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EWBC vs KEY
Which Stock Would AI Choose? East West Bancorp (EWBC) vs. KeyCorp (KEY) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- EWBC (East West Bancorp) is a larger, higher-margin California-based lender with a stronger capital position and a rising dividend.
- KEY (KeyCorp) is a Cleveland-based regional bank that recently delivered a record quarter, driven by surging investment banking fees.
- East West Bancorp holds a meaningful edge in profitability metrics, including a net interest margin (NIM) near 3.4% versus KeyCorp's roughly 2.95%.
- KeyCorp offers a substantially higher dividend yield (near 4%), while East West Bancorp offers faster dividend growth and richer capital ratios.
- Both names benefit from a "higher-for-longer" interest-rate backdrop, but their growth drivers and risk profiles differ materially.
- On trend consistency and relative positioning, East West Bancorp currently presents the more stable fundamental profile of the two.
Introduction
Regional and super-regional banks occupy a distinct place in many portfolios, offering exposure to commercial lending, deposit franchises, and interest-rate dynamics. This stock comparison evaluates two prominent names in the space: EWBC, the largest independent bank headquartered in Southern California, and KEY, a Cleveland-based holding company operating KeyBank across 15 states. Investors weighing growth against income, or evaluating relative performance within the financial sector, may find this comparison useful. While both companies share a common business model as relationship-driven banks, their geographic footprints, profitability profiles, and recent momentum reveal meaningful trade-offs that shape their market positioning.
EWBC Overview and Recent Performance
East West Bancorp operates through East West Bank, serving commercial and consumer clients across the United States and Asia, with a strong cross-border banking franchise tied to U.S.–Asia trade. As of its most recent reporting period, the company held roughly $82.9 billion in total assets and posted first-quarter net income of $358 million, up 23% year over year, with diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.57. Both loans and deposits reached record levels, reflecting steady client acquisition and balance-sheet growth.
In recent weeks, East West Bancorp has drawn constructive analyst attention, with several firms raising price targets and the consensus rating holding at "Buy." The company's profitability stands out: its net interest margin (NIM, the spread between interest earned on loans and paid on deposits) has expanded, and its return on average tangible common equity (ROATCE, a measure of profitability on shareholder capital) has remained above 16%. A 33.3% dividend increase announced earlier this year, alongside a strong common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio of about 15.4%, underscores management's confidence in capital generation. This stability has supported relative strength versus regional-bank peers.
KEY Overview and Recent Performance
KeyCorp, through its KeyBank subsidiary, provides retail and commercial banking, wealth management, and investment services across the Midwest, Northeast, and Pacific Northwest. In its most recent quarter, the company reported net income of $537 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, up 24% year over year and ahead of consensus estimates. Total revenue reached a record of roughly $2.04 billion, with net interest income rising 9.6% and NIM expanding to about 2.95%.
Recent market activity for KEY has been driven in part by a sharp rebound in investment banking and debt placement fees, which climbed 27% sequentially, reflecting increased M&A (mergers and acquisitions) and syndication activity. Credit quality has also improved, with net charge-offs (NCO, the share of loans written off as uncollectable) declining and nonperforming loans falling. At the same time, KeyCorp's capital ratios have moderated, and the stock carries a notably higher dividend yield near 4%, making it attractive to income-oriented investors but reflecting a more conservative growth trajectory.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
While both companies are banks, their business models differ in important ways. East West Bancorp's franchise is anchored in commercial and cross-border banking, supported by an industry-leading efficiency ratio and a NIM that sits well above the regional-bank average. KeyCorp, by contrast, has a more diversified revenue mix, with a larger fee-based component including investment banking and wealth management, but a comparatively thinner margin.
On growth drivers, East West Bancorp benefits from robust loan and deposit expansion plus a favorable higher-rate environment, while KeyCorp's momentum leans on a cyclical recovery in capital-markets fees and deliberate balance-sheet repositioning. Risk factors also diverge: East West Bancorp maintains a larger capital cushion, whereas KeyCorp's CET1 ratio has declined and its tangible common equity ratio sits lower, warranting closer monitoring. In terms of market sentiment, East West Bancorp's "Buy" consensus and steady earnings beats contrast with KeyCorp's more mixed analyst revisions and higher, but less rapidly growing, dividend.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency, profitability stability, capital strength, and relative positioning, Tickeron's AI would likely express a modest preference for East West Bancorp at this stage. The company's wider net interest margin, superior return on tangible common equity, stronger capital ratios, and constructive analyst momentum suggest a more durable and stable fundamental profile. KeyCorp's record revenue, improving credit quality, and attractive dividend yield keep it a credible candidate, but its thinner capital position and dependence on capital-markets activity introduce slightly more variability. The AI's tilt toward EWBC should be read as a probabilistic judgment rather than a definitive call, subject to change as market conditions evolve.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is EWBC is a Buy and KEY is a Hold.
EWBC in +3.42% Uptrend, advancing for three consecutive days on October 22, 2026
Moving higher for three straight days is viewed as a bullish sign. Keep an eye on this stock for future growth. Considering data from situations where EWBC advanced for three days, in 216 of 313 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 69%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for EWBC just turned positive on October 05, 2026. Looking at past instances where EWBC's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 26 of 43 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 60%.
EWBC moved above its 50-day moving average on October 21, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend.
The 10-day moving average for EWBC crossed bullishly above the 50-day moving average on October 26, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted higher and could be considered a buy signal. In 6 of 14 past instances when the 10-day crossed above the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 43%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 180 of 292 cases where EWBC Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 62%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The 10-day RSI Indicator for EWBC moved out of overbought territory on October 23, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 39 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In 25 of the 39 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at 64%.
The Stochastic Oscillator may be shifting from an upward trend to a downward trend. In 38 of 64 cases where EWBC's Stochastic Oscillator exited the overbought zone, the price fell further within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 59%.
The Momentum Indicator moved below the 0 level on November 05, 2026. You may want to consider selling the stock, shorting the stock, or exploring put options on EWBC as a result. In 53 of 84 cases where the Momentum Indicator fell below 0, the stock fell further within the subsequent month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 63%.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where EWBC declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 62%.
EWBC broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 20, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 9 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating very strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 32 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to outstanding earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 32 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating low risk on high returns. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 56, placing this stock better than average.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 44 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. EWBC’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 50 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 95 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is significantly overvalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (1.912) is normal, around the industry mean (1.263). P/E Ratio (12.325) is within average values for comparable stocks, (13.394). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (4.719) is also within normal values, averaging (1.190). Dividend Yield (0.025) settles around the average of (0.035) among similar stocks. EWBC's P/S Ratio (5.714) is slightly higher than the industry average of (3.738).
KEY in upward trend: price rose above 50-day moving average on October 22, 2026
KEY moved above its 50-day moving average on October 22, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend. In 33 of 50 similar past instances, the stock price increased further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 66%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for KEY just turned positive on October 08, 2026. Looking at past instances where KEY's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 23 of 45 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 51%.
The 10-day moving average for KEY crossed bullishly above the 50-day moving average on October 30, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted higher and could be considered a buy signal. In 8 of 15 past instances when the 10-day crossed above the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 53%.
Following a +1.61% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where KEY advanced for three days, in 177 of 293 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 60%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The 10-day RSI Indicator for KEY moved out of overbought territory on October 30, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 35 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In 27 of the 35 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at 77%.
The Stochastic Oscillator may be shifting from an upward trend to a downward trend. In 48 of 64 cases where KEY's Stochastic Oscillator exited the overbought zone, the price fell further within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 75%.
The Momentum Indicator moved below the 0 level on November 05, 2026. You may want to consider selling the stock, shorting the stock, or exploring put options on KEY as a result. In 59 of 86 cases where the Momentum Indicator fell below 0, the stock fell further within the subsequent month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 69%.
The 50-day moving average for KEY moved below the 200-day moving average on October 16, 2026. This could be a long-term bearish signal for the stock as the stock shifts to an downward trend.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where KEY declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 70%.
KEY broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 20, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
The Aroon Indicator for KEY entered a downward trend on October 21, 2026. This could indicate a strong downward move is ahead for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 2 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is seriously undervalued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 7 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating very strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 47 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. KEY’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 48 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (1.293) is normal, around the industry mean (1.263). P/E Ratio (12.116) is within average values for comparable stocks, (13.394). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (1.332) is also within normal values, averaging (1.190). Dividend Yield (0.039) settles around the average of (0.035) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (2.996) is also within normal values, averaging (3.738).
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 83 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. KEY’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 56, placing this stock worse than average.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 88 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to worse than average earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
EWBC | KEY | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 20 | 32 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 95 Overvalued | 48 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 32 | 83 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 9 | 7 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 44 | 47 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 32 | 88 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 2 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
KEY's Valuation (48) in the Major Banks industry is somewhat better than the same rating for EWBC (95) in the Regional Banks industry. This means that KEY’s stock grew somewhat faster than EWBC’s over the last 12 months.
EWBC's Profit vs Risk Rating (32) in the Regional Banks industry is somewhat better than the same rating for KEY (83) in the Major Banks industry. This means that EWBC’s stock grew somewhat faster than KEY’s over the last 12 months.
KEY's SMR Rating (7) in the Major Banks industry is in the same range as EWBC (9) in the Regional Banks industry. This means that KEY’s stock grew similarly to EWBC’s over the last 12 months.
EWBC's Price Growth Rating (44) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as KEY (47) in the Major Banks industry. This means that EWBC’s stock grew similarly to KEY’s over the last 12 months.
EWBC's P/E Growth Rating (32) in the Regional Banks industry is somewhat better than the same rating for KEY (88) in the Major Banks industry. This means that EWBC’s stock grew somewhat faster than KEY’s over the last 12 months.
| EWBC | KEY | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 64% | 1 day ago 77% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 59% | 1 day ago 75% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 63% | 1 day ago 69% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 1 day ago 51% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 61% | 1 day ago 68% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 62% | 1 day ago 59% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 16 days ago 69% | 9 days ago 60% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 10 days ago 62% | 24 days ago 70% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 50% | 1 day ago 67% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 62% | 1 day ago 67% |
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is overvalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
EWBC’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green while KEY’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- EWBC’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- KEY’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
EWBC’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while KEY’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- EWBC’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- KEY’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 7 bearish.
Price Growth
EWBC (@Regional Banks) experienced а -2.34% price change this week, while KEY (@Regional Banks) price change was -2.47% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Regional Banks industry was -0.87%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +0.57%, and the average quarterly price growth was +7.11%.
Reported Earning Dates
EWBC is expected to report earnings on Jan 28, 2027.
KEY is expected to report earnings on Jan 20, 2027.
Industries' Descriptions
@Regional Banks (-0.87% weekly)Regional banks have a smaller reach than major banks, and cater mostly to one region of a country, such as a state or within a group of states. They offer services often similar – albeit with some limitations/smaller scale – compared to major banks. Taking deposits, making loans, mortgages, leases, credit cards , fund management, insurance and investment banking. SunTrust Banks, State Street Corp., M&T Bank Corp. are some examples of U.S. regional banks.
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EWBC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, EWBC has been closely correlated with WTFC. These tickers have moved in lockstep 83% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if EWBC jumps, then WTFC could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To EWBC | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EWBC | 100% | -3.74% | ||
| WTFC - EWBC | 83% Closely correlated | -2.47% | ||
| ZION - EWBC | 83% Closely correlated | -2.55% | ||
| ASB - EWBC | 83% Closely correlated | -2.58% | ||
| FNB - EWBC | 82% Closely correlated | -3.20% | ||
| KEY - EWBC | 82% Closely correlated | -2.74% | ||
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