ECB Bancorp, Inc. (ECBK)
Valuation Overview•Is ECB Bancorp, Inc. Overvalued or Undervalued?
Commands a premium valuation multiple over its peers, likely pricing in superior execution.
Fragile underlying quality score of 41/100; weak margins or elevated debt leverage warrant caution.
Wall Street forecasts a balanced outlook with consensus price targets near the current price.
Verdict: Average quality business weighed down by significant solvency concerns.
Wall Street sentiment is generally neutral. This is paired with healthy capital returns, driven predominantly by aggressive share repurchases.
Returns capital exclusively via buybacks — no active dividend
ECBK struggles with subpar profitability and pressured margins. However, this is severely offset by a highly leveraged balance sheet (Debt/EBITDA > 4.0x) and elevated financial risk.
The company maintains stable top-line performance paired with highly explosive earnings growth (43.2% EPS 3Y CAGR). Operating efficiency remains adequate with margins around 13.1%.
| Financial Metric | Trend (12Q) | Latest Qtr | 1Y Growth | 3Y CAGR | 5Y CAGR | 10Y CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $21.4M | +16.5% | — | — | — | |
| EBITDA | $3.6M | — | +39.8% | — | — | |
| Net Income | $2.6M | +94.7% | +41.9% | — | — | |
| EPS (Diluted) | $0.31 | +95.8% | +43.2% | +18.6% | — | |
| Free Cash Flow | $3.9M | +44.4% | +6.0% | +12.6% | — |
| Metric | TTM | 3Y Avg | 5Y Avg | 10Y Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 39.9% | 41.0% | 55.6% | 58.7% |
| Operating Margin | 13.1% | 10.5% | 13.3% | 15.8% |
| Net Margin | 9.8% | 7.9% | 9.9% | 11.8% |
| FCF Margin | 11.3% | 10.5% | 16.6% | 17.5% |
| Quarter | EPS Est. | EPS Act. | Surprise | EPS | Rev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2'26Latest | — | $0.38 | — | ||
| Q2'26 | — | $0.39 | — | ||
| Q2'26 | — | $0.39 | — | ||
| Q1'26 | — | $0.31 | — | ||
| Q4'25 | — | $0.29 | — | ||
| Q3'25 | — | $0.17 | — | ||
| Q2'25 | — | $0.16 | — | ||
| Q1'25 | — | $0.17 | — |
Total return is +34.3% (1Y), outperforming the benchmark by +9.3%
| Period | Total Return | vs S&P 500 (Alpha) | Dividend Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD | +17.3% | +8.0% | — |
| 1Y | +34.3% | +9.3% | — |
| 3YCAGR | +15.9% | -6.0% | — |
| 5YCAGR | +7.6% | -6.2% | — |
| 10YCAGR | +3.7% | -10.6% | — |
The S&P 500 is at 31.3x trailing P/E — Expensive relative to historical averages.
Quick answers to common questions about ECB Bancorp, Inc. (ECBK) valuation, health, and returns.
Based on peer relative multiples, ECB Bancorp, Inc. appears Slightly expensive versus peers compared to industry peers.
ECB Bancorp, Inc. has multiple valuation anchors: Peer Relative Fair Value: $17.22. A convergence of these signals offers higher conviction.
ECB Bancorp, Inc. displays fair financial health with a composite quality score of 41/100, supported by a Piotroski F-Score of 7/9, Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 1.8%.
ECB Bancorp, Inc. returns capital via buybacks instead of dividends, carrying a 2.6% buyback yield and reducing outstanding shares by -0.4% in the last 12 months.
ECB Bancorp, Inc.'s current growth trajectory is Decelerating. The company achieved +16.5% 1Y revenue growth and +95.8% 1Y EPS growth, compared to its 3Y revenue CAGR of N/A.
Wall Street consensus is Hold based on 0 analysts. The consensus price target represents a N/A change from current levels.
Investment risks for ECB Bancorp, Inc. include: -13.9% 1-year max drawdown. Volatility risk is characterized by a beta of 0.45x.
No. These computations are purely quantitative model outputs for informational purposes. They do not account for qualitative management shifts or macro events. Always consult a licensed RIA before buying or selling shares.
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. All valuation models, scores, and target estimates are automated computations under stated assumptions and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for any investment decision.