Columbia Banking System, Inc. (Nasdaq: COLB) is headquartered in Tacoma, Washington and is the parent company of Columbia Bank (dba: Umpqua Bank), an award-winning western U.S. regional bank. Columbia Bank is the largest bank headquartered in the Northwest and one of the largest banks headquartered in the West with locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. With over $50 billion in assets, Columbia Bank combines the resources, sophistication, and expertise of a ...

Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which can be identified by words such as "may," "expected," "anticipate," "continue," or other comparable words. In addition, all statements other than statements of historical facts that address activities that Columbia expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Readers are encouraged to read t ...

Core Viewpoint - Columbia Banking System, Inc. is set to acquire Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. in an all-stock transaction, with all necessary regulatory approvals received, and the deal expected to close around August 31, 2025 [1][2][3] Company Overview Columbia Banking System, Inc. - Columbia Banking System, Inc. is headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, and is the parent company of Columbia Bank, which is the largest bank in the Northwest with over $50 billion in assets [4] - Columbia Bank offers a full suite of services including retail and commercial banking, SBA lending, and wealth management [4] Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. - Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. is based in California and operates Pacific Premier Bank, which has approximately $18 billion in total assets [5] - The bank focuses on serving small to middle-market businesses and offers a variety of banking products and services, including digital banking and treasury management [5]

Market Overview - The stock market has started June positively, with Wall Street aiming to push the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to new all-time highs, supported by cooling trade war tensions, lower inflation, and strong earnings results driven by tech growth and AI spending [1] - However, achieving these highs may be challenging until the second quarter earnings season begins in mid-July, unless there are significant updates on trade wars or declining long-term yields [2] Stock Screening Strategy - The stock screening process utilizes the Research Wizard to identify Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) stocks, focusing on those with upward price momentum and trading within 20% of their 52-week highs [3][4] - The screening criteria include a PEG ratio and Price to Sales ratio to ensure value, ultimately narrowing down to seven stock picks [4] Featured Stock: Popular (BPOP) - Popular (BPOP) is highlighted as a leading financial services company in Puerto Rico, the U.S., and the Virgin Islands, being the largest bank in Puerto Rico by assets and deposits [5][7] - The company has shown strong performance, with a recent quarter that exceeded expectations, leading to a 5% increase in FY25 consensus earnings estimates and a 9.4% increase for 2026 [9] - BPOP's adjusted EPS is projected to grow by 17% this year and 20% next year, supported by a 7% increase in sales for both periods [9] Performance Metrics - Over the past decade, BPOP's stock has increased by 210%, significantly outperforming the Zacks Finance sector, including a 14% rise in 2025 [10] - The stock recently reached 52-week highs and is currently trading 8% below its average Zacks price target, indicating potential for further growth [10] - BPOP trades at a 45% discount to the Finance sector with a forward earnings multiple of 9.2X, which is in line with its 10-year median [14] - The company offers a dividend yield of 2.65%, which is competitive within its industry, with a majority of brokerage recommendations being "Strong Buys" or "Buys" [14]