Sterling Financial Corp (NASDAQ:STSA)

Insider purchases

New and Improving Earnings Opinion

Recent capital infusion will quickly evaporate as company has no ability to generate earnings going forward anytime soon. The fact that this "bank" is trading anywhere above book value is a complete joke and a one time opportunity for current shareholders to sell. Nearly $1 billion in problem loans and half it's buiness model- construction and land development lending gone for years to come. How does this "bank" make money? Recapture of the deferred tax asset will be years in the making, if ever, and totally dependent upon a rapid recovery of the Pacific NW economy- not going to happen. The bailout of this bank was politically motivated but in the end will end up like WAMU- with Private Equity throwing away their money and the local shareholders getting screwed.

Great local bank with positive community marketing

I missed the other bank stock recoveries, I'm not going to miss this one. The cast of characters invested is Wall Street, US Government, and the Exchange is playing nice. I'm in for the ride, I need a few 4x picks to get my 401k back in shape.

6.35% NPA.

Washington state had a big jump in foreclosures

Earnings headed sharply negative.

It's not over yet.

Appears they have written iff their losses and gaining. SEC filings note that they have retained their tp management also.

10.000

This stock is a great choice. By evaluating this company and looking at their growth pattern and their marketing strategies this is a sure fire stock to pick. This company has great leadership with the ability to think outside the box. With the possibility of some future acquisitions this has all the ingredients for wonderful success, short term and long term both. Keep up and watch out. With this outlook ahead, we should also look to the left and right (aka their competion) for huge leaps as well. If you have a little on the side I say diversify within the sector and buy from all the competetors too for they also are looking very solid. That is my pick and I am sticking to it.

This stock is hot sauce. Great PE, and just a lot of scared investors out there. No where to go but up

From an all time low of 2.36 Monday all the other number say hang on.............Today good example.

This institution is not in any real financial doom but just another victim of the financial sector.

At this level, Sterling presents an excellent buying opportunity for the long term investor. The stock closed on Friday at $6.83. That is less than 1/2 of its tangible book value and the company is profitable. Estimates for earnings now range from $.60-$.83 for 2008 and $.85-$1.90 for 2009. I believe the high estimates for 2009 are too high, so assuming we use the low estimates for 2008 and 2009, the stock is selling at 11.38 times 2008 earnings and 8 times 2009 earnings. On top of that, 7 insiders have purchased a total of over 24,000 shares since the beginning of 5/2008. Only one insider sold any shares during that period. In the meatime, since the company continues to be profitable, the dividend appears to be safe and is presently yielding in excess of 5.8%. Yes, banking stocks are presently out of favor, but that is the time to take advantage of such buying opportunities.

Undervalued financial stock beat up over general fear of banks at present, but great P/E, strong cash flow, underweighted in mortgages vs. the big guys.

This stock has been pummeled by the bank credit scare.Yet it has good lending policies. Selling below book with insider purchases. Cheap!