EWBC vs. WF: East West Bancorp vs. Woori Financial Stock Comparison
How do East West Bancorp (EWBC) and Woori Financial (WF) 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 Woori Financial (WF) both belong to the Banks industry, though EWBC is classified under Regional Banks while WF falls under Diversified Banks.
East West Bancorp (EWBC) trades as ordinary local shares, while Woori Financial (WF) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | EWBC | WF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | East West Bancorp Inc. | Woori Financial Group Inc. Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | South Korea |
| 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 | 16.87 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 3, 1999 | October 1, 2003 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | WF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 30.57% | 29.84% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 36.90% | 43.68% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.56% | 22.77% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | WF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.01% | 35.97% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.98 | 0.99 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -54.06% | -43.52% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 807.94K | 85.96K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | WF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.14 | 0.71 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.69 | 1.08 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 16.57% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Woori Financial (WF) at 7.93% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in returns on equity.
EWBC
Banks industry group
16.57%
- Max
- 19.84%
- EWBC
- 16.57%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
WF
Banks industry group
7.93%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- WF
- 7.93%
- Min
- 3.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 50.06% retains an above-range share of revenue as profit, while Woori Financial (WF) at 27.06% 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%
WF
Banks industry group
27.06%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- WF
- 27.06%
- Min
- 14.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Banks and Woori Financial (WF) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | WF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 16.57% | 7.93% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.76% | 0.51% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 50.06% | 27.06% |
| 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 Woori Financial (WF) at 5.30% 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 Woori Financial (WF) at 2.58% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | WF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.86% | 5.30% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.70% | 5.16% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 14.29% | 2.58% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.33% | -1.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Banks and Woori Financial (WF) 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 Woori Financial (WF) 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 | WF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 2.32% pays an industry-typical yield; Woori Financial (WF) at 1,108.19% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.
EWBC
Banks industry group
2.32%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- EWBC
- 2.32%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
WF
Banks industry group
1,108.19%
- WF
- 1,108.19%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 28.52% and Woori Financial (WF) at 32.85% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
EWBC
Banks industry group
28.52%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- EWBC
- 28.52%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
WF
Banks industry group
32.85%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- WF
- 32.85%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | WF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.32% | 1,108.19% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 28.52% | 32.85% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Woori Financial (WF) at 8.04 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 12.25 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for WF, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
EWBC
Banks industry group
12.25
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- EWBC
- 12.25
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
WF
Banks industry group
8.04
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- WF
- 8.04
- Min
- 6.49
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Banks and Woori Financial (WF) 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)
Woori Financial (WF) at 0.63 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 1.95 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.
EWBC
Banks industry group
1.95
- Max
- 2.28
- EWBC
- 1.95
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
WF
Banks industry group
0.63
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- WF
- 0.63
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | EWBC | WF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.25 | 8.04 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.95 | 0.63 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |