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SBSI vs WABC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Southside Bancshares (SBSI) vs. Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- SBSI is a Texas-focused community bank leveraging steady loan growth, while WABC is a conservative California lender emphasizing balance-sheet quality and capital returns.
- SBSI recently posted double-digit net income growth and improving asset quality, whereas WABC reported earnings beats but slower year-over-year profitability.
- Both names offer meaningful shareholder returns: SBSI carries a higher dividend yield, while WABC has been actively expanding share repurchases.
- Market positioning diverges on growth versus stability, making this a useful stock comparison for regional-bank investors.
Introduction
Regional banks often move as a group, but their underlying business models can produce sharply different risk-reward profiles. This stock comparison examines SBSI (Southside Bancshares, Inc.) and WABC (Westamerica Bancorporation), two established community-oriented bank holding companies trading at similar price-to-earnings multiples but operating in very different geographies. Investors weighing relative performance, growth drivers, and market positioning in the financial sector may find this comparison useful. It is particularly relevant for those seeking dividend income, exposure to regional economic momentum, or a defensive balance-sheet profile in an environment shaped by shifting interest rates and credit conditions.
SBSI Overview and Recent Performance
Southside Bancshares, Inc., headquartered in Tyler, Texas, is the holding company for Southside Bank, serving individuals, businesses, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations across East and Central Texas. The institution maintains a commercial banking focus and has reported mid-single-digit loan growth in recent periods, reflecting its exposure to economically active Texas markets.
Recent market activity has highlighted improving fundamentals. In its latest quarterly report, SBSI posted adjusted earnings above consensus, with net income rising roughly 23% year over year on higher net interest income and disciplined expense management. Credit quality has been a notable strength, with nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets declining sharply from prior-year levels. The company has also executed a share repurchase program, and management has signaled confidence in meeting loan growth targets. These factors have supported a generally constructive, if measured, tone in recent weeks, even as net interest margin (NIM), a key bank profitability metric, has held in a narrow range near 2.8% to 2.9%.
WABC Overview and Recent Performance
Westamerica Bancorporation, based in San Rafael, California, is the parent company of Westamerica Bank, which operates commercial banking and trust offices throughout Northern and Central California. The company is widely regarded for a conservative operating philosophy, maintaining a low-cost deposit franchise and a balance sheet that holds a substantial portion of assets in securities rather than loans.
In recent quarters, WABC has consistently exceeded earnings expectations, helped by an exceptionally low cost of funding and resilient expense control. However, year-over-year net income has trended modestly lower, reflecting a gradual runoff in certain lending books and only slight relief on net interest margin. The board has demonstrated commitment to shareholder returns, increasing the quarterly dividend and expanding its stock repurchase authorization by 2 million shares. Recent analyst activity has included price-target increases, and the stock's relative performance has been steady, though growth catalysts remain more limited than at peers pursuing aggressive loan expansion.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
The clearest contrast between these two banks lies in their growth posture. SBSI operates in high-growth Texas markets and is actively expanding its loan book, which offers upside tied to regional economic momentum but introduces exposure to commercial real estate and competitive lending dynamics. WABC, by contrast, prioritizes capital preservation and low-cost funding over growth, producing steadier but more limited earnings potential.
On capital returns, SBSI offers the higher current dividend yield, while WABC has been more aggressive with buybacks and dividend increases. Risk profiles also differ: SBSI carries geographic concentration in Texas, whereas WABC faces California-specific economic exposure and a securities-heavy balance sheet sensitive to rate movements. From a sentiment standpoint, SBSI has benefited from improving credit and earnings momentum, while WABC has drawn support from stability, analyst target increases, and shareholder-friendly actions.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency, earnings momentum, and relative positioning, Tickeron's AI would likely lean toward SBSI as the more favorable near-term candidate. The combination of accelerating net income, strengthening credit quality, active capital deployment, and a growth-oriented loan book suggests a comparatively stronger momentum profile. WABC remains an attractive defensive holding with a stable balance sheet and dependable shareholder returns, but its slower growth trajectory may present fewer catalysts. This assessment is probabilistic in nature and reflects current market conditions rather than a definitive prediction.
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 SBSI is a StrongBuy and WABC is a Hold.
SBSI | WABC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 75 | 35 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 18 Undervalued | 78 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 94 | 65 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 28 | 27 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 56 | 44 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 24 | 20 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 85 | 75 |
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.
SBSI's Valuation (18) in the Regional Banks industry is somewhat better than the same rating for WABC (78). This means that SBSI’s stock grew somewhat faster than WABC’s over the last 12 months.
WABC's Profit vs Risk Rating (65) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as SBSI (94). This means that WABC’s stock grew similarly to SBSI’s over the last 12 months.
WABC's SMR Rating (27) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as SBSI (28). This means that WABC’s stock grew similarly to SBSI’s over the last 12 months.
WABC's Price Growth Rating (44) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as SBSI (56). This means that WABC’s stock grew similarly to SBSI’s over the last 12 months.
WABC's P/E Growth Rating (20) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as SBSI (24). This means that WABC’s stock grew similarly to SBSI’s over the last 12 months.
| SBSI | WABC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 56% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 58% | 2 days ago 58% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 57% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 55% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 50% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 54% | 2 days ago 53% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 61% | 4 days ago 56% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 68% | 2 days ago 64% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 52% |
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).
SBSI’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green while WABC’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- SBSI’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- WABC’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 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.
SBSI’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while WABC’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- SBSI’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- WABC’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
SBSI (@Regional Banks) experienced а -1.16% price change this week, while WABC (@Regional Banks) price change was -1.76% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Regional Banks industry was -0.70%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.63%, and the average quarterly price growth was +11.69%.
Reported Earning Dates
SBSI is expected to report earnings on Oct 27, 2026.
WABC is expected to report earnings on Oct 15, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Regional Banks (-0.70% 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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SBSI and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, SBSI has been closely correlated with FULT. These tickers have moved in lockstep 80% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if SBSI jumps, then FULT could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To SBSI | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBSI | 100% | +0.79% | ||
| FULT - SBSI | 80% Closely correlated | +0.97% | ||
| BUSE - SBSI | 79% Closely correlated | +0.92% | ||
| OBK - SBSI | 79% Closely correlated | +1.90% | ||
| AUB - SBSI | 79% Closely correlated | +0.91% | ||
| EFSC - SBSI | 79% Closely correlated | +0.97% | ||
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WABC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, WABC has been closely correlated with SBSI. These tickers have moved in lockstep 75% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if WABC jumps, then SBSI could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To WABC | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WABC | 100% | +0.81% | ||
| SBSI - WABC | 75% Closely correlated | +0.79% | ||
| NWBI - WABC | 75% Closely correlated | +1.33% | ||
| EFSC - WABC | 74% Closely correlated | +0.97% | ||
| FMBH - WABC | 73% Closely correlated | +1.42% | ||
| NBHC - WABC | 73% Closely correlated | -2.83% | ||
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