EWBC vs. FCNCA: East West Bancorp vs. First Citizens BancShares Stock Comparison
How do East West Bancorp (EWBC) and First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
East West Bancorp (EWBC) and First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) both belong to the Banks industry, though EWBC is classified under Regional Banks while FCNCA falls under Diversified Banks.
| Profile Item | EWBC | FCNCA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | East West Bancorp Inc. | First Citizens BancShares, Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Regional Banks | Diversified Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 17.65 billion USD | 25.15 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | February 3, 1999 | October 22, 1986 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | FCNCA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 30.57% | 27.07% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 36.90% | 18.91% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.56% | 22.86% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | FCNCA |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.01% | 27.19% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.98 | 0.61 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -54.06% | -43.60% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 807.94K | 68.57K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | FCNCA |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.14 | 0.84 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.69 | 1.24 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 16.57% sits in the top ROE quartile, while First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) at 10.98% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for EWBC.
EWBC
Banks industry group
16.57%
- Max
- 19.84%
- EWBC
- 16.57%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
FCNCA
Banks industry group
10.98%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- FCNCA
- 10.98%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 50.06% retains an above-range share of revenue as profit, while First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) at 25.21% keeps a bottom-quartile share — a wide gap in how much each sales dollar survives to the bottom line.
EWBC
Banks industry group
50.06%
- EWBC
- 50.06%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
FCNCA
Banks industry group
25.21%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- FCNCA
- 25.21%
- Min
- 14.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Banks and First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | FCNCA |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 16.57% | 10.98% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.76% | 1.01% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 50.06% | 25.21% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 12.86% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) at -2.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 14.29% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) at -12.76% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | FCNCA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.86% | -2.61% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.70% | 26.91% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 14.29% | -12.76% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.33% | 34.84% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Banks and First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) in Banks both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Banks and First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) in Banks run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | FCNCA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 2.32% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) at 0.36% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.
EWBC
Banks industry group
2.32%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- EWBC
- 2.32%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
FCNCA
Banks industry group
0.36%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- FCNCA
- 0.36%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 28.52% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) at 4.31% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.
EWBC
Banks industry group
28.52%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- EWBC
- 28.52%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
FCNCA
Banks industry group
4.31%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- FCNCA
- 4.31%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | FCNCA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.32% | 0.36% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 28.52% | 4.31% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 12.25 and First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) at 11.68 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
EWBC
Banks industry group
12.25
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- EWBC
- 12.25
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
FCNCA
Banks industry group
11.68
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- FCNCA
- 11.68
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Banks and First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) in Banks: without a conventional revenue line, pricing per dollar of sales isn’t meaningful, and book- or earnings-based multiples make the better comparison.
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) at 1.29 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 1.95 carries an above-peer premium to book — EWBC is pricier on assets.
EWBC
Banks industry group
1.95
- Max
- 2.28
- EWBC
- 1.95
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
FCNCA
Banks industry group
1.29
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- FCNCA
- 1.29
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | FCNCA |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.25 | 11.68 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.95 | 1.29 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |