WABC
Westamerica Bancorporation
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$1.38B
5Y Perf.-7.0%
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Stock Comparison
WABC vs COLB
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
COLB
Columbia Banking System, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$7.04B
5Y Perf.+21.3%
WABC vs COLB — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | WABC | COLB |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $1.38B | $7.04B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $311M | $3.21B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $120M | $550M |
| Gross Margin | 94.3% | 67.7% |
| Operating Margin | 60.8% | 23.4% |
| Forward P/E | 12.3x | 9.7x |
| Total Debt | $138M | $4.01B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $601M | $511M |
WABC vs COLB — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
WABC
COLB
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westamerica Bancorp… (WABC) | 100 | 93.0 | -7.0% |
| Columbia Banking Sy… (COLB) | 100 | 121.3 | +21.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: WABC vs COLB
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: COLB leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Westamerica Bancorporation is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
WABC
Westamerica Bancorporation
The Banking Pick
WABC is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 27 yrs, beta 0.63, yield 3.2%
- 54.8% 10Y total return vs COLB's 51.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.63, Low D/E 15.5%, current ratio 0.39x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
COLB
Columbia Banking System, Inc.
The Banking Pick
COLB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 8.3%, EPS growth -9.8%
- 8.3% NII/revenue growth vs WABC's -5.0%
- Lower P/E (9.7x vs 12.3x)
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | COLB | 8.3% NII/revenue growth vs WABC's -5.0% |
| Value | COLB | Lower P/E (9.7x vs 12.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | WABC | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs COLB's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | WABC | Beta 0.63 vs COLB's 1.37, lower leverage |
| Dividends | COLB | 3.8% yield, vs WABC's 3.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | COLB | +32.6% vs WABC's +15.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WABC | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs COLB's 0.4% |
WABC vs COLB — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
WABC vs COLB — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLWABCLAGGINGCOLB
COLBColumbia Banking Syst…
0leads
WABCWestamerica Bancorpor…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs COLBMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
WABC4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
WABC8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
WABC2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WABC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
COLB is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.2B annually — 10.3x WABC's $311M. WABC is the more profitable business, keeping 44.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to COLB's 17.1%.
| Metric | WABCWestamerica Banco… | COLBColumbia Banking … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $311M | $3.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $171M | $895M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $120M | $550M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $123M | $724M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +94.3% | +67.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +60.8% | +23.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +44.6% | +17.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +44.9% | +22.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -14.5% | +5.9% |
WABC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — WABC and COLB each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 10.6x trailing earnings, WABC trades at a 18% valuation discount to COLB's 12.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, WABC's 4.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than COLB's 11.8x.
| Metric | WABCWestamerica Banco… | COLBColumbia Banking … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.4B | $7.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $914M | $10.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.55x | 12.85x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.34x | 9.65x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.90x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.58x | 11.76x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.43x | 2.19x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.65x | 1.12x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 9.85x | 9.97x |
Evenly matched — WABC and COLB each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WABC leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WABC delivers a 12.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $8 for COLB. WABC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.16x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to COLB's 0.51x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), COLB scores 6/9 vs WABC's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | WABCWestamerica Banco… | COLBColumbia Banking … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.9% | +8.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.0% | +0.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.1% | +5.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +21.3% | +2.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.16x | 0.51x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$463M | $3.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $601M | $511M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $138M | $4.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 11.87x | 0.82x |
WABC leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — WABC and COLB each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WABC five years ago would be worth $9,887 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,185 for COLB. Over the past 12 months, COLB leads with a +32.6% total return vs WABC's +15.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors COLB at 20.6% vs WABC's 16.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WABCWestamerica Banco… | COLBColumbia Banking … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +16.7% | +6.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +15.9% | +32.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +59.4% | +75.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -1.1% | -18.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +54.8% | +51.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.8% | +20.6% |
Evenly matched — WABC and COLB each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WABC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WABC is the less volatile stock with a 0.63 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than COLB's 1.37 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WABC currently trades 97.6% from its 52-week high vs COLB's 90.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | WABCWestamerica Banco… | COLBColumbia Banking … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.63x | 1.37x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $56.22 | $32.70 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $44.93 | $21.91 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.6% | +90.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.4 | 60.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 190K | 2.7M |
WABC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — WABC and COLB each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WABC as "Hold" and COLB as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 11.4% upside for COLB (target: $33) vs 3.9% for WABC (target: $57). For income investors, COLB offers the higher dividend yield at 3.82% vs WABC's 3.21%.
| Metric | WABCWestamerica Banco… | COLBColumbia Banking … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $57.00 | $32.92 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 19 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.2% | +3.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 27 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.76 | $1.13 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | +1.5% |
Evenly matched — WABC and COLB each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
WABC leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 3 categories are tied.
Best OverallWestamerica Bancorporation (WABC)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
WABC vs COLB: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WABC or COLB a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Columbia Banking System, Inc.
(COLB) is the stronger pick with 8. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 0% for Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC). Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC) offers the better valuation at 10. 6x trailing P/E (12. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB) a "Buy" — based on 19 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — WABC or COLB?
On trailing P/E, Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC) is the cheapest at 10.
6x versus Columbia Banking System, Inc. at 12. 9x. On forward P/E, Columbia Banking System, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WABC or COLB?
Over the past 5 years, Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC) delivered a total return of -1.
1%, compared to -18. 1% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WABC returned +54. 8% versus COLB's +51. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — WABC or COLB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
63β versus Columbia Banking System, Inc. 's 1. 37β — meaning COLB is approximately 117% more volatile than WABC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 51% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — WABC or COLB?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Columbia Banking System, Inc.
(COLB) is pulling ahead at 8. 3% versus -5. 0% for Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Columbia Banking System, Inc. grew EPS -9. 8% year-over-year, compared to -14. 2% for Westamerica Bancorporation. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — WABC or COLB?
Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC) is the more profitable company, earning 44.
6% net margin versus 17. 1% for Columbia Banking System, Inc. — meaning it keeps 44. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WABC leads at 60. 8% versus 23. 4% for COLB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WABC leads at 94. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is WABC or COLB more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Columbia Banking System, Inc.
(COLB) trades at 9. 7x forward P/E versus 12. 3x for Westamerica Bancorporation — 2. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COLB: 11. 4% to $32. 92.
08Which pays a better dividend — WABC or COLB?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Columbia Banking System, Inc. (COLB) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 3. 2% for Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC).
09Is WABC or COLB better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
63), 3. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WABC: +54. 8%, COLB: +51. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between WABC and COLB?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(WABC: -5.0% · COLB: 8.3%)Net Margin>
%
(WABC: 44.6% · COLB: 17.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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