Empowered Funds LLC Raises Holdings in Community West Bancshares (NASDAQ:CWBC)

Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in Community West Bancshares (NASDAQ:CWBC) by 5.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 76,458 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,886 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC owned about 0.40% of Community West Bancshares worth $1,473,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in CWBC. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Community West Bancshares by 284.8% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 641,347 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $11,864,000 after buying an additional 474,671 shares during the last quarter. Private Management Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Community West Bancshares by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter. Private Management Group Inc. now owns 557,479 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $10,313,000 after purchasing an additional 27,967 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its stake in Community West Bancshares by 198.0% during the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 365,965 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,770,000 after buying an additional 243,165 shares during the last quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP acquired a new position in Community West Bancshares during the 2nd quarter valued at about $4,842,000. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in Community West Bancshares by 24.6% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 120,070 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,221,000 after buying an additional 23,738 shares during the last quarter. 33.80% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Robert Bartlein acquired 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 1st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $18.75 per share, with a total value of $37,500.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 433,876 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,135,175. This trade represents a 0.46 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In the last 90 days, insiders acquired 2,550 shares of company stock valued at $46,097. 11.15% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Community West Bancshares Stock Performance

NASDAQ CWBC opened at $21.21 on Friday. Community West Bancshares has a fifty-two week low of $15.50 and a fifty-two week high of $24.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $401.93 million, a P/E ratio of 31.47 and a beta of 0.87. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $19.30 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $18.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.82.

Community West Bancshares Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be issued a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 8th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.26%. Community West Bancshares’s payout ratio is 72.73%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com lowered shares of Community West Bancshares from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday, July 25th.

Community West Bancshares Profile

Community West Bancshares operates as the bank holding company for Community West Bank, N.A. that provides various financial products and services in California. The company offers deposit products, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and fixed rate and fixed maturity certificates of deposits; and cash management products.