devon to reach out to understand their legal rights and options in the merger, ensuring they receive fair compensation in the transaction.
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- Acquisition Announcement: Brookfield announced plans to acquire Peakstone Realty Trust in a $1.2 billion all-cash deal, which not only enhances Brookfield's asset portfolio but also signals its strategic intent to expand further in the real estate sector.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the acquisition news, Peakstone Realty Trust's stock price surged, indicating strong investor confidence in the deal and potentially attracting additional investment into the company.
See More
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- Investigation Focus: Halper Sadeh LLC is investigating Stellar Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: STEL) regarding its sale to Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. for 0.3803 shares of Prosperity common stock and $11.36 in cash per share, potentially indicating breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders.
- Merger Scrutiny: The merger between Columbia Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLBK) and Northfield Bancorp, Inc. is also under investigation, with Halper Sadeh LLC possibly seeking increased compensation and additional disclosures to protect shareholder interests.
- Shareholder Rights Protection: The sale of Ventyx Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: VTYX) to Eli Lilly and Company for $14.00 per share is similarly scrutinized, with Halper Sadeh LLC encouraging shareholders to reach out to understand their legal rights and options.
- Legal Service Model: Halper Sadeh LLC operates on a contingent fee basis, allowing shareholders to seek legal remedies and potential compensation without upfront costs, demonstrating the firm's commitment to protecting investor rights.
See More
Columbia Financial Acquires Northfield Bancorp, Boosting Regional Presence
- Acquisition Announcement: Columbia Financial has agreed to acquire Northfield Bancorp for approximately $597 million, which will create the third-largest regional bank in New Jersey, significantly enhancing its competitive position with a combined asset total of $18 billion.
- Financial Performance: In the fourth quarter of 2025, Columbia's total revenue surged over threefold from the same period in 2024 to nearly $69 million, despite a substantial loss on securities transactions in the prior year, indicating a strong recovery in business operations.
- Net Income Rebound: The company's net income, in accordance with GAAP, reached just under $15.7 million, or $0.15 per share, contrasting sharply with a loss of over $21 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, showcasing the effectiveness of its strategic initiatives.
- Strategic Investment: CEO Thomas Kemly noted that these improvements reflect the company's focus on margin expansion, ongoing growth in commercial lending, and efficiency enhancements through technology, with plans to continue investing in infrastructure necessary for sustainable growth.
See More
Halper Sadeh LLC Investigates Multiple Companies for Securities Violations
- Investigation Focus: Halper Sadeh LLC is investigating Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE: CTRA) for its sale to Devon Energy Corporation, which involves exchanging each share of Coterra for 0.70 shares of Devon, potentially violating fiduciary duties to shareholders.
- Cash Acquisition: Peakstone Realty Trust (NYSE: PKST) is being sold to Brookfield Asset Management for $21.00 per share in cash, and the law firm may seek to negotiate increased consideration and additional disclosures for shareholders.
- Merger Scrutiny: The merger between Columbia Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLBK) and Northfield Bancorp, Inc. is also under investigation, with Halper Sadeh LLC encouraging shareholders to understand their legal rights and options.
- Legal Services Offered: The firm offers legal services on a contingency fee basis, meaning shareholders incur no upfront costs, aiming to recover damages and implement corporate reforms, showcasing its expertise in securities fraud cases.
See More
Columbia Financial Announces $597M Northfield Bancorp Merger and Conversion Plan for 2026
- Deal Structure & Timing: Columbia Financial is acquiring Northfield Bancorp in a transaction valued at approximately $597 million, with plans to complete the merger and a 'second-step' conversion to a fully public holding company by early Q3 2026, offering a per-share consideration of $14.25 to $14.65, with up to 30% payable in cash.
- Strategic Footprint Expansion: The merger will create a combined bank with about $18 billion in assets and over 100 branches across 14 New Jersey counties, plus Brooklyn and Staten Island, adding roughly $1.8 billion in deposits and aiming to accelerate normalized return on equity by eliminating the mutual minority discount.
- Financial Outlook & Risk Assessment: Management anticipates approximately 50% earnings accretion in 2027, with a tangible book dilution of 4.4% and an earnback period of about 1.8 years; due diligence revealed an $81 million credit mark, representing 2.1% of loans, and executives characterized the transaction as low risk due to conservative credit profiles.
- Leadership & Governance Structure: Post-merger, CEO Thomas Kemly will continue as President and CEO of the combined entity, with a board comprising 13 directors—9 from Columbia and 4 from Northfield—ensuring stability and continuity in governance.
See More
Halper Sadeh LLC Investigates Mergers for Shareholder Rights
- Merger Investigation: Halper Sadeh LLC is investigating the merger between Coterra Energy Inc. and Devon Energy Corporation, which involves an exchange of 0.70 shares of Devon stock for each share of Coterra, potentially violating shareholder rights.
- Shareholder Rights Protection: The firm encourages shareholders of both Coterra and Devon to reach out to understand their legal rights and options in the merger, ensuring they receive fair compensation in the transaction.
- Additional Merger Cases: Halper Sadeh is also focusing on the merger between Columbia Financial, Inc. and Northfield Bancorp, Inc., aiming to protect the rights of all involved shareholders and prevent potential violations.
- Legal Fee Arrangement: The firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning shareholders will not incur upfront legal costs, providing accessible legal support for affected investors.
See More
Brookfield to Acquire Peakstone Realty Trust for $1.2 Billion
- Market Surge: U.S. stocks rose significantly on Monday, with the Dow Jones index gaining over 350 points, indicating strong investor confidence and potentially attracting more capital into the market.
- Peakstone Realty Trust Price Surge: Shares of Peakstone Realty Trust soared 32.5% to $20.70 on Friday, reflecting positive market sentiment regarding the company's future prospects and the anticipated benefits of the acquisition.
- Acquisition Announcement: Brookfield announced plans to acquire Peakstone Realty Trust in a $1.2 billion all-cash deal, which not only enhances Brookfield's asset portfolio but also signals its strategic intent to expand further in the real estate sector.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the acquisition news, Peakstone Realty Trust's stock price surged, indicating strong investor confidence in the deal and potentially attracting additional investment into the company.
See More
