Regional Banks

Jefferies & Company has lowered the price target on Private Bancorp (NASDAQ: PVTB) from $16 to $14 and maintains its Hold rating.

Jefferies has published a research report on Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ: WTFC) increasing estimates of earnings per share in light of new acquisition, and raising the price target. In the report, Jefferies wrote, "In addition to the First Chicago acquisition, the company announced it entered a...

Jefferies & Company has raised the price target on Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ: WTFC) from $35 to $37 and maintains its Hold rating.

Wunderlich Securities reiterated its Hold rating on Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE: CFR). At the same time, the rating agency left its price target on the company's stock unchanged at $60. On Wednesday, CFR lost 1.3% of its value to end the day at $54.69.

Stocks trading at or near 52-week highs and lows provide excellent trading opportunities, as volatility tends to increase at such levels and entry/exit points become more clearly defined. The following stocks hit new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading session (listed from highest total volume to...

Home BancShares, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOMB) today announced that on July 27, 2011, the Company repurchased the common stock purchase warrant issued by the Company to the United States Department of the Treasury on January 16, 2009 in connection with the Company's participation in the Treasury's TARP...

On July 27, 2011, Eagle Bancorp (Nasdaq: EGBN), the parent company of EagleBank, and Alliance Bankshares Corporation (Nasdaq: ABVA) announced that Eagle, Alliance and Alliance's wholly owned subsidiary, Alliance Bank Corporation ("Alliance Bank") have entered into a definitive merger agreement,...

Community Trust Bancorp, Inc., (NASDAQ: CTBI) increased its cash dividend to $0.31 per share, which will be paid on October 1, 2011, to shareholders of record on September 15, 2011. This represents an increase of 1.64% in the quarterly cash dividend.

C&F Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: CFFI) today announced that it has redeemed $10 million, or 50%, of the $20 million of its Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A issued to the United States Department of the Treasury in January 2009 under the Capital Purchase Program ("CPP...

The Board of Directors of National Penn Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: NPBC) has declared an increased third quarter cash dividend of three cents per share payable to shareholders of record as of August 6, 2011. The cash dividend will be paid August 17, 2011. “Following National Penn's repayment of...

J.P. Morgan has published a report on Regions Financial (NYSE: RF) reviewing the second quarter. In the report, J.P. Morgan wrote, "Regions reported EPS of $0.04 and core EPS of $0.01, above consensus of -$0.01 and our $0.01 estimate. Nonrecurring items in 2Q include $77 mil restructuring charges...

Oppenheimer made a number of price target and rating updates in a research report published today. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) had its rating reiterated at Outperform. At the same time, its price target was raised from $220 to $250. On Tuesday, AMZN closed the day at $214.18. Its shares added 5.66% to...

First BanCorp (NYSE: FBP), the bank holding company for FirstBank Puerto Rico, announces that a special meeting of the holders of the Corporation's common stock will be held at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, 22 Convention Blvd., San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at...

Stifel Nicolaus has downgraded the following companies: Indiana Community Bancorp. (NASDAQ: INCB) from Buy to Hold, $19 PT removed PrivateBancorp (NASDAQ: PVTB) from Buy to Hold, $17 PT removed

According to Sterne Agee, Trustmark (NASDAQ: TRMK) reported 2Q11 EPS of $0.49 vs. $0.37 in 1Q11 and $0.41 in 2Q10. Sterne Agee said that Ex. the bargain purchase gain on the FDICassisted acquisition of Heritage Bank, operating EPS was $0.42 in 2Q11, which was in-line with estimate and above...