** Regional lender WaFd's WAFD.O shares jump 7% to $26.23
** WAFD late Friday reported Q2 profit above Wall Street expectations, after missing estimates in the previous quarter
** Brokerage Stephens reiterates "equal-weight" rating, says Q2 fee income levels were modestly elevated and it is likely to normalize lower
** WAFD is pivoting to commercial banking as it focuses on higher-margin business lines
** CEO Brent Beardall says bank is off to a good start on the shift toward business banking
** All four brokerages covering the stock rate it "hold"; median PT $30, per data compiled by LSEG
** WAFD's shares down 18.5% YTD
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)
((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com))
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