HTBK, PMBC, CPF, COLB, WABC, EWBC, Banks

August 19, 2011/ M2 PRESSWIRE / BUYINS.NET / http://www.squeezetrigger.com is monitoring the Banks - West sector and these stocks are the most undervalued as of today. HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP (NASDAQ:HTBK), PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP (NASDAQ:PMBC), CENTRAL PACIFIC FINANCIAL CO (NYSE:CPF), COLUMBIA BANKING SYSTEM INC (NASDAQ:COLB), WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION (NASDAQ:WABC), EAST WEST BANCORP INC (NASDAQ:EWBC) are all expected to go Up as they are Undervalued according to industry standard valuation metrics. The valuation model employs a three-factor approach to stock valuation using fundamental variables--the company's trailing 12-month Earnings-Per-Share (EPS), the analyst consensus estimate of the company's forecasted 12-month EPS, and the 30-year Treasury yield--to create a highly accurate reflection of a company's fair value.

The chart below displays the projected Fair Value and Valuation discount/premium of the most undervalued stocks in the highlighted industry group:

     Symbol     Company Name                        Last Close     Fair Value     Valuation                   Industry               
     HTBK       HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP              4.26           11.9           64.20% Undervalued          Banks - West           
     PMBC       PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP          4.16           4.77           12.80% Undervalued          Banks - West           
     CPF        CENTRAL PACIFIC FINANCIAL CO        12.17          48.68          75.00% Undervalued          Banks - West           
     COLB       COLUMBIA BANKING SYSTEM INC         14.88          20.6           27.80% Undervalued          Banks - West           
     WABC       WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION          38.18          55.73          31.50% Undervalued          Banks - West           
     EWBC       EAST WEST BANCORP INC               15.33          26.76          42.70% Undervalued          Banks - West

Here are some of the variables that are utilized when calculating the Fair Market Valuation of a stock: Long-run EPS growth rate, Duration of Business-growth-cycle, Volatility of EPS growth rate, Systematic or beta risk of the firm, Correlation between the firm's EPS and the interest rate environment, EPS growth volatility, Dividend payout ratio, Buffer earnings, Interest rate related criteria: Interest rate (30 year yield) long-run level, Duration of interest rate cycle, Interest rate volatility. The Fair Market Valuation uses 12-month historic and forecasted EPS values and the current 30-year treasury yield as primary determinants. When calculating risk/return values such as the Sharpe ratio, the historic periods used are five years.

Some expected results of the Valuation Model are: the valuation of a stock increases in a declining interest rate environment. Increasing current and/or projected EPS will produce a higher Valuation. While long-term EPS growth would produce a corresponding long-term Valuation increase, concomitant long-term interest rate increases would offset EPS growth and depress the Valuation. The shorter a company's own business cycle, the higher its stock Valuation will be.

HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP (NASDAQ:HTBK) - Heritage Commerce Corp operates as a bank holding company for Heritage Bank of Commerce that provides various commercial and personal banking services to residents and the business/professional community in California. It offers deposit products, including checking accounts, interest-bearing transaction accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, retirement accounts, non-interest-bearing demand accounts, savings accounts, and money market deposit accounts for retail and business banking markets. The company also provides commercial loans for working capital, financing the purchase of equipment, or for other business purposes; real estate term loans, and real estate land and construction loans; consumer loans for the purpose of financing automobiles, various types of consumer goods, and other personal purposes; home equity lines of credit; and small business administration loans. In addition, it offers cashiers checks, travelers checks, bank-by-mail, automated teller machine, night depository, safe deposit boxes, direct deposits, automated payroll, electronic funds transfers, online banking, and other customary banking services. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated 10 full service branches in San Jose, Los Gatos, Fremont, Danville, Pleasanton, Walnut Creek, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Mountain View, and Los Altos. It also operated loan production offices in Sacramento, Oakland, and Santa Rosa. The company was founded in 1993 and is based in San Jose, California.

PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP (NASDAQ:PMBC) - Pacific Mercantile Bancorp operates as the holding company for Pacific Mercantile Bank that provides banking services to small and medium-size businesses, professionals, and the general public primarily in Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties of California. It offers various deposit products that include noninterest-bearing and interest-bearing checking accounts, money market and savings deposits, and certificates of deposit. The companys loan portfolio comprises commercial loans, including short-term secured and unsecured business loans; commercial real estate loans; residential mortgage loans; real estate construction and land development loans; consumer loans, including personal installment loans, lines of credit, credit cards, and loans to high net-worth individuals for estate planning; credit lines; accounts receivable and inventory financing; and SBA guaranteed business loans. Its business banking services include multiple account control, account analysis, transaction security and verification, wire transfers, bill payment, payroll, and lock box services; and convenience banking services consist of Internet banking services, ATMs, night drop services, courier and armored car services, and remote deposit capture. Pacific Mercantile Bancorp operates eight full service commercial banking offices. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California.

CENTRAL PACIFIC FINANCIAL CO (NYSE:CPF) - Central Pacific Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Central Pacific Bank that provides commercial banking services to businesses, professionals, and individuals in Hawaii. The company offers various deposit products and services, including time and demand deposits, personal and business checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and time certificates of deposit. Its loan portfolio comprises commercial loans, construction loans, commercial and residential mortgage loans, consumer loans, and commercial real estate loans. The company also provides various products and services consisting of debit cards, Internet banking, cash management services, travelers checks, safe deposit boxes, international banking services, night depository facilities, and wire transfers. In addition, it offers wealth management products and services, including non-deposit investment products, annuities, insurance, investment management, asset custody, and general consultation and planning services. As of March 16, 2010, it operated 37 branches and approximately 100 automated teller machines in Hawaii. The company was founded in 1954 and is based in Honolulu, Hawaii.

COLUMBIA BANKING SYSTEM INC (NASDAQ:COLB) - Columbia Banking System, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Columbia State Bank, which provides a range of banking services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and individuals in the states of Washington and Oregon. It offers checking and saving accounts, certificate of deposit accounts, and consumer and residential lending products; and remote deposit capture, cash management, commercial and industrial lending, real estate and real estate construction lending, equipment finance, and small business services. The company also provides Visa card, investment, international banking, merchant card, online banking, electronic bill pay, and private banking services. As of February 19, 2010, Columbia Banking System had 84 branch offices, including 60 branches in Washington and 24 branches in Oregon. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Tacoma, Washington.

WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION (NASDAQ:WABC) - Westamerica Bancorporation operates as the holding company for Westamerica Bank that provides various banking services to individuals and corporate customers in northern and central California. Its deposit products include money market savings and checking accounts; non interest bearing demand account deposits; interest bearing transaction, savings, and time accounts; and certificates of deposit. The companys portfolio of loans includes commercial and residential real estate loans, commercial loans, and real estate construction loans. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated 97 offices in 22 counties in Northern and Central California, including 14 offices in Fresno county; 11 each in Marin and Sonoma counties; 7 in Merced, Napa, and Stanislaus counties; 5 ach in Lake, Contra Costa, and Solano counties; 4 in Kern county; 3 each in Alameda, Sacramento, and Tulare counties; 2 each in Mendocino, Nevada, Placer, and Tulare Counties; and 1 each in Merced, San Francisco, Tuolumne, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, and Yolo Counties. The company was formerly known as Independent Bankshares Corporation and changed its name to Westamerica Bancorporation in 1983. Westamerica Bancorporation was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in San Rafael, California.

EAST WEST BANCORP INC (NASDAQ:EWBC) - East West Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for East West Bank, which provides a range of personal and commercial banking services to small and medium-sized businesses, business executives, professionals, and other individuals in California. The company offers various deposit products, including personal and business checking and savings accounts, time deposits and individual retirement accounts, travelers checks, safe deposit boxes, and MasterCard and Visa merchant deposit services. It also provides residential and commercial real estate, construction, commercial, trade finance, accounts receivable, small business administration, inventory, and working capital loans. In addition, the company offers business and consumer insurance services to the southern California market, as well as provides short-term trade finance facilities primarily to the United States importers and manufacturers doing business in the Asia Pacific region. As of December 31, 2009, it operated 135 branch locations worldwide. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Pasadena, California.

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HTBK, PMBC, CPF, COLB, WABC, EWBC, Banks - West Stocks Undervalued