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On Thursday, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods analysts reaffirmed their Market Perform rating and maintained a $42.00 price target for Fifth Third Bancorp stock (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:FITB). This decision followed a meeting hosted by KBW with senior leaders of Fifth Third Bancorp, including CEO Tim Spence, COO Jamie Leonard, CFO Bryan Preston, and Darren King, the new Head of Regional Banking.
During the meeting, the management team expressed confidence in achieving their financial guidance and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding their de novo strategy in the Southeast. They noted promising signs of loan growth improvement and expressed comfort with the company’s asset quality, despite a recent increase in commercial non-performing loans (NPLs). The bank maintains strong fundamentals with a 3.85% dividend yield and has impressively maintained dividend payments for 51 consecutive years, as revealed by InvestingPro data.
The analysts indicated that stabilization in NPLs during the second quarter of 2025 could potentially lead to a rebound in Fifth Third Bancorp’s stock, which has underperformed by 4.90% compared to the BKX index since the last earnings report. Despite these challenges, the stock is trading at a 7% premium to its peers.
Fifth Third Bancorp’s commitment to its strategic initiatives and management’s positive outlook were key factors in KBW’s decision to maintain the current rating and price target. The bank’s leadership continues to focus on growth and asset quality as part of its long-term strategy.
In other recent news, Fifth Third Bancorp reported its first-quarter 2025 earnings, achieving an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.73, which exceeded the forecast of $0.71. However, the company’s revenue fell short of expectations, recording $2.14 billion against a projected $2.16 billion. Jefferies initiated coverage on Fifth Third Bancorp with a Buy rating and set a price target of $47.00, highlighting the bank’s growth prospects in loans and net interest income. Meanwhile, DA Davidson adjusted its outlook by reducing the price target to $42 from $45, maintaining a Neutral rating due to a cautious economic forecast.
BofA Securities reaffirmed its Buy rating for Fifth Third Bancorp, maintaining a price target of $44.00, after discussions with the bank’s leadership emphasized growth strategies. Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James maintained a Market Perform rating on the bank after it reported higher-than-expected first-quarter EPS of $0.71, attributing the results to lower provision expenses and reduced operating costs. The bank’s strategic expansion in the Southeast, with plans to open 50-60 new branches annually through 2028, was noted as a key factor in its positive outlook. Despite these developments, Fifth Third Bancorp’s lower noninterest income and increased nonaccrual loans could present challenges moving forward.
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