Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:WASH) is included among the Dividend Capture Strategy: 14 High Yield Stocks to Buy in April.
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On March 16, Piper Sandler began coverage of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:WASH) with a Neutral rating. It set a $32 price target on the stock. The firm noted that the company continues to operate with relatively thin capital ratios. That situation puts some limits on growth and likely pushes share buybacks lower on the priority list.
During the Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Edward Handy discussed targeted investments across Wealth Management and Commercial Banking. He pointed to the acquisition of assets from Lighthouse Financial Management and the hiring of Jim Brown as Chief Commercial Banking Officer as key steps in that direction. He also said the company brought in an institutional banking team focused on education, healthcare, and nonprofit clients in the Northeast. The expectation is that this team will help generate higher-quality C&I loans and improve deposit growth.
He added that a new branch in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is planned for later in 2026. The move is meant to strengthen the company’s footprint in a market that is seeing steady growth. CFO Ronald Ohsberg reported fourth-quarter net income of $16 million, or $0.83 per share. That compares with $10.8 million, or $0.56 per share, in the prior quarter.
Net interest income came in at $40.7 million. That marks a 5% increase from Q3 and a 24% rise from the same period last year. He also noted that the net interest margin improved to 2.56%. That is up 16 basis points sequentially and 61 basis points year over year. The improvement came from a better funding mix, supported by higher in-market deposits, less reliance on wholesale funding, and disciplined deposit pricing.
Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:WASH) operates as the holding company for The Washington Trust Company. The bank is state-chartered and provides financial services through two main segments: Commercial Banking and Wealth Management Services.
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