Northfield Bancorp Merges with Columbia Financial Amid Significant Losses
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1h ago
0mins
Source: Globenewswire
- Merger Announcement: Northfield Bancorp has agreed to merge with Columbia Financial, which is expected to enhance market share and competitiveness despite facing financial challenges.
- Financial Loss: The company reported a net loss of $27.4 million for Q4 2025, translating to a loss of $0.69 per share, a stark contrast to the net income of $11.3 million in Q4 2024, primarily due to a $41 million goodwill impairment charge.
- Interest Income Growth: Despite the losses, net interest income increased by 25% year-over-year to $36.7 million, reflecting improved yields on loans and securities, demonstrating the company's adaptability in a changing interest rate environment.
- Dividend Declaration: The Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.13 per share, payable on February 25, 2026, indicating the company's commitment to shareholder returns even in adverse conditions.
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Analyst Views on CLBK
Wall Street analysts forecast CLBK stock price to rise 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: 16.320
Low
17.00
Averages
17.00
High
17.00
Current: 16.320
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.
Columbia Financial to Acquire Northfield Bancorp in $597 Million Merger
- Merger Transaction Size: Columbia Financial and Northfield Bancorp have entered into a merger agreement valued at approximately $597 million, which will result in a combined total asset base of $18 billion, making it the third-largest regional bank headquartered in New Jersey, significantly enhancing market competitiveness.
- Equity Structure Adjustment: Columbia Financial plans a second-step conversion to publicly sell the majority of MHC shares at $10 per share, which is expected to generate new capital inflows, enhancing financial flexibility and supporting future growth.
- Shareholder Equity Protection: In the merger, existing shareholders of Columbia Financial will retain their ownership percentage through an exchange ratio, while shares of Northfield will be canceled, a move aimed at protecting current shareholders' interests and facilitating post-merger integration.
- Future Earnings Expectations: Based on preliminary independent appraisal, the merger is anticipated to be 50% accretive to Columbia Financial's earnings per share in 2027, indicating that this merger will bring significant financial benefits and market expansion opportunities for the company.
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Columbia Financial to Acquire Northfield Bancorp in $597M Deal
- Transaction Size: Columbia Financial (CLBK) is set to acquire Northfield Bancorp (NFBK) for approximately $597 million, which will position it as the third-largest regional bank headquartered in New Jersey with pro forma assets of around $18 billion.
- Share Conversion Plan: Each outstanding share of Northfield will be converted into either shares of the holding company or cash based on independent valuation; if below $2.3 billion, shareholders receive 1.425 shares or $14.25 in cash, between $2.3 billion and $2.6 billion, they receive 1.450 shares or $14.50, and above $2.6 billion, 1.465 shares or $14.65, with cash conversions capped at 30% of outstanding shares.
- Board Structure: The combined company's board will include four members from Northfield's board, ensuring that Northfield's management continues to play a significant role in the merged entity, which enhances management stability post-merger.
- Earnings Outlook: Columbia Financial estimates that the merger will be 50% accretive to its 2027 earnings per share (EPS), indicating strong financial integration potential and confidence in future growth.
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