East West Bancorp (EWBC) shares came under pressure after news surfaced of significant loan issues at Zions Bancorp and Western Alliance Bancorp. These developments have raised concerns about credit risk across the regional banking sector.

Despite recent volatility driven by heightened concerns over credit risk in the regional banking sector, East West Bancorp’s share price has largely shrugged off industry jitters this year, ending with a modest year-to-date gain, while its 1-year total shareholder return sits at a healthy 7.1%. Notably, the company continues to build momentum with growth-focused partnerships like its recent agreement with Worldpay. This reinforces a longer-term total return of 56.5% over three years and 184% over five years, suggesting investors are still rewarding operational resilience and expansion moves.

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With East West Bancorp trading at a discount to analyst targets and showing solid long-term returns, the key question remains: is the current price an attractive entry point, or is future growth already reflected in the valuation?

Most Popular Narrative: 22.7% Undervalued

East West Bancorp's most followed narrative points to a fair value significantly above the last close price of $95.98, suggesting substantial upside relative to current levels. The narrative draws on a mix of strategic catalysts and robust financial assumptions to arrive at this figure and sets up a compelling backdrop for further exploration.

Continued robust growth in deposits, especially in commercial and consumer segments, and a loyal core Asian-American customer base position the bank to capitalize on demographic trends. This supports both loan funding and expansion of net interest income and margins.

Curious why East West Bancorp’s fair value jumps this high? The narrative leans heavily on bold projections for future growth, efficiency gains, and premium profitability multiples. You may be surprised by the assumptions analysts are using to reach this target. Want the full story? Take a deeper dive and uncover the critical numbers behind this valuation before the market catches up.

Result: Fair Value of $124.20 (UNDERVALUED)

However, rising regulatory costs and persistent concentration in commercial real estate loans could present challenges to East West Bancorp’s growth trajectory and put pressure on future performance.

Build Your Own East West Bancorp Narrative

If you have a different take or want to shape your own perspective, you can dig into the data and craft a personalized view in just a few minutes. Do it your way

A great starting point for your East West Bancorp research is our analysis highlighting 6 key rewards and 1 important warning sign that could impact your investment decision.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.