CLBK
Financial ServicesColumbia Financial, Inc. · Banks - Regional · $2B
What is Columbia Financial, Inc.?
Columbia Financial, Inc. is a New Jersey-based bank holding company serving businesses and consumers through a network of community banking offices. Its subsidiary, Columbia Bank, has operated in the region for nearly a century.
Columbia Financial generates revenue through traditional community banking activities — accepting deposits and extending loans across residential, commercial, and consumer categories. It also offers wealth management services, title insurance products, and cash management tools such as remote deposit and sweep accounts. The bank operates across 12 New Jersey counties, focusing on relationship-driven banking for local businesses and households.
Columbia Financial's banking roots trace to 1927, with the holding company headquartered in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.
- Commercial and residential real estate loans
- Consumer and commercial deposit accounts
- Wealth management and cash management services
- Title insurance products
Is CLBK a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates CLBK as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful weaknesses across several key pillars.
Among the five pillars, Growth stands out as the relative bright spot, suggesting the bank has demonstrated some forward momentum in expanding its business. Valuation is rated Neutral, meaning the stock does not appear significantly mispriced relative to fundamentals.
Quality, Moat, and Risk are all rated Weak — a combination that signals limited competitive differentiation, constrained profitability characteristics, and elevated risk factors relative to sector peers.
See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does CLBK pay dividends?
No — Columbia Financial, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.
Columbia Financial does not currently pay a dividend. For a community bank, this can reflect a strategy of retaining capital to support loan growth, regulatory capital requirements, or ongoing investment in branch infrastructure. Income-focused investors should factor this into their assessment of CLBK relative to dividend-paying regional bank peers.
When does CLBK report earnings?
Columbia Financial reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed bank holding companies.
The bank's Growth pillar rating suggests some positive trajectory in business activity, though Quality and Risk ratings indicate the earnings picture carries notable headwinds. Community banks like CLBK are sensitive to interest rate movements and credit quality trends, both of which influence quarterly results.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Columbia Financial's investor relations page directly.
CLBK Price History
+1.4% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Columbia Financial, Inc.?
Based on Columbia Financial, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
CLBK Long-term Outlook
Columbia Financial's Growth pillar rating suggests the bank may continue expanding its loan book and deposit base within its New Jersey footprint. However, Weak Risk and Quality ratings temper the outlook — credit risk, margin pressure, and limited operational efficiency could weigh on sustained earnings improvement. The Neutral Valuation rating indicates the market has largely priced in the current fundamental profile.
Growth drivers
- Continued expansion of commercial and multifamily real estate lending in New Jersey markets
- Cross-selling wealth management and cash management services to existing deposit customers
- Potential for deposit growth across its 62-branch community network
Key risks
- Weak Risk pillar signals elevated exposure to credit or interest rate volatility
- Limited competitive moat in a crowded regional banking landscape
- Weak Quality rating points to below-average profitability characteristics relative to sector peers
CLBK vs Peers
Columbia Financial operates in a competitive regional banking space alongside several similarly sized community and mid-sized bank holding companies.
Stellar Bancorp focuses on Texas markets, offering a geographically distinct footprint compared to CLBK's New Jersey concentration.
First Commonwealth operates primarily in Pennsylvania and Ohio, competing in overlapping community banking segments with a broader Midwest presence.
Northwest Bancshares serves communities across the northeastern and mid-Atlantic US, making it a direct regional competitor in deposit and lending markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Columbia Financial do?
Columbia Financial is a bank holding company operating through Columbia Bank across New Jersey. It offers checking and savings accounts, a range of loans including commercial real estate and residential mortgages, and additional services like wealth management and title insurance.
Does CLBK pay dividends?
Columbia Financial does not currently pay a dividend. The company retains capital, which is common among community banks focused on supporting loan growth and maintaining regulatory capital buffers. Investors seeking income should compare CLBK to dividend-paying regional bank peers.
When does CLBK report earnings?
Columbia Financial follows a standard quarterly earnings cadence for US-listed companies. For exact dates and the most recent results, check the investor relations section of Columbia Financial's official website.
Is CLBK a good stock to buy?
The UQS Score rates CLBK as Below Average, driven by Weak ratings across Quality, Moat, and Risk pillars. Growth is the relative strength. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment criteria — the full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.
Is CLBK overvalued?
CLBK carries a Neutral Valuation rating in the UQS framework, suggesting the stock is neither clearly cheap nor obviously expensive relative to its fundamentals. Given the Weak Quality and Risk profiles, the Neutral valuation may not represent a compelling margin of safety.
How does CLBK compare to its competitors?
Columbia Financial competes with regional banks like Stellar Bancorp, First Commonwealth Financial, and Northwest Bancshares. Each operates in different geographic markets with varying business mixes. UQS Pro members can view side-by-side pillar comparisons across these peers.
What is CLBK's market cap bracket?
Columbia Financial is classified as a small-cap company. This places it among smaller publicly traded banks, which typically carry different liquidity profiles and analyst coverage levels compared to large- or mega-cap financial institutions.
Who founded Columbia Financial?
Columbia Financial's banking operations trace back to 1927 with the founding of Columbia Bank in New Jersey. The holding company structure was established later, with the company headquartered in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Detailed founding history is available through the company's official corporate profile.
Is CLBK a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, CLBK's UQS profile raises caution — Weak ratings in Quality, Moat, and Risk suggest the bank lacks the durable competitive advantages and financial consistency typically associated with high-conviction long-term holdings. The Growth pillar offers some offset worth monitoring.
What sector does CLBK belong to?
Columbia Financial operates in the Financial Services sector, specifically within community and regional banking. This sector is sensitive to interest rate cycles, credit conditions, and regulatory requirements, all of which influence the risk and return profile of banks like CLBK.
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Pro Analysis
CLBK — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 34.9 | 34.3 | 18.0 | 57.4 | 20.1 | 48.8 | 0.0 |
| May 21, 2026 | 34.9 | 34.3 | 18.0 | 57.4 | 20.1 | 49.1 | -0.2 |
| May 20, 2026 | 35.1 | 34.3 | 18.0 | 57.4 | 20.1 | 49.9 | +0.1 |
| May 19, 2026 | 35.0 | 34.3 | 18.0 | 57.4 | 20.1 | 49.6 | -0.1 |
| May 16, 2026 | 35.1 | 34.3 | 18.0 | 57.4 | 20.1 | 50.0 | +0.1 |
| May 15, 2026 | 35.0 | 34.3 | 18.0 | 57.4 | 20.1 | 49.8 | -0.1 |
| May 14, 2026 | 35.1 | 34.3 | 18.0 | 57.4 | 20.1 | 50.4 | 0.0 |
| May 13, 2026 | 35.1 | 34.3 | 18.0 | 57.4 | 20.1 | 50.5 | 0.0 |
| May 12, 2026 | 35.1 | 34.3 | 18.0 | 57.4 | 20.1 | 50.2 | 0.0 |
| May 11, 2026 | 35.1 | 34.3 | 18.0 | 57.4 | 20.1 | 50.1 | +0.1 |
CLBK — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 34.3/100 (25%)Columbia Financial, Inc. currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 57.4/100 (20%)Columbia Financial, Inc. demonstrates healthy growth trends across revenue and earnings.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 20.1/100 (15%)Columbia Financial, Inc. presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 48.8/100 (15%)Columbia Financial, Inc. has a mixed valuation — some metrics suggest fair value while others appear stretched.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 18/100 (25%)Columbia Financial, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for CLBK.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the CLBK UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Columbia Financial, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Columbia Financial, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Columbia Financial, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.