William Blair Investment Management Boosts Stake in WaFd, Inc.

The institutional investor increased its holdings in the bank's stock by 14.3% in the third quarter.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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William Blair Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of WaFd, Inc. (NASDAQ:WAFD) by 14.3% during the third quarter, according to the company's recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor now owns 1,100,312 shares of the bank's stock, representing a 1.40% stake worth $33,328,000.

Why it matters

This investment by a major institutional investor signals confidence in WaFd's performance and growth potential. As a regional bank serving the Western U.S., WaFd's financial results and expansion are closely watched by the investment community.

The details

According to the filing, William Blair Investment Management acquired an additional 137,525 shares of WaFd during the third quarter, bringing its total ownership to over 1.1 million shares. The bank's stock has traded in the $23.75 to $34.29 range over the past 52 weeks.

  • William Blair Investment Management increased its WaFd stake during the third quarter of 2026.
  • The filing with the SEC was made on March 2, 2026.

The players

William Blair Investment Management LLC

An institutional investment management firm based in Chicago, Illinois.

WaFd, Inc.

A bank holding company headquartered in Seattle, Washington that provides banking and financial services through its subsidiary WaFd Bank.

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The takeaway

This investment by a prominent institutional investor suggests Wall Street's confidence in WaFd's growth prospects and ability to navigate the evolving regional banking landscape in the Western United States.