Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) Stock

Fifth Third Bancorp

Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial-services company headquartered in Cincinnati. The company has over $200 billion in assets and operates numerous full-service banking branches and ATMs throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina.

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Banks Make It Hard For A Business Owner To Replace Company Credit Cards With Debit Cards. Dave Ramsey Says, &#39;They Won&#39;t, But They Can&#39;

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Fifth Third Bancorp - Depositary Share repstg 1/1000th Ownership Interest Perp Pfd Series I

Fifth Third Bancorp - Depositary Shares each representing a 1/1000th ownership interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series K

Fifth Third Bancorp - Depositary Shares each representing 1/40th share of Fifth Third 6.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class B Preferred Stock, Series A

Fifth Third Bancorp's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NYSE">FITB</a>) short percent of float has risen 20.45% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 24.98 million shares sold short, which is 4.3% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.89 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>Fifth Third Bancorp Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739799018_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Fifth Third Bancorp 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 Fifth Third Bancorp'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>, Fifth Third Bancorp's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 0.92%, which means the company has more 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

Peering Into Fifth Third Bancorp's Recent Short Interest

Analysts' ratings for Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>) over the last quarter vary from bullish to bearish, as provided by 11 analysts.
The following table encapsulates their recent ratings, offering a glimpse into the evolving 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">3</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">1</td>
<td align="right">0</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">2</td>
<td align="right">1</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">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">2</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have set 12-month price targets for Fifth Third Bancorp, revealing an average target of $51.55, a high estimate of $56.00, and a low estimate of $47.00. Marking an increase of 5.64%, the current average surpasses the previous average price target of $48.80. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739210432_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Breaking Down Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Examination</h2>
An in-depth analysis of recent analyst actions unveils how financial experts perceive Fifth Third Bancorp. The following summary 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>Gerard Cassidy</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Peter Winter</td>
<td>DA Davidson</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$49.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gerard Cassidy</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scott Siefers</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$53.00</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Foran</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Foran</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jason Goldberg</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$56.00</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Konrad</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scott Siefers</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
<td>$49.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Keith Horowitz</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
<td>$43.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Whit Mayo</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
<td>$52.00</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 Fifth Third Bancorp. This insight gives a snapshot of 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 Fifth Third Bancorp compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts set price targets as an estimate of a stock's future value. Comparing the current and prior price targets provides insight into how analysts' expectations have changed over time. This information can be valuable for investors seeking to understand consensus views on the stock's potential future performance.</li>
</ul>
Analyzing these analyst evaluations alongside relevant financial metrics can provide a comprehensive view of Fifth Third Bancorp's market position. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FITB/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Fifth Third Bancorp analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering Fifth Third Bancorp: A Closer Look</h2>
Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial-services company headquartered in Cincinnati. The company has over $200 billion in assets and operates numerous full-service banking branches and ATMs throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina.
<h3>Breaking Down Fifth Third Bancorp's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Positioned below industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization faces constraints in size. This could be influenced by factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Revenue Growth: Fifth Third Bancorp's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 31 December, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 4.12%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Financials sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Net Margin: Fifth Third Bancorp's net margin falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 27.1%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Fifth Third Bancorp's ROE is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of 3.22%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): Fifth Third Bancorp's ROA is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.27%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, Fifth Third Bancorp adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: What Are They?</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 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>.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

11 Analysts Assess Fifth Third Bancorp: What You Need To Know

RBC Capital analyst Gerard Cassidy reiterates Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>) with a Outperform and maintains $47 price target.

Price Target

Reiteration

RBC Capital Reiterates Outperform on Fifth Third Bancorp, Maintains $47 Price Target

Running a business comes with its fair share of challenges, especially when trying to operate debt-free. Sean, a small-business owner from Lake Charles, Louisiana, recently <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LEv8i-l2yc">called</a> into Dave Ramsey's EntreLeadership podcast to discuss one specific struggle: his family-owned business couldn't seem to ditch their company credit cards for debit cards.
Sean and his two brothers run an environmental consulting company specializing in portable water and sewer treatment. With 15 employees and $3 million in annual revenue, they've prioritized eliminating debt. But they hit a roadblock when their national bank claimed it couldn't issue debit cards to employees unless they were signers on the account. This left Sean wondering how Dave's larger organization operated without <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-business-credit-cards-for-startups">company credit cards</a>.
Dave's response probably surprised some listeners, as he exclaimed, "That's not true. They will not, but they can."
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/62-years-old-with-1-mil-saved">I&#8217;m 62 Years Old And Have $1.2 Million Saved. Is This Enough to Retire Stress-Free?</a> </li>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Find the Right Bank</h2>
Dave explained that his business, which generates $300 million in revenue, operates without company credit cards. Instead, they use debit cards and none of their employees are signers on the account. The key, he said, is working with a regional bank instead of a national giant like Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) or Fifth Third Bank (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>).
According to Dave, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42464301/how-will-big-banks-fare-under-trump-in-2025">big banks</a> often don't care about smaller businesses. "I&#8217;m a big enough fish that I can get them to do whatever the flip I want, but I don&#8217;t own the bank either, so you can find somebody that&#8217;ll do it if you want to do it."
He encouraged Sean to shop around for a bank willing to accommodate his company's goals. Dave noted that regional banks are more likely to issue debit cards without requiring all employees to be account signers.
Trending: According to Juniper Research, the total value of B2B cross-border payments stored on the blockchain is projected to exceed $4.4 trillion — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/web3-enabler-future-of-enterprise-transactions">Join the first company to bring blockchain payments to Salesforce early with just $100.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Debit Cards Are Better</h2>
Sean's desire to switch to debit cards ties directly into his goal of living debt-free and eventually <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/01/43085752/its-a-bankers-scam-dave-ramsey-blasts-the-fico-score-system-i-cant-rent-an-apartment-but-i-can-write-a-check-for-the-whole-complex">achieving a zero credit score</a>. Dave emphasized that using debit cards over credit cards doesn't just align with these goals and changes how employees think about spending.
"When employees use debit cards, they know they're <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/05/39083337/5-reasons-why-you-should-reach-for-a-credit-card-instead-of-a-debit-card-next-time-you-pay">spending actual money directly</a> from the company's account," Dave explained. "It makes them more careful. It's like they're walking around with cash in an envelope. They're more cautious because they understand it's real money."
Dave added that his organization has seen noticeable changes in employee behavior since switching to debit cards. Team members are more thoughtful about expenses, whether for client lunches or other business-related charges. This cultural shift, he said, is invaluable.
See Also: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/money/smartasset"> How do you compare</a>?
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Addressing Risks</h2>
Sean worried about the risks of misuse with debit cards, but Dave pointed out that these risks also exist with credit cards. "If an employee makes unauthorized purchases, it's not fraud; it's employee misbehavior," he said. "And whether it's a credit card or a debit card, you're still responsible for what they put on it."
Dave argued that the real solution lies in choosing trustworthy employees and maintaining accountability. His team's debit card purchases are reviewed regularly and any questionable charges are addressed immediately.
Read Next:
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<li>Built on the trusted network of Fortune 500 companies, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/web3-enabler-the-most-boring-blockchain-company-partners-with-salesforce">this blockchain company partners with Salesforce to uproot lengthy and expensive B2B transactions, and you can invest with just $100.</a></li>
<li>Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a></li>
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Banks Make It Hard For A Business Owner To Replace Company Credit Cards With Debit Cards. Dave Ramsey Says, 'They Won't, But They Can'

Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>) has been analyzed by 10 analysts in the last three months, revealing a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a snapshot of their recent ratings, showcasing how sentiments have evolved 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">5</td>
<td align="right">3</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">2</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">0</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">1</td>
<td align="right">1</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">1</td>
<td align="right">1</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 $52.0, along with a high estimate of $56.00 and a low estimate of $47.00. This current average has increased by 6.12% from the previous average price target of $49.00. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737669657_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Analyzing Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Breakdown</h2>
In examining recent analyst actions, we gain insights into how financial experts perceive Fifth Third Bancorp. The following summary 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>Peter Winter</td>
<td>DA Davidson</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$49.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gerard Cassidy</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scott Siefers</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$53.00</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Foran</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Foran</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jason Goldberg</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$56.00</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Konrad</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scott Siefers</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
<td>$49.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Keith Horowitz</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
<td>$43.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Whit Mayo</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
<td>$52.00</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 Fifth Third Bancorp. 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 Fifth Third Bancorp compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts predict movements in price targets, offering estimates for Fifth Third Bancorp's future value. Examining the current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Fifth Third Bancorp's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FITB/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Fifth Third Bancorp analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>All You Need to Know About Fifth Third Bancorp</h2>
Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial-services company headquartered in Cincinnati. The company has over $200 billion in assets and operates numerous full-service banking branches and ATMs throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina.
<h3>Fifth Third Bancorp's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Reflecting a smaller scale, the company's market capitalization is positioned below industry averages. This could be attributed to factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Revenue Growth: Fifth Third Bancorp's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 31 December, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 4.12%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Financials sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Net Margin: Fifth Third Bancorp's net margin is impressive, surpassing industry averages. With a net margin of 27.1%, the company demonstrates strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Fifth Third Bancorp's ROE falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 3.22%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.27%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: Fifth Third Bancorp's debt-to-equity ratio is below industry norms, indicating a sound financial structure with a ratio of 1.07.
<h2>The Basics of Analyst Ratings</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 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.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/turning-point-trader-checkout-2/?t=Tu1tu3arja3be22tu36&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for urgent details</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Expectations For Fifth Third Bancorp's Future

DA Davidson analyst Peter Winter maintains Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $49 to $50.

DA Davidson Maintains Neutral on Fifth Third Bancorp, Raises Price Target to $50

Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>) reported decent results <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43135162/capital-one-posts-q4-earnings-beat-analysts-weigh-in-on-discover-acquisition" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">for the fourth quarter</a>. The company reported its quarterly results amid an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exciting earnings season</a>. 
Goldman Sachs analyst Ryan M. Nash is optimistic about future performance of Capital One Financial despite slight post-market share decline.
They see stabilizing credit metrics, decreasing losses, and a continued downward trend in allowances as positive signs.
The DFS deal is expected to increase EPS power to over $22, with no major <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/02/37204534/capital-one-set-to-acquire-discover-in-landmark-35-3b-deal">efficiency risks despite compliance investments.</a>
Capital One Financial&#8217;s strong CET1 ratio positions it to return significant capital in the future.
With shares currently trading at just over 10x 2026E EPS, the analyst sees a potential upside as the market gains confidence in the company&#8217;s earnings and network scalability.
Once these factors are fully recognized, the analyst expects significant upside potential for the shares.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/01/43135764/trumps-500-billion-stargate-ai-plan-puts-3-etfs-in-focus" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump&#8217;s $500 Billion Stargate AI Plan Puts 3 ETFs In Focus</a>
Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>) reported a solid fourth quarter PPNR beat as stronger than expected fees drove the beat while expenses and NII were in-line.
Per Nash, the beat on fees was driven by strength in commercial banking and capital markets (under new disclosures), as the three-pronged fee strategy (wealth, payments, and capital markets) continues to deliver strong results.
The analyst is optimistic about Fifth Third&#8217;s fundamentals, citing record net interest income in 2025, improved loan growth, and margin expansion. Fee income growth is also a strength, and with a CET1 ratio of 10.5%, FITB is well-positioned for capital returns.
Nash notes that shares are trading at a slight premium to peers, but the analyst sees the company to maintain or even widen that premium if it continues executing well and driving positive operating leverage while investing for growth.
See Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43128141/tech-stocks-rise-after-trump-announces-ai-infrastructure-investment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tech Stocks Rise After Trump Announces AI Infrastructure Investment</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Capital One And Fifth Third Bancorp's Capital Strength And Growth Prospects; Analyst Sees Upside

Piper Sandler analyst Scott Siefers reiterates Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $54 to $53.

Piper Sandler Reiterates Overweight on Fifth Third Bancorp, Lowers Price Target to $53

Truist Securities analyst Brian Foran maintains Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $51 to $52.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Fifth Third Bancorp, Raises Price Target to $52

Wall Street saw a strong preference for small and mid-cap equities, with the Russell 2000 index leading the market as investors bet on more domestic-friendly policies following Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20 as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">the 47th U.S. president.</a>
The Russell 2000 rallied 1.7%, while other large-cap indices trailed behind. The Dow Jones, composed of non-tech blue-chip companies, rose by 1.2%, while both the S&amp;P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 edged up 0.9%.
Most sectors traded higher, except for energy. The announcement of a national energy emergency raised concerns about a fossil fuel oversupply, sending oil prices down more than 2%. WTI crude dropped to $72.10 per barrel.
In the Treasury market, yields fell as investors appeared convinced by Trump's pledges on inflation control and lower federal spending. The 10-year Treasury yield declined by five basis points to 4.58%.
One of the session's most notable moves came from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), which plunged 4.3%, marking its worst trading day since early August 2024. The decline followed a downgrade by Jefferies, citing challenges in iPhone sales in China.
In commodities, gold climbed 1.2% to a two-month high, aiming for its ninth gain in the past eleven sessions, supported by lower Treasury yields. In the crypto space, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rebounded 3% to $106,000 after briefly touching $100,000 overnight amid the absence of crypto-related remarks from Trump on his first day in office.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,314.89</td>
<td>1.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>43,995.44</td>
<td>1.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,053.00</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,630.38</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 1:20 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent012125&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>) rose 0.9% to $602.64.</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;rose 1.1% to $439.55.</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>) edged 0.8% higher to $525.61.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 1.8% to $229.50.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Industrials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) outperformed, up 2%; the&nbsp;Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) lagged, down 0.3%.</li>
</ul>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h1>
<ul>
<li>Charles Schwab Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>) rallied 4.7%, eyeing the strongest session in over two months, after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly results. </li>
<li>Other stocks reacting to earnings included Prologis Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLD#NYSE">PLD</a>), up 6.4%; 3M Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>), up 5.5%; DR Horton Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>), down 0.4%; KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>), down nearly 5% and Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>), up 0.4%.</li>
<li>General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) soared by nearly 6% after Deutsche Bank upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy, and raised the price target from $56 to $60.</li>
<li>Companies slated to report earnings after the close include Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>), Interactive Brokers Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBKR#NASDAQ">IBKR</a>), Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>) and United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>)</li>
</ul>
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Small Caps Soar, Apple Slips, Treasury Yields Fall On Trump Day 2: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?

Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.85 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $0.88 by 3.41 percent. This is a 14.14 percent decrease over earnings of $0.99 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $2.17 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $2.21 billion by 1.58 percent. This is a 0.37 percent increase over sales of $2.17 billion the same period last year.

Earnings

Earnings Misses

Fifth Third Bancorp Q4 EPS $0.85 Misses $0.88 Estimate, Sales $2.17B Miss $2.21B Estimate

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
• 3M (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.66 per share on revenue of $5.78 billion. 
• United Microelectronics (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UMC#NYSE">UMC</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.15 per share on revenue of $1.87 billion. 
• Complete Solaria (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSLR#NASDAQ">CSLR</a>) is expected to report quarterly loss at $0.21 per share on revenue of $76.50 million. 
• Old National (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONB#NASDAQ">ONB</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.46 per share on revenue of $485.57 million. 
• Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.88 per share on revenue of $2.21 billion. 
• FB Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FBK#NYSE">FBK</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.83 per share on revenue of $131.14 million. 
• KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.32 per share on revenue of $1.75 billion. 
• Mercantile Bank (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBWM#NASDAQ">MBWM</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.14 per share on revenue of $57.33 million. 
• Prologis (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLD#NYSE">PLD</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.38 per share on revenue of $1.94 billion. 
• Guaranty Bancshares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GNTY#NYSE">GNTY</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.61 per share on revenue of $29.49 million. 
• Charles Schwab (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.89 per share on revenue of $5.13 billion. 
• Peoples Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEBO#NASDAQ">PEBO</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.75 per share on revenue of $109.93 million. 
• Forestar Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOR#NYSE">FOR</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.70 per share on revenue of $328.44 million. 
• New Oriental Education (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EDU#NYSE">EDU</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.33 per share on revenue of $1.06 billion. 
• Community Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBU#NYSE">CBU</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.89 per share on revenue of $192.78 million. 
• D.R. Horton (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $2.39 per share on revenue of $7.12 billion. 
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>
• Zions Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZION#NASDAQ">ZION</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.26 per share on revenue of $787.50 million. 
• United Airlines Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $3.01 per share on revenue of $14.34 billion. 
• SmartFinancial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMBK#NYSE">SMBK</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.50 per share on revenue of $44.37 million. 
• Simmons First Ntl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFNC#NASDAQ">SFNC</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.35 per share on revenue of $208.67 million. 
• Netflix (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $4.20 per share on revenue of $10.13 billion. 
• Trustco Bank (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRST#NASDAQ">TRST</a>) is likely to report earnings for its fourth quarter. 
• Progress Software (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PRGS#NASDAQ">PRGS</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $1.22 per share on revenue of $211.34 million. 
• Interactive Brokers Gr (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBKR#NASDAQ">IBKR</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.82 per share on revenue of $1.37 billion. 
• Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWC#NASDAQ">HWC</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $1.28 per share on revenue of $365.13 million. 
• Pinnacle Finl Partners (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNFP#NASDAQ">PNFP</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.78 per share on revenue of $470.83 million. 
• Agilysys (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGYS#NASDAQ">AGYS</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.34 per share on revenue of $73.15 million. 
• Seagate Tech Hldgs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STX#NASDAQ">STX</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.87 per share on revenue of $2.32 billion. 
• Pathward Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CASH#NASDAQ">CASH</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.24 per share on revenue of $171.35 million. 
• Fulton Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FULT#NASDAQ">FULT</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.42 per share on revenue of $315.73 million. 
• Great Southern Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSBC#NASDAQ">GSBC</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.32 per share on revenue of $55.33 million. 
• Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $2.49 per share on revenue of $632.53 million. 
• Capital One Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $2.71 per share on revenue of $10.21 billion. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AGYS

CASH

CSLR

New Oriental Education & Technology Group

FULT

GNTY

GSBC

MBWM

PEBO

PNFP

PRGS

SFNC

SMBK

TRST

WTFC

ZION

Earnings Scheduled For January 21, 2025

WIIM

ALLY

ARES

BOTJ

BSBR

CINF

CNCK

CRBG

GRNQ

HOOD

INTR

ITUB

MKTW

MUFG

NTRS

RILY

SMFG

UPST

Shares of banking and financial services stocks are trading higher following strong bank earnings.

Fifth Third Bancorp's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NYSE">FITB</a>) short percent of float has fallen 4.65% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 18.81 million shares sold short, which is 3.28% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.86 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>Fifth Third Bancorp Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736451022_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Fifth Third Bancorp has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Fifth Third Bancorp'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>, Fifth Third Bancorp's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 0.96%, which means the company has more 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.

Looking Into Fifth Third Bancorp's Recent Short Interest

Regional banks still have room to run and thrive even as it is &#8220;easy to overstate the advantage&#8221; for big banks, says Truist Securities in its latest note, highlighting three key paths for regional banks to succeed.
What Happened: Big banks have clear economies of scale, and they have been re-rated relative to small banks with the top five U.S. banks holding about 47% market share for a decade. According to the Truist Securities note, dated Jan. 6, the big banks are in a better position, but at the same time, individual regionals can position themselves to thrive.
Truist initiated coverage on 14 regional financial companies outlining three key strategies relating to pace, magnitude, and quality for the regional banks to remain competitive.
<ul>
<li>Differentiated Growth: Focus on unique and sustainable growth opportunities via differentiated customer base, a different form of fee Income and a niche business with competitive moat. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Disciplined Capital Allocation: Efficiently deploy capital to support growth and enhance shareholder value.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Navigating the Evolving Landscape: Adapt to changing market conditions, including interest rates, yield curve shifts, loan and deposit growth, and commercial real estate market dynamics.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Regional Banks</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$51</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HBAN#NASDAQ">HBAN</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>M&amp;T Bank (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$151</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Citizens Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFG#NYSE">CFG</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$49</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Comerica Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMA#NYSE">CMA</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCNCA#NASDAQ">FCNCA</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$2,303</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Regions Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$25</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cards</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ally Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALLY#NYSE">ALLY</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$350</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Capital One Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$229</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Discover Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Synchrony Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYF#NYSE">SYF</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$72</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/42867184/yield-curve-normalization-cheap-valuation-eps-growth-to-boost-banks-in-2025-truist-initiates-coverage-on-these-14-regional-names">Yield Curve Normalization, Cheap Valuation, EPS Growth To Boost Banks In 2025: Truist Initiates Coverage On These 14 Regional Names</a>
Why It Matters: The three listed key paths for regional banks and card companies to thrive can be differentiated and linked to the stocks as mentioned by Truist in their research note.
Differentiated Growth Stories
<ul>
<li>Differentiated Customer Base: American Express Co has an exclusive high-end customer base, which would require an investment of over $100 billion to replicate, according to Truist. On the other hand, Fifth Third Bancorp has a unique ability to organically build a strong deposit market share.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Differentiated Form of Fee Income: Capital One Financial Corp has seen an expansion of network revenues following the acquisition of Discover. While, KeyCorp&#8217;s leading regional investment banking franchise will be favored by given the potential for increased deal activity driven by the Federal Reserve&#8217;s interest rate cuts and anticipated political changes.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Niche Business with Competitive Moat: Wintrust Financial Corp secures a dominant position in the highly profitable insurance premium finance market. Whereas, Huntington Bancshares Inc&#8216;s differentiated approach, including its expansion into new lending areas, will support its continued strong performance in loan, deposit, and fee growth across high-quality markets.</li>
</ul>
Disciplined Capital Deployment
<ul>
<li>Another way in which the regional banks could thrive includes a disciplined capital deployment which typically follows organic growth first, followed by dividends and buybacks, and potentially mergers and acquisitions. However, the key lies not in the order itself, but in the flexibility and agility with which banks can adjust their capital allocation strategy in response to evolving company, industry, and macroeconomic conditions.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Truist believes some banks are attractively valued for share repurchases. M&amp;T Bank Corp&#8216;s CFO in a recent conference hinted at higher buybacks in 2025.</li>
</ul>
Navigating The Evolving Landscape
<ul>
<li>According to Truist, it&#8217;s not unusual for multiple challenges to arise simultaneously. The current environment has witnessed sluggish loan and deposit growth amidst rapid interest rate hikes. However, it is anticipated that at least some of these headwinds will begin to abate in the coming year, leading to a more favorable environment for the banking sector</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>CRE Valuation: Banks with significant commercial real estate exposure in high-growth, high-income markets, such as Fifth Third and Huntington, are well-positioned for future CRE origination opportunities. M&amp;T and Citizens Financial Group Inc. will also benefit from an eventual improvement in market conditions.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42836744/baby-its-cold-outside-these-5-winter-ready-stocks-have-what-it-takes-to-make-you-feel-warm-and-cozy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baby, It's Cold Outside: These 5 Winter-Ready Stocks Have What It Takes To Make You Feel Warm And Cozy</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

FCNCA

HBAN

Regional Banks Can Thrive Despite Big Bank Dominance: Truist Securities Highlights Three Key Paths For Thriving Regional Banks

Analysts at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/truist-securities">Truist Securities</a> initiated coverage on 24 large-cap, regional, and trust banks, as well as credit card companies. They anticipate strong earnings growth over the next two years, projecting an annual increase of 12-15% fueled by factors like improving loan growth, a steeper yield curve, and ample capital for expansion.
What Happened: Forecasting a favorable environment for banks in 2025 and 2026, the analysts at Truist foresee a less stringent regulatory environment, with more clarity and flexibility for banks regarding mergers and acquisitions, and the deployment of excess capital.
The note highlighted that the banking stocks were de-rated during the first two years of Trump 1.0 because the yield curve was flattened and late-cycle macro concerns surfaced, even as the administration enacted bank-friendly tax reform and regulatory tailoring. However, according to the brokerage, a little Fed easing and a steeper curve are necessary for the stocks to be re-rated and two rate cuts are expected in 2025, as hinted by Fed during their December meeting. 
According to Truist, while bank valuations have increased, they remain relatively attractive compared to historical levels. They currently trade at a price-to-book value (P/TBV) below their post-financial crisis average, and at a significant discount to the broader market. The note adds that given the current market valuations, bank stocks appear undervalued relative to the S&amp;P 500.
However, despite Truist beliefs that the sector offers attractive opportunities, careful stock selection is crucial according to them. &#8220;While we're not at &#8216;close your eyes and buy ‘em levels,&#8217; we still see attractive opportunities across the sector and view stock selection as increasingly important,&#8221; the note said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42836744/baby-its-cold-outside-these-5-winter-ready-stocks-have-what-it-takes-to-make-you-feel-warm-and-cozy">Baby, It&#8217;s Cold Outside: These 5 Winter-Ready Stocks Have What It Takes To Make You Feel Warm And Cozy</a>
Why It Matters: Truist&#8217;s coverage on 24 financial stocks is spread across three subgroups namely, large-cap, regional, and trust banks, which is initiated with a positive outlook.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Large-Cap Banks</h3>
The research note examines long-term investment potential of large U.S. banks as these institutions possess significant advantages, including, &#8220;embedded offense&#8221; with the presence of strong existing businesses and customer relationships.
It also anticipates cyclical tailwinds and capital leverage for such banks given a favorable economic environment and the ability to effectively utilize capital for growth.
These factors position large U.S. banks to achieve organic growth by the expansion of core businesses, double-digit earnings growth and an attractive returns on equity.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Large Cap Banks</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Citigroup (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$85</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wells Fargo (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$82</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$260</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PNC Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNC#NYSE">PNC</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$215</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>US Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$54</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Regional Banks And Cards</h3>
Truist also initiated coverage on 14 regional financial companies outlining three key strategies for regional banks to remain competitive.
<ul>
<li>Differentiated Growth: Focus on unique and sustainable growth opportunities.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Disciplined Capital Allocation: Efficiently deploy capital to support growth and enhance shareholder value.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Navigating the Evolving Landscape: Adapt to changing market conditions, including interest rates, yield curve shifts, loan and deposit growth, and commercial real estate market dynamics.</li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Regional Banks</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$51</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HBAN#NASDAQ">HBAN</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>M&amp;T Bank (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$151</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Citizens Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFG#NYSE">CFG</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$49</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Comerica Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMA#NYSE">CMA</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCNCA#NASDAQ">FCNCA</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$2,303</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Regions Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$25</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cards</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ally Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALLY#NYSE">ALLY</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$350</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Capital One Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$229</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Discover Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Synchrony Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYF#NYSE">SYF</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$72</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trust Banks And Capital Markets</h3>
Truist anticipates gradual interest rate decreases, the eventual end of quantitative tightening, and a healthy economy and capital markets providing a competitive landscape to trust banks.
According to the analysts, investors should prioritize stocks with the potential for sustained operating leverage. Which is the ability to increase profitability significantly with relatively small increases in revenue. And stocks with strong capital returns, with high levels of income through dividends and share buybacks.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Trust Banks And Capital Markets</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BK#NYSE">BK</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$91</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Charles Schwab (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$86</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Northern Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTRS#NASDAQ">NTRS</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>State Street (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STT#NYSE">STT</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$106</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42813271/as-billionaires-load-up-on-energy-stocks-given-trumps-proposed-policies-this-analyst-highlights-charlie-mungers-1962-oil-investment-which-can-outperform-all-the-rest">As Warren Buffett And Other Billionaires Load Up On Energy Stocks, This Analyst Highlights Charlie Munger&#8217;s 1962 Oil Investment Which Can &#8216;Outperform All The Rest&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

Long Ideas

Market Summary

Initiation

Yield Curve Normalization, Cheap Valuation, EPS Growth To Boost Banks In 2025: Truist Initiates Coverage On These 14 Regional Names

7 analysts have shared their evaluations of Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>) during the recent three months, expressing a mix of bullish and bearish perspectives.
The following table encapsulates their recent ratings, offering a glimpse into the evolving 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">1</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">2</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">0</td>
<td align="right">0</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">0</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">2</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">1</td>
<td align="right">0</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 $52.71, along with a high estimate of $56.00 and a low estimate of $51.00. This current average has increased by 11.74% from the previous average price target of $47.17. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736280049_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Decoding Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Look</h2>
The analysis of recent analyst actions sheds light on the perception of Fifth Third Bancorp 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>Brian Foran</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jason Goldberg</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$56.00</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Konrad</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scott Siefers</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
<td>$49.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Keith Horowitz</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
<td>$43.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Whit Mayo</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jason Goldberg</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
<td>$43.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Fifth Third Bancorp. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Gaining insights, analysts provide qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Fifth Third Bancorp compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts set price targets as an estimate of a stock's future value. Comparing the current and prior price targets provides insight into how analysts' expectations have changed over time. This information can be valuable for investors seeking to understand consensus views on the stock's potential future performance.</li>
</ul>
Analyzing these analyst evaluations alongside relevant financial metrics can provide a comprehensive view of Fifth Third Bancorp's market position. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FITB/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Fifth Third Bancorp analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind Fifth Third Bancorp</h2>
Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial-services company headquartered in Cincinnati. The company has over $200 billion in assets and operates numerous full-service banking branches and ATMs throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina.
<h3>Fifth Third Bancorp: Financial Performance Dissected</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company exhibits a lower market capitalization profile, positioning itself below industry averages. This suggests a smaller scale relative to peers.
Revenue Growth: Fifth Third Bancorp's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has faced challenges. As of 30 September, 2024, the company experienced a revenue decline of approximately -0.96%. This indicates a decrease in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Financials sector.
Net Margin: Fifth Third Bancorp's net margin is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of 25.79%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Fifth Third Bancorp's ROE is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of 2.97%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.25%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: Fifth Third Bancorp's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 0.97, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<h2>Understanding the Relevance of Analyst Ratings</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 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.

Breaking Down Fifth Third Bancorp: 7 Analysts Share Their Views

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

Truist Securities analyst Brian Foran initiates coverage on Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $51.

Truist Securities Initiates Coverage On Fifth Third Bancorp with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $51

Press Releases

Fifth Third Awards More Than $25,000 in Small Business Grants

Fifth Third Bank to Decrease Prime Lending Rate to 7.50%

Fifth Third Private Bank Recognized as Best Private Bank by Global Finance for Sixth Consecutive Year

Fifth Third Bancorp Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.85

Fifth Third Celebrates Opening of New Branch in Charlotte's Historic West End Neighborhood

Fifth Third Customers Get Tax Refunds Five Days Early, For Free

Fifth Third Again Named Among 'World's Most Admired Companies™' by Fortune Magazine

Fifth Third Again Named Among America's Most JUST Companies by JUST Capital and CNBC

Fifth Third Bancorp to Participate in the BofA Securities 2025 Financial Services Conference

Fifth Third Bancorp to Participate in the RBC Capital Markets Financial Institutions Conference

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