Option chain shows key data for First Horizon's stock options at various strike prices and expiration dates. Traders use this information to analyze potential trades and assess market sentiment for First Horizon.

First Horizon (NYSE:FHN) Stock, Option Chain

First Horizon

First Horizon Corp is the parent company of First Tennessee Bank, a prominent regional bank with about 200 branches around Tennessee. The regional bank is responsible for roughly 65% of its revenue, while capital markets make a 25% contribution. The remainder is split between the firm's non-strategic (wind-down) and corporate operations. First Horizon concentrates on offering a variety of banking products mainly in its home state, where it has the second- largest deposit franchise with a 13% deposit market share.

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Wall Street paused for a breather on Thursday, following Wednesday&#39;s big rally sparked by a softer-than-predicted December inflation report that fueled speculation on the Federal Reserve delivering interest rate cut

Stocks Pause, Chipmakers Rise, Gold Hits 2-Month Highs: What&#39;s Driving Markets Thursday?

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Strong Q4 earnings from U.S. banks, including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, U.S. Bancorp, First Horizon, and PNC Financial. Mixed stock reactions.

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Major US banks report strong Q4 2024 earnings and upbeat 2025 guidance. Performance driven by NII, fee revenue, and expense management. Stocks rise.

Big Banks Crush Q4 Earnings Forecasts: Financial Stocks Set For Biggest 1-Day Rally Since Trump&#39;s Election

First Horizon Corp

FOSCHINI GROUP UNSP/ADR by Foschini Group Ltd. (The)

Foschini Group Ltd

First Horizon Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/400th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B

First Horizon Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/400th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C

First Horizon Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/4,000th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E

First Horizon Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing 1/4000th Interest in a Share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series F

In the last three months, 14 analysts have published ratings on First Horizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>), offering a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The table below offers a condensed view of their recent ratings, showcasing the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In the assessment of 12-month price targets, analysts unveil insights for First Horizon, presenting an average target of $23.07, a high estimate of $25.00, and a low estimate of $20.00. This upward trend is evident, with the current average reflecting a 9.28% increase from the previous average price target of $21.11.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737144009_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Diving into Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Exploration</h2>
The analysis of recent analyst actions sheds light on the perception of First Horizon by financial experts. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Ebrahim Poonawala</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell Gunther</td>
<td>Stephens &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Anthony Elian</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$23.50</td>
<td>$22.50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Timur Braziler</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Anthony Elian</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$22.50</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jared Shaw</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brady Gailey</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nicholas Holowko</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$19.50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jon Arfstrom</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Timur Braziler</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
<td>$18.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ryan Nash</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$18.50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jared Shaw</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Rose</td>
<td>Raymond James</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Pancari</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$18.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to First Horizon. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of First Horizon compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Understanding forecasts, analysts offer estimates for First Horizon's future value. Examining the current and prior targets provides insight into analysts' changing expectations.</li>
</ul>
Assessing these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators can provide a comprehensive overview of First Horizon's market position. Stay informed and make well-judged decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FHN/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on First Horizon analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering First Horizon: A Closer Look</h2>
First Horizon Corp is the parent company of First Tennessee Bank, a prominent regional bank with about 200 branches around Tennessee. The regional bank is responsible for roughly 65% of its revenue, while capital markets make a 25% contribution. The remainder is split between the firm's non-strategic (wind-down) and corporate operations. First Horizon concentrates on offering a variety of banking products mainly in its home state, where it has the second- largest deposit franchise with a 13% deposit market share.
<h3>First Horizon's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Perspectives: The company's market capitalization falls below industry averages, signaling a relatively smaller size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as perceived growth potential or operational scale.
Revenue Growth: First Horizon's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 5.94%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Financials sector.
Net Margin: First Horizon's net margin is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 26.56%, the company may encounter challenges in effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 2.53%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): First Horizon's ROA is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.26%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns.
Debt Management: First Horizon's debt-to-equity ratio is below industry norms, indicating a sound financial structure with a ratio of 0.22.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.
Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.
Some analysts also offer predictions for helpful metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates to provide further guidance as to what to do with certain tickers. It is important to keep in mind that while stock and sector analysts are specialists, they are also human and can only forecast their beliefs to traders.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

A Glimpse Into The Expert Outlook On First Horizon Through 14 Analysts

B of A Securities analyst Ebrahim Poonawala maintains First Horizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $23 to $25.

News

Price Target

B of A Securities Maintains Buy on First Horizon, Raises Price Target to $25

Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Russell Gunther reiterates First Horizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) with a Overweight and maintains $24 price target.

Reiteration

Stephens & Co. Reiterates Overweight on First Horizon, Maintains $24 Price Target

JP Morgan analyst Anthony Elian maintains First Horizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $22.5 to $23.5.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on First Horizon, Raises Price Target to $23.5

Wells Fargo analyst Timur Braziler maintains First Horizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $21 to $22.

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on First Horizon, Raises Price Target to $22

Wall Street paused for a breather on Thursday, following Wednesday's big rally sparked by a softer-than-predicted December inflation report that fueled speculation on the Federal Reserve delivering interest rate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43003047/stocks-rise-on-core-inflation-slowdown-banks-rally-after-strong-q4-earnings-treasury-yields-plummet">cuts during the year. </a>
By midday, stocks were little changed as attention shifted to the next major event: Donald Trump's inauguration as 47th U.S. president on Monday.
On the data front, December retail sales rose 0.4% from the previous month, a slower pace than November's 0.8% increase and below expectations of 0.6%. Jobless claims climbed by 16,000 to 217,000, slightly higher than <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43027744/retail-sales-slow-jobless-claims-rise-is-us-consumer-loosing-steam">the projected 210,000. </a>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43020430/cathie-wood-sounds-alarm-over-inflation-pressures-and-consumer-woes-peter-schiff-flags-oil-spike-what-economists-are-saying">Cathie Wood Says Inflation Worries Dampen Expectations, Schiff Singles Out Wall Street For Swallowing Narrative Even As Prices Soar</a>
The weaker data sent Treasury yields lower, with the 10-year yield slipping four basis points to 4.61%, extending the previous day's 14-basis-point decline.
Falling yields helped gold climb 0.9% to $2,970 per ounce, reaching a two-month high as investors moved toward safe-haven assets. 
Semiconductor stocks stood out the best-performing industry, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) gaining 1.8%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) jumped more than 5% after delivering strong quarterly earnings, lifting the broader chip industry. Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) and ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) advanced 7% and 6%, respectively.
Oil prices pulled back 2.6%, giving up part of Wednesday's 4% gain. Traders speculated that Trump's policies could ease sanctions on Russian energy exports as part of a broader effort to negotiate peace in Ukraine. 
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) edged down 1% to $99,000, following a slight pullback across cryptocurrency markets.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,958.43</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>43,255.53</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,264.04</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,239.38</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated 12:40 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent011525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) remained unchanged at $593.10.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;flattened at $432.18.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) was unchanged at $516.54.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) inched 0.1% to $224.31.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) outperformed, up 2.1%; the&nbsp;Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) lagged, down 0.5%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) fell 2% following quarterly earnings. Peer Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) rose 2.7%.</li>
<li>Other stocks reacting to earnings were UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), down 4.7%, Infosys Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INFY#NYSE">INFY</a>), down 5.2%, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNC#NYSE">PNC</a>), down 2%, U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>), down 5.3%, M&amp;T Bank Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>), down 2.8%, First Horizon Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>). </li>
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) fell by 3.6% after the EV giant announced reduced selling prices on its Cybertruck, in a strategy to revive demand. </li>
<li>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) dropped 3% after the European Commission's competition chief confirmed that the investigation into the company under the Digital Markets Act will move forward as scheduled, with enforcement anticipated by March 2024.</li>
</ul>
Check Out: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/01/43036258/polar-vortex-brings-winters-coldest-air-for-trumps-inauguration-day-what-it-means-for-utilities-retailers-energy-stocks">Polar Vortex Brings Winter&#8217;s Coldest Air For Trump&#8217;s Inauguration Day: What It Means For Utilities, Retailers, Energy Stocks</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Stocks Pause, Chipmakers Rise, Gold Hits 2-Month Highs: What's Driving Markets Thursday?

U.S. banks delivered another round of strong fourth-quarter earnings Thursday, with Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>), First Horizon Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>), and PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNC#NYSE">PNC</a>) all surpassing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">Wall Street earnings estimates.</a>
The results reinforced the sector's resilience, yet financial stocks showed a mixed reaction after Wednesday's sharp rally.
The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>), which tracks major banks, inched up 0.1% Thursday after a 2.6% gain the previous day. Meanwhile, regional banks, tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>), dipped 0.7% following Wednesday's rally.
The reports followed upbeat earnings from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), Wells Fargo &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), and Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BK#NYSE">BK</a>), which fueled the biggest one-day surge in financial stocks since November.
Market strategist Ed Yardeni said the earnings reflected a "pickup in investment banking and markets activity as business confidence improved." He added that consumer loan growth remained slightly stronger than commercial loan growth.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Morgan Stanley Rides Trading Boom To Blowout Quarter</h3>
Morgan Stanley posted earnings per share of $2.22, crushing the $1.70 forecast. Revenue climbed to $16.22 billion, exceeding expectations by nearly 8%, according to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent011625&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> data. 
Its trading business drove the beat. Equities sales and trading revenue soared to $3.33 billion, easily topping the $2.63 billion estimate. Fixed income trading also outperformed, generating $1.93 billion versus the $1.68 billion forecast.
Wealth management, a key pillar of Morgan Stanley's business, delivered $7.48 billion in revenue, slightly above the $7.32 billion estimate. Net interest income hit $2.55 billion, well ahead of the $2 billion forecast.
The bank kept costs in check, with compensation expenses at $5.95 billion, lower than the projected $6.64 billion.
Shares rose 1.2%, extending Wednesday's 4.8% surge.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/01/43029150/morgan-stanley-q4-earnings-profit-doubles-ceo-calls-it-one-of-strongest-years-aims-for-prudent-dividend-growth">Morgan Stanley Q4 Earnings: Profit Doubles, CEO Calls It One Of Strongest Years, Aims For Prudent Dividend Growth</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bank of America Tops Estimates, But 2025 Outlook In Focus</h3>
Bank of America also delivered a strong quarter, reporting EPS of 82 cents, above the 77 cents forecast. Revenue net of interest expenses came in at $25.35 billion, slightly exceeding expectations.
Key business lines performed well. Net interest income reached $14.36 billion, ahead of the $14.12 billion estimate. Investment banking revenue also beat, coming in at $1.65 billion versus the $1.47 billion forecast.
Goldman Sachs analyst Richard Ramsden noted that the results were "better than expected, given 1% higher NII and fees," but indicated that pre-provision net revenue of $8.4 billion fell 2% short of estimates. He added that investors would focus on expense and interest income guidance for 2025.
Bank of America shares were 0.7% lower, following Wednesday's 2.8% rally.
Read also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43026092/bank-of-america-q4-earnings-67-billion-profit-revenue-jumps-15-investment-banking-and-deposit-growth">Bank of America Q4 Earnings: $6.7 Billion Profit, $1.7 Billion In Investment banking fees, Forecasts Higher NII In 2025</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">PNC, U.S. Bancorp, First Horizon Deliver Mixed Results</h3>
PNC Financial Services posted EPS of $3.77, beating the $3.33 estimate. Revenue of $5.57 billion edged out expectations, but shares slipped 3.8% after gaining 2.4% on Wednesday.
U.S. Bancorp delivered EPS of $1.07, slightly above the $1.05 forecast, but revenue of $6.98 billion came in just below the $7 billion estimate. The stock was down 6.6% at the time of publication Thursday, after a 3.8% jump Wednesday.
First Horizon posted EPS of 43 cents, beating estimates of 39 cents, but revenue disappointed at $729 million, well short of the $820.7 million forecast. Shares were flat, following a 2.7% gain on Wednesday.
Read now: 
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

First Horizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.43 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.39 by 10.26 percent.

Earnings Beats

First Horizon Q4 2024 Adj. EPS $0.43 Beats $0.39 Estimate

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
• Insteel Indus (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IIIN#NYSE">IIIN</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.09 per share on revenue of $117.45 million. 
• Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $2.16 per share on revenue of $26.38 billion. 
• Infosys (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INFY#NYSE">INFY</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.19 per share on revenue of $4.93 billion. 
• Bank7 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BSVN#NASDAQ">BSVN</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.05 per share on revenue of $23.50 million. 
• PNC Finl Servs Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNC#NYSE">PNC</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $3.30 per share on revenue of $5.49 billion. 
• M&amp;T Bank (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $3.74 per share on revenue of $2.34 billion. 
• UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $6.92 per share on revenue of $101.09 billion. 
• First Horizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.38 per share on revenue of $825.23 million. 
• Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.79 per share on revenue of $25.22 billion. 
• Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.51 per share on revenue of $14.35 billion. 
• U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.01 per share on revenue of $6.93 billion. 
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>
• JB Hunt Transport Servs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.62 per share on revenue of $3.15 billion. 
• Independent Bank (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INDB#NASDAQ">INDB</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.16 per share on revenue of $175.71 million. 
• Bank OZK (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OZK#NASDAQ">OZK</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.44 per share on revenue of $407.32 million. 
• RF Industries (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RFIL#NASDAQ">RFIL</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.06 per share on revenue of $17.85 million. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

BSVN

IIIN

INDB

JBHT

RFIL

Earnings Scheduled For January 16, 2025

First Horizon's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) short percent of float has risen 17.28% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 11.71 million shares sold short, which is 2.85% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.02 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>First Horizon Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736957722_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for First Horizon has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing First Horizon's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, First Horizon's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.47%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

How Is The Market Feeling About First Horizon?

Major U.S. banks reported strong fourth-quarter 2024 earnings on Wednesday, with better-than-expected results across the board <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42984073/banks-kick-off-earnings-season-on-wednesday-retail-traders-bet-big-on-financials-ahead-of-regulatory-tailwinds">and upbeat 2025 guidance. </a>
The performance was driven by robust net interest income (NII), resilient fee revenue, and disciplined expense management. 
These positive earnings results sent financial stocks higher, with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) rising 1.9% on Wednesday, eyeing the strongest one-day rally since Nov. 6, 2024, when financial stocks rallied in response to Donald Trump&#8216;s victory at the presidential elections.
The SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>) jumped 3.1%, reflecting strength among regional banks.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bank Earnings In Focus</h3>
JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) reported fourth-quarter earnings per share of $4.81, far exceeding the consensus estimate of $4.11, representing a 17% surprise, according to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent011525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Revenue came in at $43.74 billion, beating estimates by 4.9%. The bank's strong performance was attributed to higher NII, which totaled $94 billion for 2025 guidance, above expectations, along with lower-than-anticipated credit costs.
The world&#8217;s largest bank repurchased $4 billion in shares during the quarter, bringing its Common Equity Tier 1 ratio to 15.8%, up 30 basis points quarter-over-quarter.
Shares of JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. rose 0.5% by 10:00 a.m. in New York. 
Read also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43000684/jpmorgan-q4-earnings-shine-investment-banking-revenue-jumps-46-yy-jamie-dimon-says-inflation-may-persist-for-some-time">JPMorgan Chase Q4 Earnings: Investment Banking Revenue Jumps 46%, CEO Jamie Dimon Says &#8216;Inflation May Persist For Some Time&#8217;</a>
Goldman Sachs Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) delivered a standout performance with EPS of $11.95, a sharp 45.4% surprise over the $8.22 consensus. Revenue reached $13.87 billion, 11.9% above estimates, driven by strong trading revenue, up by 13%, and better-than-expected equity underwriting, up 41%.
According to Bank of America analysts, Goldman remains &#8220;a favored way to gain exposure to rebounding investment banking activity.&#8221;
The bank repurchased $2 billion in shares and ended the quarter with a 15% CET1 ratio. Return on equity for 2024 stood at 12.5%, slightly below the bank&#8217;s mid-teens target but still solid.
Goldman Sachs rallied 6% in response to fourth-quarter results, reaching highs last seen in early December 2024 and eyeing the strongest 1-day rally since Nov. 6 2024.
Read also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43000353/goldman-sachs-q4-earnings-equity-and-debt-underwriting-fuel-revenue-boost-assets-under-management-hit-record-314-trillion">Goldman Sachs Q4 Earnings: Underwriting Boosts Revenue, Assets Reach Record $3.14 Trillion</a>
Wells Fargo Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>) posted EPS of $1.42, beating estimates by 5.2%, driven by stronger-than-expected NII and fee revenue. 
Overall revenue was slightly below estimates at $20.38 billion, yet the bank's 2025 guidance surprised to the upside, with NII expected to grow 1-3% year-over-year, implying $48.98 billion—higher than analyst expectations.
Wells Fargo's CET1 ratio stood at 11.1%, down 20 basis points quarter-over-quarter, but the bank returned $4 billion to shareholders through buybacks. 
Credit trends remained stable, and expenses were well-managed, positioning the bank for a solid year ahead.
Shares of Wells Fargo roared 5.7% to early December highs. 
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43002392/wells-fargo-q4-earnings-investors-cheer-50-jump-in-net-profit-roe-improvement-bank-expects-up-to-3-jump-in-2025-nii">Wells Fargo Q4 Earnings: Investors Cheer 50% Jump In Net Profit, ROE Improvement, Bank Expects Up To 3% Jump In 2025 NII</a>
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>) reported EPS of $1.34, beating the $1.22 consensus by 9.8%, while revenue of $19.58 billion narrowly exceeded expectations. 
The results reflected solid execution across the bank's core operations, with a particular boost from strong trading revenues.
Though the bank still faces challenges in certain areas, analysts at Bank of America see improving operational efficiency and regulatory easing as potential tailwinds. 
Citigroup's stock rose 5.7% following the earnings release, reflecting growing investor optimism.
Read also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/buybacks/25/01/43002760/citigroup-q4-earnings-12-topline-growth-2-9-billion-net-income-20-billion-share-buyback-gains-in-wealth-and-market-segments">Citigroup Q4 Earnings: 12% Topline Growth, $2.9 Billion Net Income, $20 Billion Share Buyback, Gains In Wealth And Market Segments</a>
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BK#NYSE">BK</a>) posted EPS of $1.72, exceeding estimates by 10.3%, while revenue of $4.85 billion beat projections by 4.2%. The results were driven by robust pre-provision net revenue growth, up 9.5% year-over-year, fueled by NII growth of nearly 14%.
The bank achieved its medium-term targets of a 33% pre-tax margin and 23% return on tangible common equity (ROTCE), highlighting disciplined expense management. 
Shareholder returns were also strong, with $1.1 billion returned in the fourth quarter, including $750 million in buybacks.
Shares rallied by 5.7%, eyeing their highest one-day surge since July 2022. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Looking Ahead</h3>
The market spotlight will shift to Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>), U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>), First Horizon Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>), PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNC#NYSE">PNC</a>), and M&amp;T Bank Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>) all slated to report earnings on Thursday, before the market open. 
Here's what investors will be watching, according to Benzinga Pro data:
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Bank</th>
<th>Estimated Revenue</th>
<th>Estimated EPS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Bank of America Corp.</td>
<td>$25.24 billion</td>
<td>$0.77</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>$15.03 billion</td>
<td>$1.70</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PNC Financial Services Group Inc.</td>
<td>$5.50 billion</td>
<td>$3.33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>U.S. Bancorp</td>
<td>$6.99 billion</td>
<td>$1.05</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>M&amp;T Bank Corp.</td>
<td>$2.34 billion</td>
<td>$3.73</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Horizon Corp.</td>
<td>$820.7 million</td>
<td>$0.39</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Read now: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42997625/blackrock-beats-q4-estimates-fueled-by-record-inflows-116-trillion-aum-milestone">BlackRock Q4 Earnings: Record Inflows Fuel Revenue And Earnings Beat, AUM Hits $11.6 Trillion Milestone</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Big Banks Crush Q4 Earnings Forecasts: Financial Stocks Set For Biggest 1-Day Rally Since Trump's Election

First Horizon Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) will release earnings for its fourth quarter, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FHN/earnings">opening bell on Thursday, Jan. 16.</a>
Analysts expect the Columbus, Ohio-based company to report quarterly earnings at 39 cents per share. That's up from 32 cents per share in the year-ago period. According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>, First Horizon projects quarterly revenue of $821.89 million, compared to $804 million a year earlier.
On Oct. 29, First Horizon disclosed a $1 billion share repurchase program.
First Horizon shares gained 2.7% to close at $20.83 on Tuesday&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; .
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/fhn/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Barclays analyst Jared Shaw maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $23 to $25 on Dec. 20, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Brady Gailey maintained a Market Perform rating and raised the price target from $23 to $24 on Dec. 19, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 79%.</li>
<li>RBC Capital analyst Jon Arfstrom maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $22 to $23 on Dec. 11, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 82%.</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs analyst Ryan Nash maintained a Neutral rating and increased the price target from $18.5 to $23 on Nov. 26, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 64%.</li>
<li>Raymond James analyst Michael Rose maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $19 to $22 on Nov. 8, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 68%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying FHN stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="584" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15041627/image-90-1024x584.png" alt="" class="wp-image-734143" style="width:587px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15041627/image-90-1024x584.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15041627/image-90-300x171.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15041627/image-90-768x438.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15041627/image-90.png 1132w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Read This Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/42992639/how-to-earn-500-a-month-from-state-street-stock-ahead-of-q4-earnings">How To Earn $500 A Month From State Street Stock Ahead Of Q4 Earnings</a></li>
</ul>

Markets

First Horizon Gears Up For Q4 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

JP Morgan analyst Anthony Elian maintains First Horizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $23 to $22.5.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on First Horizon, Lowers Price Target to $22.5

A stronger lending environment, stable credit and renewed confidence in valuations could set the stage for a multiyear rally on U.S. regional banks, with some analysts predicting up to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/regional-banks">20% upside in 2025.</a>
Three major investment banks — JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co., Bank of America and Goldman Sachs — released fresh outlooks on regional banks Tuesday, issuing rating changes, top stock picks and sector recommendations for 2025.
Overall, analysts at all three firms are optimistic. Goldman Sachs analyst Ryan Nash, for example, highlighted several factors likely to improve sector fundamentals in 2025:
<ul>
<li>Loan Growth Recovery: While still slow, loan growth is expected to accelerate to 6%-7% by the second half of 2025 as corporations resume borrowing.</li>
<li>Net Interest Income Growth: A steeper yield curve and the repricing of fixed-rate assets are anticipated to boost NII. Nash expects margins to expand from the current 3.03% to 3.31% in 2025.</li>
<li>Fee Income Rebound: Treasury management, payments, and capital markets are set to improve, helping banks diversify revenue streams.</li>
<li>Stable Credit Conditions: Credit losses, measured by net charge-offs, are projected to remain flat or decline, while reserves could decrease as economic clarity improves.</li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li></li>
</ol>
According to Nash, the stocks of regional banks are trading at approximately 11.5 times estimated 2025 earnings—near their historical averages but with room for valuation expansion. 
The sector could generate returns on tangible common equity of 14%-15%, compared to 16% pre-2023.
This suggests the group could rise as much as 20% next year, according to Goldman Sachs, assuming the market gains confidence in forward earnings.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Goldman Sachs: Upgrades Zions, Downgrades Comerica</h3>
Goldman Sachs upgraded Zions Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZION#NASDAQ">ZION</a>) from Neutral to Buy. The firm predicts a significant upside for the stock, with shares potentially reaching $70 in 2025.
Goldman downgraded Comerica Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMA#NYSE">CMA</a>) from Buy to Neutral, citing challenges in deposit management, fee income pressure, and elevated expense growth. Comerica's margins are expected to improve in 2025. But Nash sees limited upside, with shares already trading near their fair value of $70.
Goldman's top picks for 2025 include Truist Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TFC#NYSE">TFC</a>), Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>), KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>) and Citizens Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFG#NYSE">CFG</a>).
Analysts remain positive on Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>), Huntington Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HBAN#NASDAQ">HBAN</a>) and First Citizens BancShares Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCNCA#NASDAQ">FCNCA</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Case For Valuation Upside</h3>
JPMorgan Chase analysts are similarly bullish, indicating that regional banks are trading at just 1.4x their projected 2025 tangible book value, below the 1.8-2x historical range.
Anthony Elian, a JPMorgan analyst, said regional banks&#8217; valuations appear favorable relative to the broader market.
&#8220;While inflation remains above target, the steeper yield curve coupled with gradual rate cuts should serve as a favorable backdrop for regional banks,&#8221; Elian said. 
He expects the sector to attract more interest from generalist investors in 2025, further supporting valuations.
JPMorgan identified several regional banks with strong upside potential, including First Horizon Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>), Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNV#NYSE">SNV</a>) and Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNFP#NASDAQ">PNFP</a>). These names are expected to benefit from rebounding loan demand, robust deposit bases, and favorable capital return dynamics.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Improving Regulatory Environment </h3>
Bank of America analyst Ebrahim H. Poonawala also indicated that regional banks are poised to outperform the broader market in 2025, citing stronger earnings growth, discounted valuations, and a more predictable regulatory environment.
While Wells Fargo &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>) remains BofA's top pick, the bank also flagged KeyCorp and Huntington Bancshares Inc. as preferred names within regional banks.
The analyst highlighted a favorable backdrop for small- and mid-cap regional banks, particularly those with exposure to rebounding loan demand and capital return opportunities. 
Among these, BofA sees First Horizon Corp. and Synovus as potentially strong performers.
Bank of America highlights that looser regulation is a positive tailwind for the sector.
&#8220;Headlines tied to regulatory&nbsp;changes&nbsp;(once Trump appointees take charge)&nbsp;could kick-in as a positive catalyst&nbsp;for stocks,&#8221; Poonawala said. 
&#8220;We see Fed Vice Chair Michael Barr&#8216;s decision to step down from his position as vice chair of supervision as the opening act.&nbsp;End to Fed&#8217;s QT&nbsp;program&nbsp;could also&nbsp;serve&nbsp;as a positive for deposit growth/pricing,&#8221; he added. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions</h3>
The SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>) was 0.4% lower on Tuesday, while the Invesco KBW Bank ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KBWB#NASDAQ">KBWB</a>) rose by 0.5%. 
Read Now: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42822291/2025-industry-shake-up-goldman-highlights-kkr-raymond-james-hamilton-lane">2025 Industry Shake-Up: Goldman Highlights KKR, Raymond James, Hamilton Lane</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Upgrades

Downgrades

Federal Reserve

FCNCA

FITB

HBAN

KBWB

PNFP

ZION

Are Regional Banks The Next Big Opportunity? Why Wall Street Analysts Expect Multiyear Rally

Barclays analyst Jared Shaw maintains First Horizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $23 to $25.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on First Horizon, Raises Price Target to $25

Providing a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish, 14 analysts have published ratings on First Horizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) in the last three months.
The table below provides a concise overview of recent ratings by analysts, offering insights into the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and drawing comparisons with the preceding months for a holistic perspective.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Providing deeper insights, analysts have established 12-month price targets, indicating an average target of $21.07, along with a high estimate of $25.00 and a low estimate of $17.00. Observing a 8.27% increase, the current average has risen from the previous average price target of $19.46. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734631230_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Analyzing Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Breakdown</h2>
A clear picture of First Horizon's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Brady Gailey</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nicholas Holowko</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$19.50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jon Arfstrom</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Timur Braziler</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
<td>$18.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ryan Nash</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$18.50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jared Shaw</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Rose</td>
<td>Raymond James</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Pancari</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$18.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell Gunther</td>
<td>Stephens &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$18.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jared Shaw</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jon Arfstrom</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steven Alexopoulos</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$18.00</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Pancari</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$18.00</td>
<td>$18.50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Chiaverini</td>
<td>Wedbush</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to First Horizon. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Offering insights into predictions, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of First Horizon compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts navigate through adjustments in price targets, providing estimates for First Horizon's future value. Comparing current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
Analyzing these analyst evaluations alongside relevant financial metrics can provide a comprehensive view of First Horizon's market position. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FHN/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on First Horizon analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Delving into First Horizon's Background</h2>
First Horizon Corp is the parent company of First Tennessee Bank, a prominent regional bank with about 200 branches around Tennessee. The regional bank is responsible for roughly 65% of its revenue, while capital markets make a 25% contribution. The remainder is split between the firm's non-strategic (wind-down) and corporate operations. First Horizon concentrates on offering a variety of banking products mainly in its home state, where it has the second- largest deposit franchise with a 13% deposit market share.
<h3>Financial Milestones: First Horizon's Journey</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization is below the industry average, suggesting that it is relatively smaller compared to peers. This could be due to various factors, including perceived growth potential or operational scale.
Revenue Growth: First Horizon displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 5.94%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company stands out with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Financials sector.
Net Margin: First Horizon's net margin is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of 26.56%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): First Horizon's ROE is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of 2.53%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns.
Return on Assets (ROA): First Horizon's ROA falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.26%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns from its assets.
Debt Management: First Horizon's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 0.22, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: What Are They?</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Expert Outlook: First Horizon Through The Eyes Of 14 Analysts

Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Brady Gailey maintains First Horizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) with a Market Perform and raises the price target from $23 to $24.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Maintains Market Perform on First Horizon, Raises Price Target to $24

Regional bank stocks have been on a tear since the 2024 U.S. election, with the SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>) climbing about 10% versus the broader <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42536512/market-breadth-worsens-as-tech-giants-break-free-from-sp-500-reality-is-this-bullish-or-bearish-for-2025">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s 5% gain. </a>
Despite this already strong outperformance, JPMorgan analysts, led by Anthony Elian, CFA, see more upside.
The key drivers? A potential Trump administration's pro-business stance, easing regulation and a favorable interest rate backdrop.
In a note shared with clients on Tuesday, Elian indicated that investors — long on the sidelines due to frustrations such as regulation, rising deposit costs and the Spring 2023 banking turmoil — are beginning to show renewed interest in the sector.
&#8220;Our optimism for the group is not only driven by the likelihood of improving fundamentals next year in areas such as loan growth, deposit growth, and NIM expansion, but also tied to the fact that dozens of generalists and long only investors that we have spoken to since the election are showing increasing interest in the group but have not yet pulled the buy trigger en masse,&#8221; Elian said.
In essence, analysts at the U.S. largest investment bank are bullish on regional banks heading into 2025, with a strong case for 20% upside. 
Here's where they'd put $1,000 to work.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Why 2025 Could Be A Breakout Year For Regionals</h1>
According to JPMorgan, key catalysts driving stock gains across the industry next year include:
<ul>
<li>A revival in loan growth spurred by onshoring trends.</li>
<li>A deregulatory push from the upcoming Donald Trump&#8216;s administration, particularly if Basel III Endgame proposals are halted.</li>
<li>Improved M&amp;A activity, with banks like Comerica Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMA#NYSE">CMA</a>), First Horizon Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>), and Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZION#NASDAQ">ZION</a>) potentially benefiting.</li>
<li>Lower corporate taxes supporting bottom-line profitability.</li>
<li>A steep yield curve and the Fed's expected rate cuts in 2025, which could reduce deposit costs and boost Net Interest Margins (NIM).</li>
</ul>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Rate Cuts, Deposit Costs: A Big Win For Banks</h1>
JPMorgan highlights that deposit costs, which are tied to the Fed funds rate, remain critical to bank profitability.
As of the third quarter of 2024, the median cost of interest-bearing deposits stood at 3.5%, with higher-paying banks like Texas Capital Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCBI#NASDAQ">TCBI</a>), Flagstar Financial Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLG#NYSE">FLG</a>) and Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VLY#NASDAQ">VLY</a>) above 4%.
Banks paying higher rates have the most room to benefit as the Fed eases monetary policy in 2025. 
Lower-beta deposits, like those at First Hawaiian Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHB#NASDAQ">FHB</a>) and Webster Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBS#NYSE">WBS</a>), offer less flexibility for adjustments. 
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">JPMorgan's $1,000 Allocation Strategy</h1>
For retail investors looking to capitalize on regional bank momentum, JPMorgan provides a clear allocation breakdown:
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Stock</th>
<th>Allocation ($)</th>
<th>Rating</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAL#NYSE">WAL</a>)</td>
<td>$110</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCNCA#NASDAQ">FCNCA</a>)</td>
<td>$105</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pinnacle Financial Partners (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNFP#NASDAQ">PNFP</a>)</td>
<td>$102</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNV#NYSE">SNV</a>)</td>
<td>$94</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Webster Financial Corp. </td>
<td>$92</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Valley National Bancorp </td>
<td>$90</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Zions Bancorp. </td>
<td>$80</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Horizon Corp. </td>
<td>$78</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Comerica Inc. </td>
<td>$65</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Flagstar Financial </td>
<td>$62</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Columbia Banking System (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COLB#NASDAQ">COLB</a>)</td>
<td>$40</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Hawaiian Inc. </td>
<td>$30</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Texas Capital Bancshares </td>
<td>$30</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Top Picks For 2025</h1>
JPMorgan highlights Western Alliance Corp, First Citizens BancShares and Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. its top picks for regional banks in 2025, citing their relative strength in loan growth, cost efficiency and positioning for upside.
JPMorgan also rates Synovus Financial Corp., Webster Financial Corp. and Valley National Bancorp at Overweight, pointing to solid fundamentals and opportunities for growth.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42538384/vistra-entergy-nisource-pge-4-utilities-power-up-for-bullish-2025-says-jpmorgan">Vistra, Entergy, NiSource, PG&amp;E: 4 Utilities Power Up For Bullish 2025, Says JPMorgan</a></li>
</ul>
The images used was created using artificial intelligence MidJourney.

COLB

TCBI

How To Invest $1,000 In Regional Banks For 2025: Top Wall Street Analyst Reveals His Top Picks

WIIM

First Horizon shares are trading higher after RBC Capital maintained an Outperform rating on the stock and raised its price target from $22 to $23.

RBC Capital analyst Jon Arfstrom maintains First Horizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $22 to $23.

RBC Capital Maintains Outperform on First Horizon, Raises Price Target to $23

Press Releases

/C O R R E C T I O N -- First Horizon Corporation/

First Horizon Names New Head of Investor Relations

First Horizon Corporation to post fixed income investor materials on December 3, 2024

HORNETS, FIRST HORIZON BANK ANNOUNCE MULTIYEAR PARTNERSHIP

Entertainment

General

61st Annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival® Returns Presidents' Day Weekend 2025 With First Horizon Bank as Presenting Sponsor

NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE ANNOUNCES FIRST HORIZON BANK AS STADIUM NAMING PARTNER

First Horizon Corporation to Announce Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results on January 16, 2025

First Horizon Operations Earns 2024 Commitment Award from TNCPE

First Horizon Surprises Four Families on ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

First Horizon Corporation Reports Full Year 2024 Net Income Available to Common Shareholders (NIAC) of $738 Million or EPS of $1.36; Adjusted NIAC increased 5% to $843 Million or $1.55, driven by continued exemplary credit performance, increased fee income generation, and strong margin*

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