Hope Bancorp’s third quarter results reflected continued momentum, with revenue growth supported by loan expansion, net interest margin improvement, and a more favorable deposit mix. Management attributed the quarter’s performance to increased commercial and residential mortgage lending, as well as higher noninterest income from customer fees and Small Business Administration (SBA) loan sales. CFO Julianna Balicka highlighted that “revenue growth outpaced expense growth,” allowing for sequential and year-over-year increases in pre-provision net revenue. The company also reported stable asset quality metrics, with nonperforming assets declining compared to prior periods.

Is now the time to buy HOPE? Find out in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

While we enjoy listening to the management’s commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls is the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.

Our top 5 analyst questions from Hope Bancorp’s Q3 earnings call

• Matthew Clark (Piper Sandler) asked about the percentage of loans that would benefit from future rate hikes. CFO Julianna Balicka replied that 48% of loans are variable-rate and 27% are hybrid, reflecting a strategic shift toward more rate-sensitive assets.
• Clark (Piper Sandler) also inquired about the purchase accounting accretion from MANUBANK, specifically the reserve portion and timing. Balicka stated the accretion is front-weighted, with a significant portion recognized over two years, and an allowance for credit losses estimate of about $30 million still being finalized.
• Gary Tenner (D.A. Davidson) questioned how deposit betas—measuring how quickly deposit rates adjust to market rate changes—might evolve post-acquisition. Balicka explained that previous experience shows low betas, especially from acquired banks, and the new mix should support better beta performance through future cycles.
• Andrew Liesch (StoneX Financial) sought clarity on why MANUBANK’s expense base is higher relative to assets. Balicka attributed this to the legacy costs of operating as a subsidiary of a larger global bank, noting that full cost savings will be realized after core system integration, likely in 2028.
• Kelly Motta (KBW) asked how the new liquidity from MANUBANK would be used to reduce high-cost funding. Balicka confirmed that management plans to replace maturing expensive borrowings as soon as possible, prioritizing near-term funding cost reductions.

Catalysts in upcoming quarters

In the next few quarters, our analysts will focus on (1) the pace and effectiveness of MANUBANK integration, including cost savings and operational alignment; (2) shifts in the company’s loan and deposit mix as it adapts to interest rate changes; and (3) progress on reducing higher-cost funding sources. Additional attention will be paid to asset quality trends and the sustainability of noninterest income growth.

Hope Bancorp currently trades at $13.27, down from $14.12 just before the earnings. At this price, is it a buy or sell? The answer lies in our full research report (it’s free).

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