Westamerica Bancorporation (NASDAQ:WABC – Get Free Report) and Old Point Financial (NASDAQ:OPOF – Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, risk and earnings. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Westamerica Bancorporation and Old Point Financial”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Westamerica Bancorporation alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Westamerica Bancorporation $313.47 million 4.25 $161.77 million $5.92 8.44 Old Point Financial $80.50 million 1.11 $7.73 million $1.26 14.00
Westamerica Bancorporation has higher revenue and earnings than Old Point Financial. Westamerica Bancorporation is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Old Point Financial, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Insider and Institutional Ownership Analyst Recommendations 81.9% of Westamerica Bancorporation shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 33.4% of Old Point Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. 4.4% of Westamerica Bancorporation shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 21.1% of Old Point Financial shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
This is a breakdown of current ratings for Westamerica Bancorporation and Old Point Financial, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Westamerica Bancorporation 0 3 0 0 2.00 Old Point Financial 0 0 0 0 N/A Westamerica Bancorporation presently has a consensus target price of $57.00, indicating a potential upside of 14.05%. Given Westamerica Bancorporation’s higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe Westamerica Bancorporation is more favorable than Old Point Financial. Dividends Westamerica Bancorporation pays an annual dividend of $1.76 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.5%. Old Point Financial pays an annual dividend of $0.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.2%. Westamerica Bancorporation pays out 29.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Old Point Financial pays out 44.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Westamerica Bancorporation has raised its dividend for 32 consecutive years and Old Point Financial has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years. Westamerica Bancorporation is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.
This indicates that Westamerica’s stock price is less sensitive to market fluctuations compared to the broader market. The company’s low beta suggests a relatively stable and predictable investment, particularly during periods of market uncertainty. However, it’s important to note that a low beta doesn’t necessarily imply a low risk.
The company’s primary focus is on the Southwest region of the United States, with a strong presence in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas. Westamerica Bank’s services include checking accounts, savings accounts, loans, credit cards, and wealth management services. Westamerica Bancorp’s financial performance has been strong, with consistent profitability and a history of dividend payments. The company has a solid balance sheet and a strong capital position.
The bank’s history dates back to 1879 and has a strong local reputation for community involvement and personalized service. The company has expanded its reach through acquisitions and strategic partnerships. **Financial Performance:**
* Strong financial performance with consistent profitability. * Focus on community banking with a strong balance sheet. * High return on equity and assets.
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