The 3 stocks continuing their prolonged slides

First Republic Bank, PacWest Bancorp, Western Alliance Bancorporation and others have been dropping. Here is what you should know.

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

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 the recent downtrend: 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) increased, making up 1,300% of the 21-day average (10.72 million).

Currently, the wealth management company has a market capitalization of $4.29 billion with an average daily trading volume of 10.72 million shares. This year has been a gloomy one for the wealth management company after trading as high as $170.53 and going on to lose 72.5% of its value. So far this year, it has been doing worse than the S&P 500 by 73.3%. On a negative trend for around a month. First Republic Bank is forecasted to generate revenues of $1.44 billion and EPS of $1.82.

PacWest Bancorp continues a 12 day downtrend; crashes 18.95% Friday

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 bank holding company 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). PacWest Bancorp distributed a dividend of 25 cents per share on Tuesday, February 28th for all shareholders on record up until Wednesday, February 15th. Based on current prices, the decision means shareholders are receiving an annualised dividend yield of 10.78%.

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) was above the current multiday average of 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%.