Washington FederalNASDAQ: WAFD

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $WAFD #dividend--Today, the Board of Directors of WaFd, Inc. (Nasdaq: WAFD) (the “Company”), announced a regular cash dividend of 26 cents per share. The dividend will be paid December 6, 2024, to common shareholders of record as of November 22, 2024. This will be the Company's 167th consecutive quarterly cash dividend. WaFd, Inc. is the parent company of Washington Federal Bank, a federally insured Washington state chartered commercial bank dba WaFd Bank that operates branches in Wash.

WaFd's merger with Luther Burbank Corporation has improved its loan-to-deposit ratio and reduced external borrowing, enhancing future net interest income and earnings potential. Despite the positive merger impact, WaFd faces risks from high loan-to-deposit ratios and lower-than-average allowance for credit losses, which could pressure earnings. WaFd's preferred shares offer an attractive 6.7% yield and trade at 73% of their call price, providing income and potential capital appreciation.

The acquisition of LBC leads to higher NII and non-interest income and a rise in loan balance. These, along with nil provisions, aid WAFD's fiscal Q4 earnings.

Dividends are one of the best benefits to being a shareholder, but finding a great dividend stock is no easy task. Does WaFd (WAFD) have what it takes?

The headline numbers for WaFd (WAFD) give insight into how the company performed in the quarter ended September 2024, but it may be worthwhile to compare some of its key metrics to Wall Street estimates and the year-ago actuals.

WaFd (WAFD) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.70 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.68 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.72 per share a year ago.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $WAFD #banking--WaFd, Inc. (Nasdaq: WAFD) (the "Company"), parent company of Washington Federal Bank ("WaFd Bank" or the "Bank"), today announced annual earnings of $200,041,000 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, including the effects of the acquisition of California-based Luther Burbank Corporation ("LBC"). After the effect of dividends on preferred stock, net income available for common shareholders was $2.50 per share for the year. These results reflect acquisition relat.

Does WaFd (WAFD) have what it takes to be a top stock pick for momentum investors? Let's find out.

WaFd (WAFD) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting growing optimism about the company's earnings prospects. This might drive the stock higher in the near term.