Umpqua Holdings Corp (NASDAQ:UMPQ)

Great bank. Growing strategically through acquisitions and expanding into the northern California market. Customer service is superb and perenially one of the "best places to work". But, its stock price stays within a fairly narrow range, moving sideways, and it will fall behind a rising market.

This is an abandoned SA pick and my personal bank. Always treated really well. At this level think it's reasonable deal.

Perhaps a little early to buy, but this is a well run regional banking enterprise which is positioning itself well to benefit as banks again become more profitable. Will need some help in interest rates so its hard to tell how long that might be. In the meantime, dividend is decent and stock is relatively cheap.

I believe there will be a tender offer from a major to buy UMPQ. This is a very well managed bank with good growth prospects.

yo

I live in the Pacific Northwest and have had the opportunity to work directly with several of the Regional banks on a professional basis. Each of these Regionals calls the PNW "home". Each has had their share of challenges and headlines to deal with, as well as the necessity of raising capital/equity. Many different strategies have been followed in this "survival" process, as well as communication methods to investors and the general public. Those two behaviors are what I've watched most closely, and Umpqua Executives get the best grade of all the pure PNW Regional banks in those two areas. They, like others, still have challenges as our regional economy is weak with high unemployment, etc., but I consider Umpqua the best of the PNW based regionals.

Financial stocks carry a P/E ratio of 22.4, and the so-called "recovery" has been especially strong in bank stocks. Therefore, I’m concentrating my shorting interest in the banking sector.

Another institution that has garded against need for government financial bailout. This regional bank will be sought out by investors, in the future inflation period caused by federal reserve dollaar excesses, to make sound decisions and be a self supporting institution.

As an Oregonian, I can tell you that folks from the Northwest prefer to do business locally with a small player than a big bank from the east coast. With the implosion of Washington Mutual, UMPQ will gain marketshare. I believe the worst hits UMPQ will take are already priced into the stock.

March rally won't be sustained. Growth-adjusted PE is quite high compared to banking average.

umpq is greatly undervalued. it is sharing the bad news on the money center banks but it is a conservative bank who is in great position to to be the dominate bank in the pacific northwest.

I expect this stock to recover from these levels. Long term investors aren't looking to happy, but those looking to average down and those looking to ride the recovery should cause this stock to see higher levels in the next week if not days.

They just watched their number one competitor (WaMu) fall away, leaving the premium retail banking space (at least on the west coast) almost entirely in their hands. Solid organic growth in retail deposits, trading below book value.

mortgage investment/regional banks

Regional bank (my regional bank) set to do well in the aftermath of current environment. Customer driven service, decent reputation in the community, and a hidden gems pick I believe?

SOUTHWEST & LATIN BANKING = GROWTH

5.80% yield, was a Stock Advisor pick as of 10/2007

anything Bank is depressed. This Bank seems to be doing well given the market. I expect it will shoot off once the sub-prime/housing depression is over.

Bank stocks are battered. This is a very innovative regional bank that is buffered from the majority of the mortgage problems.