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On Monday, Citi analyst Benjamin Gerlinger revised the price target for South State Corporation (NYSE:SSB) stock, reducing it from $128.00 to $123.00, while maintaining a "Buy" rating. With a current market capitalization of $9.4 billion and analyst targets ranging from $109 to $135, InvestingPro data shows the stock trading slightly below its Fair Value. The adjustment follows South State’s recent announcement regarding the completion of a branch sale-leaseback transaction and a securities restructuring.
Last week, South State announced it had finalized its pending branch sale-leaseback deal, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of around $229 million. This was in conjunction with a securities restructuring of a similar amount. Trading at a P/E ratio of 13.2x and maintaining a solid financial health score of "FAIR" according to InvestingPro analysis, the company had previously guided that the net interest margin (NIM) for the first quarter would be between 3.60% and 3.70%. Gerlinger’s model predicts a NIM of 3.66% for the first quarter.
The full quarter impact of the securities restructuring is expected to add approximately 5 basis points to the NIM for the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2025. South State plans to conclude the year with a NIM within the range of 3.75% to 3.85%, with Gerlinger’s model forecasting a 3.79% NIM for the fourth quarter of 2025.
Additionally, Gerlinger’s updated model takes into account a slightly reduced cost of deposit funding for future quarters. He noted South State’s effective management of promotional CD rates, which have seen a decrease of 20 basis points year-to-date, marking the most significant rate compression among regional banks covered by Citi in 2025. With a consistent dividend history spanning 29 years and five analysts recently revising earnings estimates upward, InvestingPro subscribers can access detailed analysis and 7 additional key insights about South State’s financial outlook.
In other recent news, SouthState Corp reported strong financial results for the fourth quarter of 2024, surpassing both earnings and revenue projections. The company achieved an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.93, exceeding the expected $1.66, while revenue reached $450.32 million, surpassing the forecast of $435.94 million. Additionally, SouthState Corp announced the successful acquisition of Independent (LON:IOG) Financial, which enhances its market position in high-growth regions. The Federal Reserve Board also gave the green light to SouthState Corp’s 2025 stock repurchase program, allowing the company to buy back up to 3 million shares. This initiative is designed to offer flexibility in managing the company’s capital structure. In terms of future outlook, SouthState Corp anticipates mid-single digit loan growth in 2025. The company projects a net interest margin between 360 and 370 basis points for the first quarter of 2025, with expectations to exit the year between 375 and 385 basis points. Analyst firms like KBW and D.A. Davidson have taken note of the company’s performance, with discussions around potential market expansions and strategic capital deployments.
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