Columbia Financial (CLBK) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $1.63B
• Dividend Yield: N/A
• Average Volume (3M): 119.95K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 258.1
• Beta (1Y): 0.77
• Revenue Growth: -0.90%
• EPS Growth: -67.89%
• Country: US
• Employees: 708
• Sector: Financial
• Sector Strength: 70
• Industry: Banks - Regional
• EPS (TTM): 0.12
• Shares Outstanding: 104,927,140
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 161,908
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 119,953
• PEG Ratio: 1.05
• Price to Book (P/B): 1.49
• Price to Sales (P/S): 3.55
• P/FCF Ratio: 62.13
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.55
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 5.45
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 13.46
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 106.38
• 1Y Price Target: $15.50
• Price Target Upside: -0.06% Downside
• Rating Consensus: Hold
• Number of Analyst Covering: 1

• Rating: 58 Neutral
• Price Target: $15.50 ▼(-0.06% Downside)

Columbia Financial's overall stock score reflects strong revenue growth but significant challenges in profitability and cash flow generation. The technical analysis shows a positive trend, but the extremely high P/E ratio suggests overvaluation. The recent COO departure adds uncertainty to the company's strategic direction.

Columbia Financial Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Columbia Financial, Inc., a bank holding company, provides financial services to businesses and consumers in the United States. The company offers non-interest-bearing demand deposits, such as individual and commercial checking accounts; interest bearing demand accounts comprising interest earning checking accounts and municipal accounts; and savings and club accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. It also provides loans, including multifamily and commercial real estate loans, commercial business loans, one-to-four family residential loans, construction loans, home equity loans and advances, and other consumer loans that include automobiles and personal loans, as well as unsecured and overdraft lines of credit. In addition, the company offers title insurance products; wealth management services; and cash management services, including remote deposit, lockbox service, and sweep accounts. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 62 full-service banking offices in 12 of New Jersey's 21 counties; and 2 branch offices in Freehold, New Jersey. The company was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Columbia Financial, Inc. is a subsidiary of Columbia Bank MHC.

How the Company Makes Money

Columbia Financial generates revenue primarily through interest income from loans and securities, as well as non-interest income from various fees and services. The company earns interest income by lending to consumers and businesses, which includes mortgages, commercial loans, and personal loans. Additionally, it invests in securities that yield interest. Non-interest income comes from service fees on deposit accounts, transaction fees, wealth management services, and other financial products. Significant partnerships with local businesses and community organizations enhance their service offerings and customer reach, contributing to overall earnings through increased loan origination and deposit growth. The bank's focus on customer service and community engagement further drives customer retention and acquisition, bolstering its revenue streams.

Columbia Financial Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Columbia Financial shows strong revenue growth but struggles with profitability and cash flow generation. The high leverage on the balance sheet poses potential risks, especially in a rising interest rate environment. While the company has managed to grow its top line significantly, translating this growth into sustainable profits and cash flow remains a challenge.

Income Statement

Columbia Financial's income statement shows a mixed performance. The TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) data indicates a significant revenue growth rate of 91.7%, suggesting strong top-line expansion. However, profitability metrics such as the net profit margin (1.33%) and EBIT margin (1.96%) are relatively low, indicating challenges in converting revenue growth into profits. The gross profit margin has improved to 40.53% from the previous year, showing better cost management. Overall, while revenue growth is impressive, profitability remains a concern.

Balance Sheet

The balance sheet reflects a stable yet leveraged financial position. The debt-to-equity ratio stands at 1.14, indicating a high level of leverage, which could pose risks if interest rates rise or earnings decline. Return on equity (ROE) is low at 0.56%, suggesting inefficient use of equity capital. The equity ratio is not explicitly calculated, but the high debt levels suggest a lower proportion of equity financing. While the company maintains a solid asset base, the high leverage and low ROE are areas of concern.

Cash Flow

Cash flow analysis reveals challenges in cash generation. The free cash flow growth rate is negative at -47.89%, indicating a decline in cash available for reinvestment or debt repayment. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is low at 0.17, suggesting limited cash conversion from earnings. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 34.02%, which is moderate but reflects a decline from previous periods. Overall, the cash flow position indicates potential liquidity constraints and the need for improved cash management.

Breakdown	TTM	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	462.07M	453.32M	422.36M	340.07M	308.98M	326.21M
Gross Profit	187.26M	165.43M	228.47M	291.69M	281.92M	234.40M
EBITDA	23.69M	-1.35M	60.32M	130.23M	137.82M	86.62M
Net Income	6.17M	-11.65M	36.09M	86.17M	92.05M	57.60M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	10.74B	10.48B	10.65B	10.41B	9.22B	8.80B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	248.22M	438.89M	1.52B	1.51B	1.77B	1.74B
Total Debt	1.27B	1.10B	1.53B	1.13B	377.31M	799.36M
Total Liabilities	9.62B	9.40B	9.61B	9.35B	8.15B	7.79B
Stockholders Equity	1.12B	1.08B	1.04B	1.05B	1.08B	1.01B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	4.65M	25.88M	33.08M	134.95M	93.21M	44.42M
Operating Cash Flow	13.67M	33.32M	40.72M	142.16M	98.70M	49.04M
Investing Cash Flow	-96.56M	39.47M	39.65M	-614.73M	-443.61M	257.64M
Financing Cash Flow	-60.00M	-206.81M	163.66M	580.83M	-7.09M	40.72M

Columbia Financial Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Positive
• Last Price: 15.51
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Positive
• 200DMA: Positive
• MACD: Negative
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CLBK, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 15.51 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 15.22, above the 50-day MA of 14.81, and above the 200-day MA of 15.05, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.22 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 58.35 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 71.49 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for CLBK.

Columbia Financial Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
LKFN	78 Outperform	1.67B	17.87	0.00%	3.02%	-1.41%	-6.42%
FCF	76 Outperform	1.83B	13.43	1.10%	3.02%	4.57%	-15.68%
SRCE	75 Outperform	1.56B	11.01	11.78%	2.33%	6.43%	11.69%
NWBI	75 Outperform	1.84B	11.22	8.74%	6.36%	14.86%	40.09%
CUBI	74 Outperform	2.25B	16.45	7.92%	―	-7.45%	-45.67%
CLBK	58 Neutral	$1.63B	258.07	0.57%	―	-0.90%	-67.89%
Sector *	68 Neutral	$18.00B	11.42	9.92%	3.81%	9.73%	1.22%

Columbia Financial Corporate Events

Columbia Financial Announces New Stock Repurchase Program

On September 5, 2025, Columbia Financial, Inc. announced a new stock repurchase program authorized by its Board of Directors to acquire up to 1,800,000 shares, representing approximately 1.7% of its outstanding common stock. This program, which received non-objection from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, allows for repurchases in open market or private transactions and will be in effect for one year. The actual number of shares repurchased will depend on factors such as price and market conditions, and the program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

Columbia Financial Announces COO Departure

On September 5, 2025, Columbia Financial, Inc. announced that Matthew Smith, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will leave the company and Columbia Bank on October 5, 2025. This leadership change may impact the company’s operations and strategic direction.