WaFd Stock Price Target Raised to $32 by Keefe Bruyette

Keefe Bruyette has revised its target price for WaFd from $30 to $32 and maintained a Market Perform rating. Analysts appreciate WaFd's strategic moves in the recent June quarter and consider the decision to allocate capital for stock buybacks as prudent. The average target price for WaFd is $32.25, with an upside of 8.48% from the current price.

Analysts have shown increasing optimism about WaFd's (NASDAQ: WAFD) future prospects, with several firms raising their price targets in recent months. Keefe Bruyette & Co. (KB&C) recently revised its target price for WaFd from $30 to $32, maintaining a Market Perform rating [3]. This adjustment reflects KB&C's appreciation of WaFd's strategic moves in the June quarter, particularly its decision to allocate capital for stock buybacks, which analysts view as a prudent move.

Matthew Clark from Piper Sandler also set a price target of $31.0 for WaFd, while Andy Terrell from Stephens & Co. raised his target to $33.0 [1]. The median price target for WaFd among analysts is $32.0, with a recent average of $32.25, suggesting an upside of 8.48% from the current price [1].

Institutional investors have also shown interest in WaFd's stock, with 106 institutional investors adding shares to their portfolios and 113 decreasing their positions in the most recent quarter [1]. Notable moves include MetLife Investment Management, LLC adding 642,270 shares (+1576.8%) to its portfolio in Q1 2025 [1].

Washington Federal's (WaFd) latest quarterly results indicate strong deposit growth, primarily from non-interest bearing and transaction accounts, while loan balances declined, allowing for a significant reduction in Federal Home Loan Bank funding [2]. The company reported operating earnings per share of $0.73 in the second quarter, exceeding Stephens' estimate of $0.67, and maintaining a healthy debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73 [2].

Stephens & Co. raised its price target to $33.00 from $32.00, citing the company's solid deposit growth and consistent profitability [2]. DA Davidson also raised its price target to $33 from $29, maintaining a Neutral rating [2]. WaFd has declared a dividend for its Series A Preferred Stock shareholders, reflecting its ongoing focus on shareholder returns and financial stability [2].

As analysts and institutional investors continue to show confidence in WaFd's prospects, the stock's price target revisions and hedge fund activity suggest a potential upside for investors. However, investors should remain vigilant and conduct their own research before making investment decisions.

References:
[1] https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/new-analyst-forecast-wafd-given-310-price-target
[2] https://www.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/stephens-raises-washington-federal-stock-price-target-to-33-on-solid-deposit-growth-93CH-4143640
[3] https://www.tipranks.com/news/the-fly/wafd-price-target-raised-to-32-from-30-at-keefe-bruyette-thefly