Community West Bancshares (NASDAQ:CWBC) Sees Significant Decline in Short Interest

Community West Bancshares (NASDAQ:CWBC) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 178,200 shares, a decrease of 14.5% from the December 31st total of 208,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 48,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.7 days.

Community West Bancshares Trading Down 0.3 %

CWBC stock traded down $0.06 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $19.49. The stock had a trading volume of 32,563 shares, compared to its average volume of 38,626. The firm has a market cap of $369.34 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.48 and a beta of 0.92. Community West Bancshares has a twelve month low of $15.50 and a twelve month high of $24.47. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $19.98 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $19.73.

Community West Bancshares (NASDAQ:CWBC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The financial services provider reported $0.38 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.45 by ($0.07). Community West Bancshares had a return on equity of 7.90% and a net margin of 4.59%. As a group, research analysts expect that Community West Bancshares will post 2.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Community West Bancshares Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be paid a $0.12 dividend. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.46%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 7th. Community West Bancshares’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 92.31%.

Insider Transactions at Community West Bancshares

In other Community West Bancshares news, Director Steven D. Mcdonald sold 1,860 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.51, for a total transaction of $40,008.60. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 315,531 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,787,071.81. This represents a 0.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In the last ninety days, insiders purchased 432 shares of company stock valued at $8,116. Corporate insiders own 11.15% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Community West Bancshares

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Community West Bancshares by 284.8% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 641,347 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $11,864,000 after buying an additional 474,671 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new position in Community West Bancshares during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,153,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its stake in Community West Bancshares by 198.0% during the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 365,965 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,770,000 after acquiring an additional 243,165 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Community West Bancshares during the third quarter valued at approximately $132,000. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Community West Bancshares in the third quarter valued at approximately $847,000. 33.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com raised Community West Bancshares from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. DA Davidson cut their price target on Community West Bancshares from $26.00 to $24.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on shares of Community West Bancshares from $24.00 to $22.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 24th.

About Community West Bancshares

Community West Bancshares operates as the bank holding company for Community West Bank, N.A. that provides various financial products and services in California. The company offers deposit products, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and fixed rate and fixed maturity certificates of deposits; and cash management products.