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Investing.com - Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded FB Financial (NYSE:FBK) from Market Perform to Outperform and raised its price target to $58.00 from $52.00.
The upgrade comes as FB Financial shares have underperformed the KRX index by 11% year-to-date and by 8% since the SSBK acquisition announcement in early April.
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods views FB Financial as well-positioned for above-average balance sheet growth, with conservative estimates of 6% growth, earnings per share growth of 8% in 2025 and 19% in the following year, and profitability improvements following SSBK cost savings.
The firm highlighted FB Financial’s strong balance sheet with pro forma 12% CET1 and 9.8% TCE ratios, along with its defensive credit history and allowance for credit losses at 1.5%.
The new $58 price target represents 2.1x tangible book value, 1.8x forward tangible book value, and 13x 2026 estimated earnings per share, with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods noting FB Financial’s potential to capitalize on selective M&A opportunities and possible market disruption in Tennessee.
In other recent news, FB Financial Corporation has completed its merger with Southern States Bancshares, valuing Southern States at approximately $368.4 million. This merger brings together Southern States’ assets of $2.9 billion with FB Financial’s $13.1 billion, creating a combined entity with around $16 billion in total assets. Regulatory approval has also been received for FB Financial’s proposed acquisition of SmartBank, with the deal expected to close earlier than initially anticipated. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods maintained a Market Perform rating on FB Financial, noting a 4% tangible book value dilution and a two-year earn-back period associated with the transaction.
In other developments, FB Financial shareholders recently rejected a proposal to amend the company’s charter to eliminate supermajority voting standards, although they approved the election of 12 directors and the compensation of executive officers. Piper Sandler adjusted its price target for FB Financial to $58, maintaining an Overweight rating despite a slight miss on first-quarter performance metrics. The firm remains optimistic about FB Financial’s long-term outlook, citing robust capital levels and loan growth. Additionally, FB Financial announced the appointment of J. Henry Smith IV to its board of directors following the merger with Southern States.
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