Latest news for Commencement Bancorp (OTC:CBWA) Stock

Commencement Bancorp Inc is a holding company that operates through its subsidiary. It provides loan and deposit services to customers, who are predominately individuals and small and midsized businesses in western Washington. The company offers banking products and services such as Personal Banking which includes Personal Checking, Personal Loans & Credit, Savings & Money markets, Business Banking which includes Business Loans, Checking & Savings, Business Services, and Merchant Services.

News

Topics

Events

Small Business

General

CBWA

FDVA

FRSB

HBSI

IBTN

PRIME MERIDIAN HLDG CO by Prime Meridian Holding Co.

PMHG

RYFL

SBKK

VICTORY BANCORP INC by Victory Bancorp Inc.

VTYB

TKGBY

GBOOY

11 Banks Outline Their Highest Priorities Right Now

COMMENCEMENT BANCORP INC by Commencement Bancorp Inc

Commencement Bancorp Inc

Dubai has announced the construction of a &#8220;Crypto Tower&#8221; to accommodate businesses operating in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42996138/new-crypto-accounting-rules-could-accelerate-corporate-bitcoin-adoption-says-ceo-of-leading-btc-miner-mark-to-market-standards-really-important">the blockchain sector</a>.
What Happened: <a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/realty/dubai-to-get-new-landmark-crypto-tower-to-be-completed-in-2027?_refresh=true">According </a>to reporting from the Khaleej Times on Wednesday, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) is aiming to foster the digital asset ecosystem in the city.
According to the report, the Crypto Tower will offer 150,000 square feet of leasable space, including nine floors of advanced offices for crypto startups and established businesses. 
The building will also feature dedicated floors for blockchain incubators, venture capital firms, and AI innovation.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman and CEO of DMCC, stated, &#8220;The Crypto Tower is a pioneering development that sits at the interface of blockchain, Web3 and real estate.&#8221; 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42998035/bitcoin-adoption-still-early-blackrock-says">Bitcoin Adoption Still Early, BlackRock Says</a>
Notable features of the Crypto Tower include:
<ol>
<li>A 10,000-square-foot indoor event space and 3,500-square-foot outdoor area for crypto and blockchain events</li>
<li>A 30,000-square-foot crypto club on the top three floors</li>
<li>An NFT art gallery</li>
<li>A gold bullion shop</li>
<li>An exotic car dealership</li>
<li>A 5,000-square-foot vault storage area for valuables including gold, cash, and cold wallets</li>
</ol>
Why It Matters: This development aligns with Dubai&#8217;s broader efforts to establish itself as a global crypto hub. 
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41125099/ripple-receives-dubai-approval-for-blockchain-payment-services">In October</a>, Ripple received in-principle approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to offer blockchain-enabled payment services in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). 
Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple&#8217;s CEO, praised the UAE&#8217;s &#8220;forward-thinking regulatory approach,&#8221; highlighting the country&#8217;s positioning as a leader in financial technology innovation.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42987165/bitcoin-is-an-excellent-buying-opportunity-at-if-it-breaks-below-90000-says-standard-chartered">Bitcoin Is An &#8216;Excellent&#8217; Buying Opportunity At If It Breaks Below $90,000 Says Standard Chartered</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

Dubai Announces 'Crypto Tower' To Host Blockchain Businesses

WIIM

BKNG

GBTG

JBLU

NCLH

RYAAY

TRIP

Shares of travel-related companies are trading higher amid overall market strength after CPI data was in line with estimates and core CPI rose by less than expected.

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Joseph Pantginis reiterates Aprea Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APRE#NASDAQ">APRE</a>) with a Buy and maintains $20 price target.

Price Target

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

APRE

HC Wainwright & Co. Reiterates Buy on Aprea Therapeutics, Maintains $20 Price Target

Macro Economic Events

Economics

Federal Reserve

Fed's Williams Says Sees Move To 2% Inflation Over Coming Years;Housing Related Inflation Pressures Are Easing; Economy Has Returned To Balance; Inflation Expectations Are Anchored

Fed's Williams Says Monetary Policy Data-dependent In Highly Uncertain Environment; Government Policy Outlook Main Source Of Uncertainty; Monetary Policy 'well Positioned' For Economic Outlook; Disinflation Process To Continue, Could Be Choppy; Improvement In Supply/demand Balance Allowed Rate Cuts; Balance Sheet Drawdown Proceeding Smoothly;  Expects Growth To Moderate To 2% This Year; Expects Unemployment Rate To Hold Between 4%-4.25%

Econ #s

Cleveland CPI (MoM) For December 0.3% Vs	0.2% Prior

Vertex Pharmaceuticals's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NYSE">VRTX</a>) short percent of float has risen 12.41% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 3.96 million shares sold short, which is 1.54% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.6 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Vertex Pharmaceuticals Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736956825_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Vertex Pharmaceuticals has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Vertex Pharmaceuticals's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Vertex Pharmaceuticals's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.33%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

VRTX

How Is The Market Feeling About Vertex Pharmaceuticals?

Curtiss-Wright's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CW#NYSE">CW</a>) short percent of float has fallen 7.27% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 341 thousand shares sold short, which is 1.02% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.18 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Curtiss-Wright Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736956818_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Curtiss-Wright has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Curtiss-Wright's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Curtiss-Wright's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.10%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Looking Into Curtiss-Wright's Recent Short Interest

Travelers Companies's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRV#NYSE">TRV</a>) short percent of float has risen 13.18% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 3.30 million shares sold short, which is 1.46% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.89 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Travelers Companies Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736956812_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Travelers Companies has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Travelers Companies's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Travelers Companies's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 1.96%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Looking Into Travelers Companies's Recent Short Interest

Aflac (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 2.36% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 13.7%. Currently, Aflac has a market capitalization of $58.29 billion. 
Buying $100 In AFL: If an investor had bought $100 of AFL stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $360.98 today based on a price of $104.70 for AFL at the time of writing.
<h3>Aflac's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736956811_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Aflac Stock In The Last 10 Years

Small Cap Consumer Research analyst Eric Beder reiterates Lands' End (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LE#NASDAQ">LE</a>) with a Buy and maintains $20 price target.

Small Cap Consumer Research Reiterates Buy on Lands' End, Maintains $20 Price Target

Scotiabank analyst Eric Winmill maintains Torex Gold Resources (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXG#TSX">TXG</a>) with a Sector Outperform and raises the price target from C$37 to C$38.5.

TSX:TXG

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on Torex Gold Resources, Raises Price Target to C$38.5

Small Cap Consumer Research analyst Eric Beder reiterates Vera Bradley (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRA#NASDAQ">VRA</a>) with a Buy and maintains $5.5 price target.

Small Cap Consumer Research Reiterates Buy on Vera Bradley, Maintains $5.5 Price Target

AAOI

AIOT

BBAI

BOXL

BTBT

CDNS

Core Scientific, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

CORZ

ERIC

FICO

MOBBW

MPWR

NVDA

OUST

PSTG

QMCO

SatixFy Communications Ltd. Ordinary Share

SATX

SGMA

SNOW

TWLO

UMAC

VRAR

VRME

Shares of companies within the broader tech sector are trading higher amid overall market strength after CPI data was in line with estimates and core CPI rose by less than expected.

Scotiabank analyst Ovais Habib maintains SSR Mining (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSRM#TSX">SSRM</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from C$10 to C$12.

TSX:SSRM

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Perform on SSR Mining, Raises Price Target to C$12

AIRE

ARQQ

ASAN

AVPT

CGNT

CRWD

GRRR

IREN

IVDA

LPSN

MNDY

NTNX

NVNI

Next Technology Holding Inc. - Ordinary Shares

NXTT

PANW

PLTR

PRCH

RBRK

REKR

SEMR

SNPS

SOUN

Shares of software companies are trading higher amid overall market strength after CPI data was in line with estimates and core CPI rose by less than expected.

Needham analyst Kyle Peterson reiterates Donnelley Financial Solns (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFIN#NYSE">DFIN</a>) with a Buy and maintains $79 price target.

DFIN

Needham Reiterates Buy on Donnelley Financial Solns, Maintains $79 Price Target

SEALSQ Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LAES#NASDAQ">LAES</a>) shares are trading higher by 26% to $4.63 during Wednesday&#8217;s session. The surge comes as quantum computing stocks rallied broadly following Microsoft Corp&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42998134/qubt-qbts-up-12-rgti-gains-3-in-wednesday-premarket-quantum-computing-stocks-gain-momentum-after-microsoft-says-we-are-right-on-the-cusp-of-seeing-quantum-computers-solve-meaningful-problems">announcement</a> of plans to prepare businesses for the quantum era by 2025. SEALSQ shares are also gaining after NVIDIA Corp announced the company&#8217;s inaugural <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43001201/nvidia-announces-first-ever-quantum-day-at-gtc-2025-days-after-jensen-huang-said-quantum-computing-is-20-years-away">Quantum Day</a>.
What Else: Microsoft&#8217;s emphasis on the imminent arrival of practical quantum computing renewed investor optimism in companies positioned to benefit from advancements in quantum technology.
SEALSQ, known for its focus on post-quantum cryptography, could be uniquely poised to capitalize on this transition as organizations increasingly seek solutions to secure sensitive data from quantum-enabled cyber threats.
While <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42978003/whats-going-on-with-rigetti-computing-rgti-stock-4">skepticism persists</a> about the timeline for meaningful quantum breakthroughs, Microsoft&#8217;s endorsement of the sector has reignited confidence during Wednesday&#8217;s trading session.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43003047/stocks-rise-on-core-inflation-slowdown-banks-rally-after-strong-q4-earnings-treasury-yields-plummet">Stocks Rise On Core Inflation Slowdown, Banks Rally After Strong Q4 Earnings, Treasury Yields Plummet</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy LAES Stock</h2>
By now you're likely curious about how to participate in the market for SEALSQ &#8211; be it to purchase shares, or even attempt to bet against the company.
Buying shares is typically done through a brokerage account. You can find a list of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-stock-trading-platforms">possible trading platforms here.</a> Many will allow you to buy ‘fractional shares,' which allows you to own portions of stock without buying an entire share. For example, some stock, like Berkshire Hathaway, can cost thousands of dollars to own just one share. However, if you only want to invest a fraction of that, brokerages will allow you to do so.
In the case of SEALSQ, which is trading at $4.75 as of publishing time, $100 would buy you 21.05 shares of stock.
If you're looking to bet against a company, the process is more complex. You'll need access to an options trading platform, or a broker who will allow you to ‘go short' a share of stock by lending you the shares to sell. The process of shorting a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock">stock can be found at this resource.</a> Otherwise, if your broker allows you to trade options, you can either buy a put option, or sell a call option at a strike price above where shares are currently trading &#8211; either way it allows you to profit off of the share price decline.
According to data from&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>, LAES has a 52-week high of $11.00 and a 52-week low of $0.29.

LAES

Why SEALSQ (LAES) Stock Is Skyrocketing

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://thearorareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-01-15_08h43_48.png" alt="" /></figure>
To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Trifecta Of Good Data</h4>
An enlarged chart of SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) which represents the benchmark stock market index S&amp;P 500 (SPX).
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>The chart shows that previously the stock market dipped below the breakout line.</li>
<li>The chart shows that on release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data the stock market has now crossed above the breakout line.</li>
<li>The buying in the early trade is extremely aggressive.</li>
<li>Core inflation data at the consumer level came cooler than expected but the headline data was hotter than expected.&nbsp; For the time being, the stock market is ignoring the hotter headline data and focusing on the cooler core data.&nbsp; Here are the details:
<ul>
<li>Headline CPI came at 0.4% vs. 0.3% consensus.</li>
<li>Core CPI came at 0.2% vs. 0.3% consensus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Arora Report previously shared with you:</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">The protection band is not being changed at this time, but members may consider adjusting their positions within the protection band as per personal preference.&nbsp; There are two reasons for no change in the protection band at this time:
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Earnings season is ahead.&nbsp; If earnings are good, the stock market may be able to resist rising yields longer.</li>
<li>Bonds are now very oversold.&nbsp; For this reason, bonds may see a technical bounce.&nbsp; The bounce in bonds means yields pulling back.&nbsp; If yields pull back, the stock market will rally.</li>
<li>On both of the above counts, the data is positive.
<ul>
<li>Today is a big day for earnings from major financial stocks.&nbsp; JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), Wells Fargo &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), Bank of New York Mellon Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BK#NYSE">BK</a>), BlackRock Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>), and Citigroup Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>) are reporting earnings better than consensus.</li>
<li>Bonds are bouncing from oversold conditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The trifecta of cooler Core CPI, better than expected earnings, and bonds bouncing is bringing in extremely aggressive buying.</li>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, the probability of a correction is now at 40%.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The Fed's Beige Book will be released today at 2pm.</li>
<li>Retail sales and initial jobless claims data will be released tomorrow at 8:30am ET and may be market moving.</li>
</ul>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Germany</h4>
Germany's GDP shrank now for two consecutive years.&nbsp; Economic growth in 2025 is not expected.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h4>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in Apple Inc, Amazon.com, Inc., Alphabet Inc Class C, Meta Platforms Inc, Microsoft Corp, NVIDIA Corp, and Tesla Inc.
In the early trade, money flows are positive in S&amp;P 500 ETF (SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h4>
Investors can gain an edge by knowing money flows in SPY and QQQ.  Investors can get a bigger edge by knowing when smart money is buying stocks, gold, and oil.  The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trus.  The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust.  The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin</h4>
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is seeing buying on cooler Core CPI.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Protection Band And What To Do Now</h4>
It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror.&nbsp; The proprietary protection band from The Arora Report is very popular.&nbsp; The protection band puts all of the data, all of the indicators, all of the news, all of the crosscurrents, all of the models, and all of the analysis in an analytical framework that is easily actionable by investors.
Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider a protection band consisting of cash or Treasury bills or short-term tactical trades as well as short to medium term hedges and short term hedges. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time.
You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges.&nbsp; The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive.&nbsp; If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges.
A protection band of 0% would be very bullish and would indicate full investment with 0% in cash.&nbsp; A protection band of 100% would be very bearish and would indicate a need for aggressive protection with cash and hedges or aggressive short selling.
It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash.&nbsp; When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks.&nbsp; High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h4>
Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time.
Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of five year duration or less.&nbsp; Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time.
The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls. The Arora Report correctly called the big artificial intelligence rally before anyone else, the new bull market of 2023, the bear market of 2022, new stock market highs right after the virus low in 2020, the virus drop in 2020, the DJIA rally to 30,000 when it was trading at 16,000, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, and the financial crash of 2008. Please click here to sign up for a free forever <a href="https://thearorareport.com/generate-wealth-newsletter-benzinga">Generate Wealth Newsletter</a>.

$BTC

Trifecta Of Good Data Puts Animal Spirits In High Gear Again To Buy Stocks

AEHR

ALAB

AMAT

ATOM

CRDO

HIMX

INDI

KLAC

MRVL

NVTS

QCOM

SMTC

SYNA

WOLF

Shares of semiconductor companies are trading higher amid overall market strength after CPI data was in line with estimates and core CPI rose by less than expected.

Commencement Bank  declares $0.20 special dividend

Commencement Bank reports Q3 results

Press Releases

Commencement Bancorp, Inc. (CBWA) Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Earnings

Commencement Bank (CBWA) to Relocate Headquarters to 1313 Broadway Street, Tacoma, Wash.

Dividends

Commencement Bancorp, Inc. (CBWA) Announces Cash Dividend

Earnings

Commencement Bancorp, Inc. (CBWA) Announces 2024 First Quarter Earnings

Commencement Bancorp, Inc. (CBWA) Announces 2024 Second Quarter Earnings

Commencement Bancorp, Inc. (CBWA) Announces 2024 Third Quarter Earnings

OTC Markets Group Announces the 2025 OTCQX Best 50

ARBV

BCHG

BITW

BTQQF

COSO

FGFH

FTFI

GBFH

GDLC

HZEN

OBTC

OTCM

PBAM

PBNC

ZCSH

Commencement Bancorp

As of the end of the first quarter, there are over 90 domestic and international banks trading on the OTCQX Best Market with an aggregate market capitalization of $94.9 billion and combined assets of more than $3.1 trillion.&nbsp;Many of these banks are local U.S. community banks, due in part to a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/19/01/13058195/why-are-so-many-community-banks-going-public">surprising number of community banks going public on the OTC Markets</a> in the past few years.&nbsp;

On March 14, 2019, CEOs from 11 of these global and community banks gathered for a<a href="https://www.virtualinvestorconferences.com/events/event-details/otcqx-community-bank-conference"> virtual investor conference</a> to provide an update on business operations. Here is what each bank is focusing on:&nbsp;

<h3>Highlands Bancshares: Re-Focusing The Lending Business</h3>

Highlands Bancshares Inc (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/HBSI#OTCQX">HBSI</a>), which has 14 branches in Southwest Virginia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee, is coming off a record financial year, according to Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer Bryan Booher.&nbsp;

In the 2018 fiscal year, the bank achieved its highest net income since 2007, its highest net interest margin since 2002, and the highest leverage ratio in the company&rsquo;s history.&nbsp;

While, historically the bank had not pursued a targeted offering, Booher indicated that a shift is underway.&nbsp;Given that the majority of the bank&rsquo;s 2018 loan portfolio focused on four key groups, Highlands plans to concentrate on these areas: construction and land, families of 1-4, owner-occupied commercial properties, and home equity loans.&nbsp;

<h3>Royal Financial: Net Interest Margin and Redefining Brick-And-Mortar</h3>

Net Interest Margin, a key metric for community banks, has been a point of concern across the industry as interest rates have risen over the last several years. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itpu1ClKWEY&amp;feature=youtu.be">Leonard Szwajkowski</a>, President and CEO of Chicago-based Royal Financial, Inc. (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/RYFL#OTCQX">RYFL</a>) highlighted that point.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Net interest margin remains under pressure as it is for most banks,&rdquo; he told investors. As a result, he said the bank is focused on expanding their sources of non-interest income.&nbsp;

Szwajkowski also noted that the industry is facing a redefining of their physical locations. He keyed in on the fact that Royal Financial has continued to see mobile and online adoption rates accelerate, and, as such, has invested heavily in mobile offerings.&nbsp;

&ldquo;It is a consolidating industry,&rdquo; said Szwajkowski. &ldquo;Many banks under $200 million continue to struggle. Our plan here is to continue to improve our customer service, continue to run the bank prudently, look for organic growth and watch regulatory compliance.&rdquo;

<h3>Prime Meridian: Small Business Lending Is Key</h3>

Sammie Dixon, Vice Chairman, President and CEO of Prime Meridian Holding Company (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/PMHG#OTCQX">PMHG</a>), said the Florida-based bank is heavily focused on being a resource for small businesses seeking capital.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Fintech is going to disrupt. But from a small business perspective, people need bankers,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We feel like with the disruption in the market with the larger banks, small business lending is going to increase and people needing that opportunity to speak with a banker.&rdquo;

The quality of their assets is also important, he said, noting that the bank&rsquo;s assets have grown at a 14 percent compounded annual growth rate each year since its establishment in 2008.&nbsp;

<h3>First Resource Bank And InsCorp (holding company for INSBANK): Location, Location, Location</h3>

First Resource Bank (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/FRSB#OTCQX">FRSB</a>) is a community bank headquartered just outside Philadelphia in Chester County, Pennsylvania. According to President and CEO <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je-Z0js0xDM&amp;feature=youtu.be">Glenn Marshall</a>, suburban Philadelphia is one of the most economically attractive markets in the United States and Pennsylvania.&nbsp;

&ldquo;We couldn&rsquo;t be in a better location in Pennsylvania,&rdquo; he said. &nbsp;&ldquo;We think it rivals some of the best places in the country.&rdquo;

Marshall said the bank doesn&rsquo;t build a location anywhere where they can&rsquo;t get to $100 million in deposits within 5 years. Currently, it has branches in Exton, West Chester, and Wayne. Combined, Marshall said, those markets create a $12.5 billion deposit market.&nbsp;

&ldquo;We love the footprint that that covers for us, and what we can do to take advantage of that in the near future,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;

Jim Rieniets, President &amp; CEO of INSBANK parent company InsCorp, Inc. (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/IBTN#OTCQX">IBTN</a>), highlighted the fact that the bank had gone from breakeven to $4.3 million in core earnings from 2010-2018.&nbsp;

A lot of that growth, he said, has been enabled by the bank&rsquo;s locations in the Nashville metro area. Since 2010, the area&rsquo;s population has grown 17 percent, nearly triple the national average of 6.6 percent.&nbsp;

With 120 companies expanding or relocating to Nashville since 2015, he said the bank is positioning itself to these businesses and the nearly 15,000 new jobs that come with them.&nbsp;

<h3>Freedom Bank of Virginia- Reorganizing the Balance Sheet</h3>

Joseph Thomas, President &amp; CEO of Freedom Bank of Virginia (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/FDVA#OTCQX">FDVA</a>), said that, with the Washington D.C. metro economy continuing to diversify, the bank took steps last year to reorganize its balance sheet.&nbsp;

That involved selling low-yield, long-duration municipal bonds, which reduced the bank&rsquo;s interest rate risk. The bank also funded tax-advantaged bank-owned life insurance, and reduced costs by restructuring the workforce and making changes to vendor contracts.&nbsp;

Going forward, he said the bank is focused on attracting clients in certain verticals, specifically government contracting, insurance agency/Broker, professional services, and non-profits. Freedom Bank is also seeking expansion beyond its brick-and-mortar footprint, as it has expanded its sales teams across the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area.&nbsp;

<h3>Garanti Bank and Grupo Financiero Banorte: Overcoming the Environment</h3>

Garanti Bank (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/TKGBY#OTCQX">TKGBY</a>, TKGBF)) is Turkey&rsquo;s second-largest private bank, with about $76 billion in assets as of the end of the September quarter.&nbsp;

The biggest challenge right now, said Head of Investor Relations Handan Saygin, is the weakening economic environment in Turkey. Inflation rose 25 percent last year, and the Turkish Lira fell in kind.&nbsp;

Considering that environment, and the fact that the bank has 14 percent of the consumer loan market and 12 percent of the mortgage market, the bank didn&rsquo;t see much loan growth. Therefore, Garanti is primarily focused on maintaining its liquidity and solvency. She also noted that Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. (BBVA) is the bank&rsquo;s largest shareholder, owning approximately 49 percent of the company.&nbsp;

Ursula Wilhelm, head of investor relations at Mexico&rsquo;s Grupo Financiero Banorte, S.A.B. De C.V. (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/GBOOY#OTCQX">GBOOY</a>, GBOOF)), highlighted a similar theme. Banorte is Mexico&rsquo;s second-largest financial institution by assets, which much of its loan exposure to the Mexican government.&nbsp;

Mexico is expected to experience slow GDP growth in 2019 and 2020, and the banking industry&rsquo;s overall loan growth had declined each of the last three years. Despite that, the bank expects its loan portfolio to grow 7-9 percent in the fiscal year 2019.&nbsp;

<h3>Commencement Bank, Victory Bancorp, and Suncrest Bank: Take Advantage of Local Consolidation</h3>

Washington-based Commencement Bank (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/CBWA#OTCQX">CBWA</a>) is focusing on &ldquo;a conservative growth strategy that hinges on targeted M&amp;A,&rdquo; according to its CEO Hal Russell.&nbsp;

The bank, which has grown from $22 million to $357 million in assets in 12 years, completed its first merger with Thurston First Bank in 2016. In a contracting environment&mdash;Washington has gone from 107 banks headquartered in the state in 2006 to 41 today&mdash;Commencement is hoping to expand its footprint in the state. &nbsp;

The same can be said for Pennsylvania-based Victory Bancorp (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/VTYB#OTCQX">VTYB</a>).&nbsp; 
Joseph W. Major, the bank&rsquo;s chairman of the board and CEO, noted that the consolidation of 23 competitors this decade has created a windfall of in-market growth opportunities

California-based Suncrest Bank (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/SBKK#OTCQX">SBKK</a>) has also made M&amp;A a priority, President and CEO Ciaran McMullan noted. The bank has made three acquisitions over the last four years, acquiring Sutter Community Bank in December 2015, Security First Bank in December 2016, and Community Business Bank in May 2018.&nbsp;

You can now view the company presentations on demand through the <a href="https://www.virtualinvestorconferences.com/events/event-details/otcqx-community-bank-conference">Virtual Investor Conference portal</a>. <a href="https://www.virtualinvestorconferences.com/events/event-details/investor-conference-april-2019">Click here</a> to register for OTC Markets&rsquo; upcoming Virtual Investor Conference on April 4.&nbsp;

OTC Markets is a content partner of Benzinga

Comments

Commencement Bancorp

News

Latest news for Commencement Bancorp (OTC:CBWA) Stock

Monday, April 01, 2019

Popular Channels

Tools & Features

Partners & Contributors

About Benzinga