Stock fact sheet · data as of
California BanCorp (BCAL): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Financial Services · Banks - Regional · United States · High Growth
Is BCAL undervalued?
California BanCorp (BCAL) closed at 21.71 on 16 Oct 2026. The GLS average fair value - the simple average of the 9 valuation models that produced a positive number - is 39.91, which puts the price 46% below it. 6 of the 9 models value the shares above the current price. A gap this wide is rare in our universe of ~7,400 US stocks and is exactly what the Value part of the Wheel Score rewards; it is also where the question "why is it this cheap?" matters most.
The 9 models disagree widely: DDM gives 6.18 while GLS Growth gives 75.48. A spread that wide means the average is sensitive to which methods you trust; the model table below shows where each one lands, and the Quote page lets you switch any of them off.
The nightly engine files BCAL under High Growth: revenue and earnings growing fast enough that the growth-based models carry the valuation.
Nine valuation models for BCAL
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 67.22 | +210% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | 27.40 | +26% | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share |
| Graham Growth | 37.28 | +72% | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields |
| Lynch | 11.20 | -48% | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25% |
| GLS Growth | 75.48 | +248% | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year |
| 10 Cap | 50.72 | +134% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | 63.18 | +191% | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself |
| DDM | 6.18 | -72% | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend |
| EPV | 20.56 | -5% | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -98.60 | -554% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 24.67 | +14% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
On financial health BCAL scores 8/9 (Piotroski): most of the nine tests - positive earnings and cash flow, falling debt, rising margins and turnover - are passed, which is the kind of balance sheet a wheel trader is happy to be assigned. The GLS Moat score is 6.6 out of 10: a ten-year record that is consistent in some of the metrics the score tracks (revenue, earnings, margins, cash flow, returns on capital) and patchy in others.
Returns on capital are moderate - ROIC 9.7%, ROE 10.9%, ROA 1.6% - with debt at 0.12 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 8.5%.
The dividend yield is 1.93% at a payout ratio of 16%; for a wheel trader holding assigned shares the dividend adds to the covered-call premium, and the ex-dividend date is worth knowing before a call is sold. Revenue comes mainly from Deposit Account 100% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 9/10, insider activity 1/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 8 / 9 | ROIC | 9.7% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 6.6 / 10 | ROE | 10.9% |
| Debt / equity | 0.12 | ROA | 1.6% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 8.5% | Payout ratio | 16% |
| Institutions | 9 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 1 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 39: No options
BCAL has no listed options in the nightly snapshot, so there is nothing to sell and the stock cannot be wheeled however good the business; the Wheel Score is capped at 39 and shown as "No options" (39 here). The valuation and quality numbers still apply to owning the shares outright.
Volume runs at 282k shares a day on a market cap of $698M, with a beta of 0.29 - a low beta, so day-to-day moves are smaller than the market's; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 10 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 25 / 25 | 46% margin of safety | |
| Health | 18 / 20 | Piotroski 8/9 | |
| Moat | 10 / 15 | moat 6.6/10 | |
| Premium | 0 / 20 | no option data | |
| Stability | 10 / 20 | 282k shares/day, $698M cap, beta 0.29 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
California BanCorp reports earnings on 27 Oct 2026 (before the open) - inside the 14-day window the Sunday Scan avoids, because a put sold now would carry the report's gap risk.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Banks - Regional
The 12 companies below are the closest to California BanCorp by market cap within the Banks - Regional industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WASH Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. | 36.74 | 44.17 | +17% | 67Good | $701M |
| VBNK VersaBank | 21.88 | 32.84 | +33% | 70Good | $709M |
| TCBX Third Coast Bancshares, Inc. | 41.20 | 103.49 | +60% | 73Good | $686M |
| CUBB Customers Bancorp, Inc 5.375% S | 20.91 | 246.77 | +92% | 39No options | $714M |
| AROW Arrow Financial Corporation | 36.80 | 45.19 | +19% | 70Good | $682M |
| PFIS Peoples Financial Services Corp. | 67.58 | 93.27 | +28% | 39No options | $677M |
| CARE Carter Bankshares, Inc. | 30.31 | 45.65 | +34% | 74Good | $672M |
| MSBI Midland States Bancorp, Inc. | 32.30 | 42.70 | +24% | 73Good | $670M |
| IBCP Independent Bank Corporation | 35.29 | 35.60 | +1% | 69Good | $727M |
| MSBIP Midland States Bancorp, Inc. | 25.19 | 37.86 | +33% | 39No options | $669M |
| THVB Thomasville Bancshares, Inc. | 104.48 | 189.45 | +45% | 39No options | $662M |
| SUPV Grupo Supervielle S.A. | 7.01 | 3.42 | -105% | 40Weak | $661M |
⚖ Compare BCAL with 7 of them All Financial Services stocks →
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about BCAL
Is BCAL undervalued right now?
By the GLS models, yes: at 21.71 the stock is 46% below the average fair value of 39.91 (data as of 16 Oct 2026). Whether the discount is deserved is the question to research next.
What is the Wheel Score of BCAL and what does it mean?
BCAL has no listed options in our nightly snapshot, so it cannot be wheeled; its Wheel Score is capped at 39 and shown as "No options".
What is the GLS fair value for BCAL?
39.91 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 9 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does California BanCorp report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 27 Oct 2026 (before the open), 11 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does BCAL have listed options, and how liquid are they?
No. The nightly options snapshot found no listed contracts on BCAL, so the wheel strategy cannot be run on it and the Wheel Score is capped at 39.