Columbia Financial vs Stellar Bancorp

Columbia Financial Inc and Stellar Bancorp Inc are compared on this page across their business models, financial performance, and the market context in which they operate. The information is presented in a neutral, accessible style to help readers understand each company’s approach and position. Educational content, not financial advice.

Columbia Financial Inc and Stellar Bancorp Inc are compared on this page across their business models, financial performance, and the market context in which they operate. The information is presented...

Comparison Snapshot

Key Financial Metrics

CLBK

Metric

STEL

$1.63B

Market Cap

$1.63B

9.56%

Potential Profit

-5.02%

Buy

Analyst Rating

Hold

Investment Analysis

Columbia Financial

CLBK

Pros

Columbia Financial operates as a federally chartered savings bank with a broad loan portfolio including commercial, residential real estate, and consumer loans, supporting diversified revenue streams.
The company shows a solid market capitalization of around $1.59 billion, indicating a stable mid-sized financial institution presence.
Columbia Financial offers additional services like wealth management and insurance products, enhancing its fee-based income potential beyond traditional lending.

Considerations

The trailing twelve months price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is extremely high, reflecting low current profitability relative to its stock price.
The bank’s EPS is very low, indicating limited net income generation despite its asset base.
Analyst consensus is a Hold rating with modest upside price target, suggesting limited near-term stock growth expectations.

Stellar Bancorp

STEL

Pros

Stellar Bancorp has shown consistent growth in its core banking activities in recent years, supporting expanding loan and deposit bases.
It benefits from focused regional market penetration, enabling specialized customer service and community banking relationships.
The company maintains a relatively strong balance sheet with improving asset quality and reserves supporting loan growth stability.

Considerations

Stellar Bancorp operates in a highly competitive regional banking market, which may pressure margins and loan pricing.
The bank faces exposure to interest rate fluctuations impacting net interest margin in a volatile rate environment.
Its relatively smaller scale compared with larger regional banks may limit operational efficiencies and investment capacity.

About The Companies

Columbia Financial (CLBK)

Columbia Financial, Inc. (CLBK) is a regional banking company with a market capitalisation of about $1.59 billion. It generates revenue primarily from lending, deposit-taking and fee-based services commonly found in community and commercial banks. Key investor considerations include sensitivity to interest-rate movements (which affect net interest margins), local economic and credit conditions, competition for deposits, and regulatory requirements. Earnings can be cyclical and influenced by loan credit quality and funding costs. Investors often watch capital ratios, loan-loss provisions and deposit trends for signs of resilience or stress. This summary is for educational purposes only and not personal financial advice — values can rise and fall and past performance is not a guide to the future. Before making investment decisions, consider your financial situation and consult a qualified adviser if necessary.

Stellar Bancorp (STEL)

Stellar Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company operating primarily through its subsidiary, Stellar Bank. It provides a wide range of commercial banking services targeted at small-to-medium-sized businesses, professionals, and individual customers. The company's main operations are concentrated in Texas, with numerous full-service banking centres across the Houston, Beaumont, and Dallas regions. Its offerings include various commercial and personal loans, such as those for small businesses, mortgages, and automobiles, alongside typical deposit services like checking, savings, and money market accounts. For investors, Stellar Bancorp represents a regionally focused financial institution with a diversified service portfolio. As with any investment, it's important to remember that the value can go down as well as up, and past performance is not an indicator of future results.

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Banking Liquidity Strain: Risks and Resilient Options

U.S. banks have significantly increased their borrowing from the Fed's emergency lending facility, signaling potential stress in short-term funding markets. This theme focuses on resilient financial institutions and technology providers that can help navigate or benefit from these tightening liquidity conditions.

Published: October 16, 2025

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Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Banking Liquidity Strain: Risks and Resilient Options

U.S. banks have significantly increased their borrowing from the Fed's emergency lending facility, signaling potential stress in short-term funding markets. This theme focuses on resilient financial institutions and technology providers that can help navigate or benefit from these tightening liquidity conditions.

Published: October 16, 2025

Explore Basket

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Comparison Snapshot