Columbia Banking System, Inc. (NASDAQ:COLB) Given Average Recommendation of "Hold" by Brokerages

Columbia Banking System, Inc. (NASDAQ:COLB - Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of "Hold" from the thirteen analysts that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $30.38.

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Columbia Banking System from $29.00 to $31.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Raymond James increased their price objective on Columbia Banking System from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. StockNews.com upgraded Columbia Banking System from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, October 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Columbia Banking System from $32.00 to $30.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Wedbush upped their price objective on shares of Columbia Banking System from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, October 25th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Columbia Banking System

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in Columbia Banking System by 54.9% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,640 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $95,000 after purchasing an additional 1,290 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake in Columbia Banking System by 1,507.6% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 4,855 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $127,000 after acquiring an additional 4,553 shares in the last quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in Columbia Banking System by 26.5% in the third quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 5,209 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $136,000 after acquiring an additional 1,091 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC boosted its stake in Columbia Banking System by 14.0% in the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 5,767 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $151,000 after acquiring an additional 709 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Columbia Banking System by 14.9% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 6,745 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $176,000 after purchasing an additional 875 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.53% of the company's stock.

Columbia Banking System Price Performance

NASDAQ COLB traded up $0.61 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $28.24. 410,944 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,419,870. The company has a market capitalization of $5.92 billion, a PE ratio of 12.24 and a beta of 0.67. The firm's 50-day moving average is $28.64 and its 200-day moving average is $26.88. Columbia Banking System has a 52-week low of $17.08 and a 52-week high of $32.85.

Columbia Banking System (NASDAQ:COLB - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The financial services provider reported $0.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.06. Columbia Banking System had a return on equity of 10.13% and a net margin of 16.15%. Equities research analysts predict that Columbia Banking System will post 2.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Columbia Banking System Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 29th were given a dividend of $0.36 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 29th. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.10%. Columbia Banking System's dividend payout ratio is currently 62.34%.

About Columbia Banking System

Columbia Banking System, Inc operates as the holding company of Umpqua Bank that provides banking, private banking, mortgage, and other financial services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, including business, non-interest bearing checking, interest-bearing checking and savings, money market, and certificate of deposit accounts; and insured cash sweep and other investment sweep solutions.