Capital generation remains robust with $357.8 million in 2026Q1 net income, supporting a balanced capital return strategy that included $114.0 million in dividend distributions.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 | Dec'00 | Dec'99 | Dec'98 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 1.65B | 1.5B | 1.41B | 1.42B | 2.07B | 1.17B | 692.64M | 733.14M | 883.17M | 703.27M | 650.18M | 469.62M | 392.9M | 425.85M | 287.53M | 255.32M | 869.2M | 155.28M | 182.42M | 223.53M | 121.47M | 144.19M | 87.48M | 73.75M | 32M | 67.62M | 23.19M | 39.6M | 15.1M |
| Operating CF Growth % | 64.43% | 6.38% | -0.93% | -31.03% | 76.82% | 68.69% | -5.52% | -16.99% | 25.58% | 8.17% | 38.45% | 19.53% | -7.74% | 48.11% | 12.62% | -70.63% | 459.78% | -14.88% | -18.39% | 84.02% | -15.76% | 64.82% | 18.62% | 130.5% | -52.68% | 191.57% | -41.43% | 162.25% | - |
| Net Income | 1.39B | 1.33B | 1.17B | 1.16B | 1.13B | 872.98M | 567.8M | 674.03M | 703.7M | 505.62M | 431.68M | 384.68M | 345.88M | 293.32M | 281.65M | 245.23M | 164.56M | 76.64M | -49.68M | 161.17M | 143.37M | 108.38M | 78.02M | 58.99M | 49.49M | 38.78M | 35.47M | 28M | 18M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 352.11M | 213.16M | 198.45M | 163.46M | 159.85M | 156.79M | 119.91M | 144.18M | 139.5M | 149.82M | 137.58M | 88.73M | 117.48M | 79.87M | 82.54M | 67.46M | 57.59M | 81.9M | 18.1M | 13.87M | 7.89M | 10.33M | 11.46M | 12.14M | 10.45M | 9.45M | 8.75M | 4.1M | 4.6M |
| Deferred Taxes | -50.67M | -7.78M | -14.28M | -49.14M | -43.99M | 4.76M | -41.52M | -21.6M | -16.47M | 33.86M | 26.97M | 261.21M | -147.87M | -42.84M | -12.65M | 189.5M | 12.38M | 127.13M | -83.64M | -17.5M | -14.47M | -10.98M | -1.99M | -3.24M | -5.52M | 2.15M | -794K | -2.5M | -1.7M |
| Other Non-Cash Items | -677.6M | 160.21M | 195.08M | 150.53M | 135.58M | 40.18M | 221.52M | 72.27M | -1.77M | -54.07M | -6.7M | -181.24M | 191.14M | -29M | -56.7M | 120.36M | 381.62M | 47.52M | 291.26M | -4.28M | -5.65M | 16.75M | 16.74M | 8.99M | 10.56M | 5.97M | 3.35M | 10.3M | 5.2M |
| Working Capital Changes | -822.05M | -265.28M | -178.7M | -40.97M | 648.9M | 61.14M | -204.31M | -166.49M | 27.28M | 43.39M | 38.56M | -100.26M | -127.62M | 110.93M | -19.98M | -380.78M | 244.28M | -183.46M | 214K | 70.27M | -9.67M | 19.71M | -16.74M | -3.13M | -32.99M | 11.27M | -23.58M | -300K | -11M |
| Cash from Investing | -5.7B | -5.48B | -6.3B | -4.25B | -4.58B | -9.12B | -6.87B | -2.59B | -3.83B | -2.51B | -1.8B | -3.63B | -2.36B | -2.73B | -758.9M | -1.07B | 93.23M | 1.46B | -132.68M | -518.9M | -1.52B | -1.22B | -1.76B | -742.75M | -397.62M | -71.92M | -116.66M | -231.6M | -503.8M |
| Purchase of Investments | -10.27B | -7.29B | -7.6B | -1.55B | -1.12B | -6.78B | -4.76B | -2.3B | -888.67M | -828.6M | -2.4B | -3.55B | -960.13M | -1.32B | -2.2B | -2.75B | -4.25B | -2.56B | -2.93B | -998.86M | -1.93B | -508.72M | -495.54M | -232.66M | -451.29M | -196.31M | -46.19M | -420.6M | -902.1M |
| Sale/Maturity of Investments | 5.74B | 4.9B | 3.03B | 1.54B | 1.1B | 2.07B | 2.6B | 1.78B | 1.11B | 1.25B | 2.78B | 2.4B | 1.18B | 1.22B | 2.35B | 2.57B | 4.01B | 3.13B | 2.42B | 1.84B | 1.86B | 449.12M | 443.89M | 303.01M | 720K | 176.23M | 156.65M | 594.8M | 612.2M |
| Net Investment Activity | -4.52B | -2.39B | -4.57B | -14.14M | -19.07M | -4.7B | -2.16B | -521.21M | 217.73M | 417.83M | 382.57M | -1.14B | 218.3M | -100.23M | 151.03M | -175.84M | -241.48M | 572.24M | -510.33M | 838.31M | -72.31M | -59.6M | -51.65M | 70.36M | -450.57M | -20.08M | 110.45M | 174.2M | -289.9M |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -503.69M | 3.63M | 0 | 0 | 138.47M | 0 | 0 | -29.54M | 67.19M | 599.04M | -1.18M | -7.34M | 98.35M | 0 | 16.46M | 3.71M | 0 | 0 | 549K | 0 | 0 |
| Other Investing | -1.07B | -3.09B | -1.73B | -4.23B | -4.56B | -4.41B | -4.71B | -2.06B | -3.53B | -2.91B | -2.17B | -2.48B | -2.7B | -2.55B | -899.66M | -855.34M | 358.46M | 287.93M | 382.52M | -1.34B | -1.54B | -1.15B | -1.72B | -813.33M | 54.35M | -46.89M | -224.04M | -404.3M | -212.5M |
| Cash from Financing | 5.02B | 2.9B | 5.53B | 3.96B | 2.11B | 7.84B | 6.91B | 2.13B | 3.8B | 2.07B | 1.68B | 3.49B | 2.11B | 1.88B | 364.2M | 914.21M | -729.67M | -1.39B | 668.77M | 263.16M | 1.44B | 1.14B | 1.62B | 515.31M | 436.56M | 165.59M | 113.02M | 74.4M | 302.3M |
| Dividends Paid | -362.1M | -334.04M | -308.48M | -274.55M | -228.38M | -188.76M | -158.22M | -155.11M | -125.99M | -116.82M | -115.83M | -115.64M | -103.62M | -86.29M | -64.22M | -30.68M | -29.61M | -29.66M | -33.41M | -24.6M | -11.97M | -10.71M | -10.09M | -9.62M | -6.38M | -2.78M | -2.7M | -2.7M | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | -154.28M | -115.59M | -157.96M | -105.92M | -119.08M | -15.7M | -154.22M | -14.63M | -15.63M | -12.94M | -3.23M | -5.96M | -10.33M | -213.82M | -202.96M | -649K | -306.55M | -20.75M | -306K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock Issued | 1.49M | 3.21M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.38M | 2.85M | 2.28M | 2.08M | 2.83M | 6.79M | 3.05M | 3.82M | 5.73M | 4.45M | 273.73M | 2.78M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Stock Activity | -152.79M | -112.38M | -157.96M | -105.92M | -119.08M | -15.7M | -154.22M | -11.25M | -12.79M | -10.66M | -1.14M | -3.13M | -3.53M | -210.77M | -199.14M | 5.08M | -302.09M | 252.98M | 2.47M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Debt Issuance (Net) | 0 | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K |
| Other Financing | 5.59B | 3.84B | 7.11B | -156.2M | 2.71B | 8.47B | 7.33B | 1.91B | 3.91B | 2.27B | 2.46B | 2.93B | 2.27B | 2.11B | 860.63M | 1.8B | 258.06M | 325.21M | 862.63M | -455.42M | 259.57M | 870.91M | 1.02B | 251.41M | 508.38M | 371.34M | 276.6M | 208.3M | 57.9M |
| Net Change in Cash | -2.53B | 269.08M | 635.76M | 1.13B | -431.15M | -105.04M | 756.82M | 259.77M | 826.78M | 296.09M | 517.62M | 321M | 144.06M | -427.29M | -108.08M | 97.24M | 234.87M | 220.23M | 718.51M | -32.21M | 41.37M | 58.12M | -48.51M | -153.68M | 70.94M | 161.29M | 19.55M | -117.6M | -347.6M |
| Exchange Rate Effect | -3.51B | 1.35B | -8.23M | -7M | -28.49M | 8.7M | 29.01M | -6.38M | -24.78M | 31.18M | -11.94M | -11.05M | 0 | 0 | -900K | -1.07M | 2.11M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash at Beginning | 4.19B | 394.92M | 4.61B | 3.48B | 3.91B | 4.02B | 3.26B | 3B | 2.17B | 1.88B | 1.36B | 1.04B | 895.82M | 1.32B | 1.43B | 1.33B | 1.1B | 878.85M | 160.35M | 192.56M | 151.19M | 93.08M | 141.59M | 295.27M | 224.33M | 63.05M | 43.5M | 161.1M | 347.6M |
| Cash at End | 4.44B | 664M | 5.25B | 4.61B | 3.48B | 3.91B | 4.02B | 3.26B | 3B | 2.17B | 1.88B | 1.36B | 1.04B | 895.82M | 1.32B | 1.43B | 1.33B | 1.1B | 878.85M | 160.35M | 192.56M | 151.19M | 93.08M | 141.59M | 295.27M | 224.33M | 63.05M | 43.5M | 649.9M |
| Interest Paid | 1.7B | 1.74B | 2.06B | 1.21B | 249.59M | 87.68M | 233.14M | 418.84M | 253.03M | 138.77M | 104.25M | 105.83M | 112.69M | 112.17M | 136.76M | 175.77M | 206.71M | 230.67M | 301.74M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Income Taxes Paid | 274.23M | 278.18M | 246.94M | 291.69M | 281.27M | 139.46M | 116.42M | 158.3M | 85.87M | 98.13M | 39.48M | 0 | 321.18M | 142.98M | 183.4M | 326.73M | 60.62M | 21.18M | 38.94M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Free Cash Flow | 1.55B | 1.5B | 1.41B | 1.42B | 2.07B | 1.16B | 690.67M | 725.97M | 869.38M | 683.15M | 638M | 463.07M | 392.9M | 337.74M | 277.25M | 244.81M | 778.26M | 155.1M | 178.73M | 218.3M | 112.81M | 131.63M | 82.55M | 70.26M | 30.59M | 62.67M | 19.58M | 38.1M | 13.7M |
| FCF Growth % | 9.14% | 6.38% | -0.93% | -31.01% | 77.67% | 68.3% | -4.86% | -16.5% | 27.26% | 7.08% | 37.78% | 17.86% | 16.33% | 21.82% | 13.25% | -68.54% | 401.8% | -13.22% | -18.13% | 93.51% | -14.3% | 59.46% | 17.48% | 129.67% | -51.19% | 220.16% | -48.62% | 178.1% | - |
Geopolitical and CRE concentration
According to recent SEC filings, East West Bancorp has demonstrated consistent organic capital generation, with net income reaching $357.8 million in 2026Q1, providing a stable foundation for regulatory capital buffers despite the inherent volatility of its specialized cross-border commercial lending activities and broader macroeconomic interest rate fluctuations.
The bank's ability to generate steady net income suggests that its core commercial banking franchise remains resilient against competitive pressures. This internal capital generation appears sufficient to support ongoing loan growth while maintaining the conservative leverage profile that has historically defined the institution's balance sheet management.
As reported in financial statements, EWBC's investment activity shows significant quarterly variance, with purchases reaching $5.8 billion in 2025Q4, indicating that management actively adjusts the securities portfolio to manage liquidity and interest rate risk in response to shifting Federal Reserve policy and evolving deposit funding requirements.
The frequent rotation between large-scale purchases and sales suggests a proactive approach to duration management rather than a passive hold-to-maturity strategy. Investors should monitor whether these portfolio adjustments are effectively insulating the net interest margin from the volatility observed in the broader interest rate environment.
Based on EWBC's reported figures, the bank has maintained a consistent dividend payout, with $114.0 million distributed in 2026Q1, while simultaneously utilizing share repurchases as a flexible tool to manage excess capital, reflecting a balanced approach to shareholder returns that prioritizes long-term balance sheet stability over aggressive buybacks.
The fluctuation in share repurchases, which peaked at $122.9 million in 2026Q1, suggests that management remains opportunistic regarding valuation rather than committed to a rigid buyback schedule. This disciplined capital allocation appears to align with the bank's conservative risk appetite and its need to preserve capital for potential credit-related contingencies.
Data from the most recent financial disclosures reveals that East West Bancorp's provision for loan losses reached $36.0 million in 2026Q1, indicating a cautious stance toward credit risk as the bank navigates potential softening in its California-centric commercial real estate portfolio and cross-border trade finance exposures.
The variability in provisioning levels suggests that management is actively adjusting its reserve buffers to account for specific sector-level risks rather than relying on a static model. This proactive provisioning appears to be a critical component of the bank's strategy to maintain asset quality during periods of heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying EWBC stock.
East West Bancorp, Inc. (EWBC) generated $1.50B in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
East West Bancorp, Inc. (EWBC) generated $1.50B in free cash flow in 2025. Free cash flow is the cash left over after capital expenditures, which can be used to pay dividends, repurchase shares, or pay down debt.
East West Bancorp, Inc. (EWBC) spent $0.0M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.
In 2025, East West Bancorp, Inc. (EWBC) returned $334.0M to shareholders via cash dividends and spent $115.6M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.