Waterstone Financial, Inc. (WSBF)

Over the past six months, Waterstone Financial, Inc. shares have gained 21.5%, outperforming the industry's 1.8% decline due to loan portfolio growth, improved net interest margin, strong capital ratios, and cost control measures. Challenges included a decline in mortgage banking loan origination volume, tighter margins, and unrealized losses in its investment portfolio. In December 2025, the board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per common share, payable on February 2, 2026.

The banking industry generally experiences seasonal patterns, with loan demand typically seeing annual lows in late January and February, increasing from March, and peaking in August or September, before decreasing until December. Mortgage lending tends to peak in the spring and summer months, while winter months generally have the least activity. Demand deposits can show a seasonal surge in March, with aggregate deposits of scheduled commercial banks reaching a seasonal high in April. Interest rate fluctuations can significantly influence loan demand, sometimes overriding traditional seasonal trends.

Waterstone Financial, Inc. is a financial holding company based in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, operating through WaterStone Bank SSB and Waterstone Mortgage Corporation. It offers retail and commercial banking services, including deposit products and lending solutions like mortgages, home equity loans, personal loans, real estate financing, and business loans. The company also provides wealth management and insurance solutions, and its Mortgage Banking segment originates residential mortgage loans for sale in the secondary market and invests in various securities.

Waterstone Financial, Inc. is headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. WaterStone Bank operates 14 branch locations across southeastern Wisconsin, specifically in Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Washington counties. Waterstone Mortgage Corporation has 78 offices in 26 states and can lend in 48 states.

Waterstone Financial, Inc. maintains a commitment to community engagement and a client-centric approach. In October 2025, WaterStone Bank's VP of Marketing, Tara Lagerman, was named a "C-Suite Star" by the Milwaukee Business Journal. Also in October 2025, WaterStone Bank offered assistance to those affected by a federal shutdown. No significant negative events impacting Waterstone Financial, Inc.'s brand reputation in the past year were found in the provided search results.

Waterstone Financial, Inc. has 243 institutional owners and shareholders holding a total of 11,147,238 shares. Major institutional owners include BlackRock, Inc., Dimensional Fund Advisors Lp, Renaissance Technologies Llc, and Vanguard Group Inc. Other significant institutional holders are VTSMX, IWM, State Street Corp, Geode Capital Management, Llc, VEXMX and DFSVX. Individual investors and the Waterstone Bank SSB Employee Stock Ownership Plan are also among the shareholders.