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Dominic Ng, Chief Executive Officer of East West Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:EWBC), a $12.48 billion market cap financial institution trading at a P/E ratio of 10.79, executed a sale of 19,819 shares of the company’s common stock on March 19, 2025. The shares were sold at an average price of $90 each, amounting to a total transaction value of approximately $1.78 million. This transaction was carried out under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that Ng adopted on November 20, 2024. Following this sale, Ng retains direct ownership of 968,314 shares of East West Bancorp. Additionally, he holds 7,586 shares indirectly through a 401(k) plan. The stock has delivered a 22.07% return over the past year and currently offers a 2.66% dividend yield. According to InvestingPro, the stock appears to be trading near its Fair Value, with additional analysis and insights available in the comprehensive Pro Research Report.
In other recent news, East West Bancorp reported its fourth-quarter earnings, which narrowly missed analyst expectations. The company posted a net income of $293 million, or $2.10 per diluted share, slightly below the anticipated $2.11 per share. However, revenue for the quarter was $675.79 million, exceeding the consensus estimate of $658.3 million. For the full year 2024, East West Bancorp reported net income of $1.2 billion, or $8.33 per diluted share, an increase from $8.18 per share in 2023. The bank experienced significant deposit growth in 2024, with deposits rising by over $7 billion, while fee income grew 12% year-over-year.
Additionally, Fitch Ratings upgraded East West Bancorp’s Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings from ’BBB’ to ’BBB+’, citing strong earnings power and robust capital levels. The bank’s common equity Tier 1 ratio increased to 14.3% by the end of 2024, well above regulatory minimums. Fitch’s outlook for East West Bancorp remains stable, considering its ability to maintain profitability despite geopolitical uncertainties. The company also announced a 9% increase to its common stock dividend and an additional $300 million share repurchase authorization. These developments highlight East West Bancorp’s ongoing financial strength and strategic initiatives.
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