Stock price when the opinion was issued
A regional bank. Over the next year, with the confidence the US consumer is going to get with Wall Street Reform and tax reform, this is a name that tends to benefit. Located in a more affluent geography, in the Pacific Northwest, where there is growth in terms of jobs and income. Trading at around 20X. Dividend yield of 1.9%. (Analysts’ price target is $46.)
He's long owned it. The regional U.S. bank space has been under pressure. U.S. growth will be challenged going ahead. COLB is down 20% YTD, though the dividend is safe and the company has a good balance sheet. The stock is neither cheap or pricey now. How much overall exposure do you have to U.S. financials? Consider that. It should be lower than in past years.
(A Top Pick Jan 27/18, Up 9%) See top picks today for an alternative. He was concentrating on populations where you see growth. BAC-N, for example will do well in some areas and off set great gains in others. You have to really do your homework if you go into the regional banks.