WABC
Financial ServicesWestamerica Bancorporation · Banks - Regional · $1B
What is Westamerica Bancorporation?
Westamerica Bancorporation is a California-based bank holding company serving individual and commercial customers across Northern and Central California through its subsidiary, Westamerica Bank. The company has built a regional banking franchise spanning 78 branch offices across 21 counties.
Westamerica generates revenue primarily through traditional banking activities — accepting deposits and extending loans. Its deposit base includes retail savings accounts, checking accounts, and certificates of deposit. On the lending side, the bank serves customers with commercial loans, commercial and residential real estate financing, construction loans, and consumer installment products including indirect automobile loans.
Incorporated in 1972 and headquartered in San Rafael, California, the company adopted the Westamerica Bancorporation name in 1983.
- Retail deposit accounts (savings, checking, CDs)
- Commercial and real estate loans
- Consumer and indirect auto lending
- Branch banking across Northern and Central California
Is WABC a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates WABC as Good overall, reflecting a balanced profile with notable strengths offset by areas of concern.
Westamerica's Quality and Risk pillars both register as Strong, suggesting the bank maintains sound operational discipline and a conservative risk posture relative to peers. Its Valuation pillar is rated Attractive, meaning the stock does not appear richly priced relative to its fundamentals.
The Moat and Growth pillars both score Weak, indicating limited competitive differentiation and constrained expansion prospects — common challenges for smaller regional banks.
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 WABC pay dividends?
Yes — Westamerica Bancorporation pays a dividend.
Westamerica Bancorporation pays a regular dividend, consistent with its profile as a mature, conservatively managed regional bank. Community banks of this type often return capital to shareholders through steady dividends rather than aggressive reinvestment. Income-oriented investors may find the dividend cadence appealing alongside the Attractive Valuation rating.
When does WABC report earnings?
Westamerica Bancorporation reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed bank holding companies.
The bank's Strong Quality and Risk pillar ratings suggest consistent operational execution without outsized credit or funding risks. Growth, however, remains a headwind — reflecting the competitive pressures facing smaller regional banks in California's mature banking market.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Westamerica Bancorporation's investor relations page directly.
WABC Price History
+0.2% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Westamerica Bancorporation?
Based on Westamerica Bancorporation'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.
WABC Long-term Outlook
Westamerica's fundamental outlook is shaped by its conservative operating model. The Strong Risk pillar points to balance sheet resilience, while the Weak Growth pillar signals that meaningful revenue acceleration is not a near-term expectation. The Attractive Valuation label suggests the market has already priced in modest growth expectations, which may limit downside risk.
Growth drivers
- Stable deposit base across a broad 21-county California footprint
- Potential for disciplined loan portfolio expansion in commercial real estate
- Consistent dividend policy supporting shareholder retention
Key risks
- Limited competitive moat in a crowded California banking market
- Weak Growth pillar signals constrained revenue expansion
- Regional concentration risk tied to Northern and Central California economic conditions
WABC vs Peers
Westamerica operates in a competitive regional banking landscape alongside several peers of varying size and strategy.
Republic Bancorp operates primarily in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, offering a geographically distinct footprint compared to Westamerica's California-focused franchise.
Amalgamated Financial targets mission-driven and socially conscious depositors, differentiating its brand and customer base from Westamerica's traditional community banking model.
Coastal Financial has pursued a banking-as-a-service growth strategy, contrasting with Westamerica's conventional branch-based retail and commercial banking approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Westamerica Bancorporation do?
Westamerica Bancorporation is a bank holding company for Westamerica Bank, providing deposit and lending services to individual and commercial customers. It operates 78 branch offices across 21 counties in Northern and Central California, offering products ranging from savings accounts to commercial real estate loans.
Does WABC pay dividends?
Yes, Westamerica Bancorporation pays a regular dividend. This is consistent with its profile as a mature, conservatively managed regional bank. Income-focused investors often look to community banks like Westamerica for steady dividend income. Check the company's investor relations page for the current dividend schedule.
When does WABC report earnings?
Westamerica Bancorporation reports earnings quarterly, in line with standard practice for US-listed bank holding companies. For exact dates and the most recent results, visit the company's investor relations page rather than relying on third-party estimates.
Is WABC a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates WABC as Good overall. Its Strong Quality and Risk pillars alongside an Attractive Valuation are positives. However, Weak Moat and Growth ratings indicate limited competitive differentiation and modest expansion prospects. The full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.
Is WABC overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for WABC is rated Attractive, suggesting the stock is not considered richly priced relative to its fundamentals. For a regional bank with conservative growth expectations, an Attractive valuation label may indicate the market has already priced in the slower growth outlook.
How does WABC compare to its competitors?
Compared to peers like Republic Bancorp, Amalgamated Financial, and Coastal Financial, Westamerica stands out for its California-focused branch network and conservative operating model. Its Strong Risk rating differentiates it from higher-growth peers that may carry more balance sheet risk. Full peer comparisons are available on the UQS platform.
What is WABC's market cap bracket?
Westamerica Bancorporation is classified as a small-cap stock. This places it among smaller regional banks rather than the large national or super-regional institutions, which typically means less analyst coverage and potentially lower trading liquidity.
Who founded Westamerica Bancorporation?
Westamerica Bancorporation was incorporated in 1972 and operated under the name Independent Bankshares Corporation before rebranding to Westamerica Bancorporation in 1983. Detailed founding history is available through the company's official disclosures and public filings.
Is WABC a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, WABC's Strong Quality and Risk pillars suggest operational consistency and balance sheet discipline — traits that tend to support durability over time. However, the Weak Growth and Moat ratings are worth monitoring, as they may limit long-term compounding potential relative to peers.
What sector does WABC belong to?
Westamerica Bancorporation operates in the Financial Services sector, specifically as a regional bank holding company. Regional banks are sensitive to interest rate cycles, local economic conditions, and credit quality — all factors reflected in the UQS Risk and Quality pillar assessments.
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Pro Analysis
WABC — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | 58.7 | 90.3 | 32.0 | 6.2 | 91.1 | 88.2 | -0.1 |
| May 19, 2026 | 58.8 | 90.3 | 32.0 | 6.2 | 91.1 | 88.7 | -0.1 |
| May 16, 2026 | 58.9 | 90.3 | 32.0 | 6.2 | 91.1 | 89.5 | +0.3 |
| May 12, 2026 | 58.6 | 90.3 | 32.0 | 6.2 | 88.8 | 89.8 | +0.2 |
| May 10, 2026 | 58.4 | 90.3 | 32.0 | 6.2 | 88.8 | 88.6 | -1.1 |
| May 7, 2026 | 59.5 | 90.7 | 32.0 | 6.2 | 93.0 | 90.8 | +0.1 |
| May 3, 2026 | 59.4 | 90.7 | 32.0 | 6.2 | 93.0 | 90.3 | 0.0 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 59.4 | 90.7 | 32.0 | 6.2 | 93.0 | 90.5 | -0.1 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 59.5 | 90.7 | 32.0 | 6.2 | 93.0 | 91.2 | -0.3 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 59.8 | 90.7 | 32.0 | 6.7 | 93.0 | 92.5 | +1.0 |
WABC — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 90.3/100 (25%)Westamerica Bancorporation demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.
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
— 6.2/100 (20%)Westamerica Bancorporation 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
— 91.1/100 (15%)Westamerica Bancorporation carries minimal financial risk with conservative leverage and strong solvency.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 88.3/100 (15%)Westamerica Bancorporation 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.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 32/100 (25%)Westamerica Bancorporation 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 WABC.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the WABC UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Westamerica Bancorporation 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 Westamerica Bancorporation'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 Westamerica Bancorporation 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.