WaFd, Inc. (WAFD) Reports $60.5M Net Income in Q1 2026, Strategic Shift to Business Banking
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1h ago
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Strategic Realignment: CEO Brent Beardall emphasized that the Build 2030 plan aims to increase noninterest-bearing deposits from the current 12.6% to 20%, enhancing the company's competitive position in business banking.
- Improved Financial Performance: CFO Kelli Holz reported net income of $60.5 million for the quarter ending December 2025, translating to $0.79 per share, reflecting improvements in both income and expenses compared to $0.72 per share in the previous quarter.
- Loan Origination Growth: The company achieved $1.1 billion in loan originations this quarter, with repayments totaling $1 billion, indicating a solid foundation for future growth despite the decrease in loans receivable.
- Share Repurchase Strategy: WaFd has repurchased 5.8 million shares over the past seven quarters at an average price of $29.45, demonstrating confidence in its value while creating shareholder value.
Analyst Views on WAFD
Wall Street analysts forecast WAFD stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for WAFD is 30.67 USD with a low forecast of 30.00 USD and a high forecast of 31.00 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.
3 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 33.730
Low
30.00
Averages
30.67
High
31.00
Current: 33.730
Low
30.00
Averages
30.67
High
31.00
About WAFD
WaFd, Inc. is a bank holding company that conducts its primary business through its subsidiary, Washington Federal Bank. Washington Federal Bank, a federally insured Washington state chartered commercial bank doing business as WaFd Bank (the Bank), is engaged in providing lending, depository, insurance, and other banking services to consumers, mid-sized to large businesses, and owners and developers of commercial real estate. The Bank's business consists primarily of accepting deposits from the public and investing these funds in loans of various types, including first-lien mortgages on single-family dwellings, construction loans, loans on multifamily, commercial real estate and other income-producing properties, home equity loans and business loans. The Bank invests in certain United States government and agency obligations and other investments. The Bank has approximately 208 branches located in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.
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.
