The 3 stocks continuing their prolonged slides

First Republic Bank, PacWest Bancorp, Western Alliance Bancorporation are currently leading the list of down-trending stocks.

Leading equity indices in the US declined as after dropping 1.19%, Dow Jones closed at 31,862. S&P 500 lost 1.1% and ended the session at 3,916.64.

What is a downtrend?

The perceived tendency of a price to move in a downward direction over time. A downtrend describes the price movement of a continously depreciative financial asset over a particular time frame. In a downtrend, each successive low and peak is lower than the ones found earlier in the trend. The downtrend is therefore composed of lower swing lows and lower swing highs.

| First Republic Bank | 81.31% ($88.95) depreciation over 7 days ($12.71 per day average)

Friday's session continued down the same path: during Friday's session, First Republic Bank toiled and struggled for upward momentum before closing at $23.03. By the close, the the regional full-service bank suffered a $11.24 or 32.8% loss. After setting a $22.3 – $30 range, First Republic Bank closed the day 32.8% lower at $23.03. Daily trading volume (139.67 million shares) was above the current multiday average of 10.72 million.

The company's market cap currently stands at $4.29 billion with an average daily trading volume of 10.72 million shares. So far this year, the wealth management company has declined 72.5% while touching highs around $170.53 earlier this year. So far this year, it has been under-performing the S&P 500 by 73.3%. Pointing downwards for around a month. First Republic Bank is forecasted to generate revenues of $1.44 billion and EPS of $1.82.

| PacWest Bancorp | 67.22% ($16.86) depreciation over 12 days ($1.41 per day average)

After setting a $9.05 – $10.67 range, PacWest Bancorp closed the day 18.95% lower at $9.28. During Friday's session, PacWest Bancorp toiled and struggled for upward momentum before closing at $9.28. By the close, the the multi-billion-dollar banking firm suffered a $2.17 or 18.95% loss. Daily trading volume (38.61 million shares) increased, making up 559% of the 21-day average (6.90 million). Based on current prices, PacWest Bancorp shareholders are currently earning an annual dividend yield of 10.78% after the company distributed a quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share for all eligible shareholders as of Wednesday, February 15th. The most recent payment was made on Tuesday, February 28th.

After setting a $30 – $35.38 range, Western Alliance Bancorporation closed the day 15.14% lower at $31.32. During Friday's session, Western Alliance Bancorporation toiled and struggled for upward momentum before closing at $31.32. By the close, the the retail and commercial bank suffered a $5.59 or 15.14% loss. Daily trading volume (23.92 million shares) increased, making up 497% of the 21-day average (4.82 million). Western Alliance Bancorporation disclosed a quarterly dividend of 36 cents per share on Monday, February 6th that was paid on Friday, March 3rd to all shareholders of record up until Friday, February 17th. Based on current prices, the company's decision thereby provides Western Alliance Bancorporation investors with an annual dividend yield of 4.6%.