HOPE
Financial ServicesHope Bancorp, Inc. · Banks - Regional · $2B
What is Hope Bancorp, Inc.?
Hope Bancorp is the holding company for Bank of Hope, a community-focused bank serving small and medium-sized businesses and individual customers across the United States. Headquartered in Los Angeles, it has built a network of branches spanning multiple states.
Bank of Hope generates revenue primarily through traditional banking activities — accepting deposits and extending loans. Its lending portfolio spans commercial loans, real estate financing, SBA loans, and consumer products such as mortgages and auto loans. The bank also offers trade finance, equipment lease financing, and cash management services. Wealth management, mobile banking, and foreign exchange round out a broad suite of products aimed at both business clients and individual depositors.
Bank of Hope's parent company was established in 1998 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
- Commercial and SBA lending for small and mid-sized businesses
- Real estate and consumer loan products
- Trade finance and letters of credit
- Cash management and remote deposit services
- Investment and wealth management services
Is HOPE a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates HOPE as Below Average overall, reflecting broad weakness across most of the five scoring pillars.
The one area where HOPE stands out relative to its profile is Valuation — the Attractive label suggests the stock may be priced modestly relative to its fundamentals, which can appeal to value-oriented investors willing to accept trade-offs elsewhere.
Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk all carry Weak labels, indicating limited competitive differentiation, subdued growth prospects, and elevated risk characteristics compared with stronger peers in the Financial Services sector.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does HOPE pay dividends?
Yes — Hope Bancorp, Inc. pays a dividend.
Hope Bancorp pays a regular dividend, consistent with many community and regional banks that return capital to shareholders through periodic income distributions. For income-focused investors, the dividend adds a layer of return beyond price appreciation. That said, the bank's Weak Quality and Risk pillar labels are worth considering when evaluating the sustainability of that payout over time.
When does HOPE report earnings?
Hope Bancorp reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed bank holding companies.
The bank's Weak Growth pillar suggests recent earnings trends have not demonstrated meaningful expansion relative to sector peers. Loan growth, net interest margin dynamics, and credit quality are the key variables that tend to drive quarterly results for community banks like Bank of Hope.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Hope Bancorp's investor relations page directly.
HOPE Price History
+1.6% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Hope Bancorp, Inc.?
Based on Hope Bancorp, 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.
HOPE Long-term Outlook
The combination of Weak Growth and Weak Risk pillar labels points to a cautious fundamental outlook. Margin pressure in a shifting interest rate environment and limited pricing power — reflected in the Weak Moat label — constrain near-term earnings expansion. The Attractive Valuation label, however, indicates the market may already be pricing in much of this uncertainty, leaving room for a re-rating if operating conditions improve.
Growth drivers
- Potential recovery in commercial loan demand among small and mid-sized businesses
- Expansion of SBA lending and trade finance in underserved markets
- Stabilization or improvement in net interest margins as rate environment evolves
Key risks
- Elevated credit risk if commercial real estate or business loan quality deteriorates
- Limited competitive moat in a crowded community banking landscape
- Sustained margin compression weighing on profitability and dividend coverage
HOPE vs Peers
Bank of Hope competes with a range of regional and community banks across its operating markets.
National Bank Holdings focuses on acquired loan portfolios and operates with a distinct balance-sheet strategy compared with Hope Bancorp's organic community banking model.
S&T Bancorp serves Pennsylvania and Ohio markets with a long-established commercial banking franchise, offering a different geographic and customer concentration than Bank of Hope.
Lakeland Financial is a Midwest-focused community bank known for consistent profitability, contrasting with Hope Bancorp's multi-state, ethnically diverse customer base.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hope Bancorp do?
Hope Bancorp is the holding company for Bank of Hope, which provides banking services to small and medium-sized businesses and individual customers. Services include deposit accounts, commercial and consumer loans, SBA lending, trade finance, and wealth management across branches in multiple US states.
Does HOPE pay dividends?
Yes, Hope Bancorp pays a regular dividend. This is common among community and regional bank holding companies that distribute a portion of earnings to shareholders. Investors should review the company's investor relations page for the current dividend rate and payment schedule.
When does HOPE report earnings?
Hope Bancorp reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed bank holding companies. For exact dates of upcoming earnings releases, check the company's investor relations page or a financial calendar service.
Is HOPE a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates HOPE as Below Average, with Weak labels across Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk. The Valuation pillar is Attractive, which may interest value-focused investors. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals — view the full pillar breakdown on UQS Pro.
Is HOPE overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, HOPE carries an Attractive label, suggesting it is not considered overvalued relative to its fundamentals at current pricing. This is one of the few positive signals in an otherwise Below Average overall profile.
How does HOPE compare to its competitors?
Compared with peers like National Bank Holdings, S&T Bancorp, and Lakeland Financial, Hope Bancorp's Below Average UQS Score reflects weaker scores across most pillars. Its Attractive Valuation may differentiate it for price-conscious investors, but competitive moat and growth metrics lag stronger regional peers.
What is HOPE's market cap bracket?
Hope Bancorp is classified as a small-cap stock. This places it in a tier where liquidity, analyst coverage, and institutional interest may be more limited than large-cap banking peers, which can affect price volatility and trading dynamics.
Who founded Hope Bancorp?
Hope Bancorp's founding history is publicly available through the company's official disclosures and investor relations materials. The holding company was established in 1998 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
Is HOPE a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, HOPE's Below Average UQS Score — driven by Weak Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk labels — suggests limited structural advantages for sustained outperformance. The Attractive Valuation may offer a margin of safety, but long-term quality investors typically look for stronger pillar profiles.
What is the main competitive advantage of Hope Bancorp?
Bank of Hope has historically focused on serving Korean-American and broader Asian-American business communities, giving it a specialized customer niche. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak, indicating it may not provide durable pricing power or barriers to entry relative to sector peers.
What sector does HOPE belong to?
Hope Bancorp operates in the Financial Services sector, specifically within community and regional banking. You can explore other [Financial Services stocks](/sector/financial-services) rated by UQS Score to compare HOPE against a broader peer set.
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Pro Analysis
HOPE — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 2026 | 37.3 | 39.5 | 15.0 | 26.3 | 39.6 | 83.1 | -0.3 |
| Apr 21, 2026 | 37.6 | 39.5 | 15.0 | 26.3 | 39.6 | 85.3 | 0.0 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 37.6 | 39.5 | 15.0 | 26.3 | 39.6 | 85.0 | 0.0 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 37.6 | 39.5 | 15.0 | 26.3 | 39.6 | 85.2 | -2.2 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 39.8 | 39.5 | 15.0 | 26.3 | 39.6 | 99.7 | 0.0 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 39.8 | 39.5 | 15.0 | 26.3 | 39.6 | 100.0 | — |
HOPE — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 41.3/100 (25%)Hope Bancorp, Inc. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
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
— 26.3/100 (20%)Hope Bancorp, Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
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
— 62.3/100 (15%)Hope Bancorp, Inc. maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 88.4/100 (15%)Hope Bancorp, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
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
— 15/100 (25%)Hope Bancorp, 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 HOPE.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the HOPE UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Hope Bancorp, 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 Hope Bancorp, 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 Hope Bancorp, 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.