Analysts Set Columbia Banking System, Inc. (NASDAQ:COLB) Price Target at $31.25

Shares of Columbia Banking System, Inc. (NASDAQ:COLB) have earned a consensus rating of “Hold” from the twelve brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Eight 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 brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $31.25.

A number of analysts recently commented on COLB shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Columbia Banking System from $32.00 to $30.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Columbia Banking System from $29.00 to $33.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. UBS Group began coverage on shares of Columbia Banking System in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $32.00 price target for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price objective on Columbia Banking System from $34.00 to $33.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their target price on Columbia Banking System from $31.00 to $30.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 27th.

Insider Transactions at Columbia Banking System

In other news, VP Torran B. Nixon sold 4,481 shares of Columbia Banking System stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.99, for a total value of $116,461.19. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 104,869 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,725,545.31. The trade was a 4.10 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.62% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Columbia Banking System

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its stake in shares of Columbia Banking System by 3.7% in the fourth quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 122,274 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $3,303,000 after buying an additional 4,408 shares in the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Columbia Banking System by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 31,238 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $844,000 after acquiring an additional 612 shares in the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Columbia Banking System during the 3rd quarter valued at $288,000. William Blair Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Columbia Banking System by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 1,774,443 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $47,928,000 after purchasing an additional 42,527 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB increased its holdings in shares of Columbia Banking System by 82.0% in the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 391,286 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $10,592,000 after purchasing an additional 176,334 shares in the last quarter. 92.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Columbia Banking System Trading Down 1.2 %

COLB stock opened at $25.32 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.97 and a beta of 0.62. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $26.63 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $27.47. Columbia Banking System has a 12-month low of $17.08 and a 12-month high of $32.85.

Columbia Banking System (NASDAQ:COLB) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The financial services provider reported $0.71 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.06. Columbia Banking System had a return on equity of 11.21% and a net margin of 17.99%. Equities analysts predict that Columbia Banking System will post 2.71 EPS for the current year.

Columbia Banking System Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a $0.36 dividend. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Columbia Banking System’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 56.69%.

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.