HSBC raises PNC Financial stock rating, lowers target to $202

Published 31/03/2025, 09:56
HSBC raises PNC Financial stock rating, lowers target to $202

On Monday, HSBC analyst Saul Martinez upgraded PNC Financial Services Group Inc (NYSE:PNC). shares from Hold to Buy, while adjusting the price target to $202 from $206. The change in rating follows a significant decline in the company’s share value since late November 2024, with PNC stocks dropping 19% compared to a 5% decrease in the S&P 500 over the same period.

Martinez highlighted the current share price as an attractive opportunity for investors to engage with a bank that demonstrates strong risk management and capital allocation strategies. According to Martinez, PNC Financial is well-positioned to achieve some of the best revenue and pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) growth within the sector covered by HSBC. The bank’s strong fundamentals are reflected in its 3.72% dividend yield and 55-year track record of maintaining dividend payments.

The new price target set by HSBC implies a potential 15.4% upside for PNC Financial shares. Martinez further noted a preference for super-regional banks like PNC Financial, U.S. Bancorp (BVMF:USBC34), and Truist Financial (NYSE:TFC) Corp. over universal banks in the current market environment. This preference is based on their trading levels, which are currently below their pre-election values, and their limited exposure to areas such as capital markets activity, consumer credit, and lower short-end interest rates, which may be performing below expectations. With a beta of 1.13 and annual revenue of $20.77 billion, PNC stands as a prominent player in the banking sector. For deeper insights into PNC’s valuation and growth prospects, investors can access comprehensive analysis through InvestingPro’s detailed research reports.

In other recent news, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. reported fourth-quarter earnings that surpassed analyst expectations, with earnings per share at $3.77, exceeding the consensus estimate of $3.30. The company’s revenue also topped expectations, reaching $5.57 billion against a forecast of $5.48 billion. Additionally, PNC issued $2.75 billion in senior notes, consisting of $1 billion due in 2031 and $1.75 billion due in 2036, as part of its strategy to manage its debt portfolio and secure long-term financing. PNC has also adopted a new Executive Severance Plan, effective March 2025, to standardize severance payments for its executives, providing benefits such as continued base salary and equity award vesting under certain conditions. Furthermore, the company revised its executive compensation terms to allow continued vesting of restricted and performance share unit awards in the event of a qualifying termination. This change aligns executive interests with the long-term goals of the corporation. These developments reflect PNC’s ongoing efforts to maintain a competitive compensation structure and strengthen its financial position.

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