Bullish indicating open at $55-$60, IPO prices at $37
Investing.com - Northern Trust (NASDAQ:NTRS) was downgraded from Market Perform to Underperform by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods on Friday, with the firm simultaneously raising its price target to $120.00 from $103.00.
KBW analyst David Konrad cited the recent stock price surge as the primary reason for the downgrade, noting that Northern Trust shares have jumped 15% since June 21 when The Wall Street Journal reported that Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK) had approached Northern Trust to discuss a potential merger. InvestingPro data shows the stock has delivered an impressive 50.24% return over the past year, with a particularly strong 29.22% gain in the last six months.
The significant price increase has "taken out much of the economics for a potential deal," according to KBW, which estimates a takeout price of $128 that now limits upside potential for investors. Meanwhile, BNY Mellon’s stock has risen just over 1% during the same period. According to InvestingPro, Northern Trust maintains an impressive track record of 55 consecutive years of dividend payments, with a current yield of 2.37%.
KBW acknowledged that a BNY Mellon-Northern Trust combination would be "powerful," with Northern Trust adding "a very strong wealth management business" while BNY offers "strong scale in custody as well as more diversified revenues."
The firm also noted that the current regulatory environment appears supportive of both large and small bank mergers, particularly for "two low-credit-risk institutions" like these firms.
In other recent news, Northern Trust has reaffirmed its commitment to remain independent following an approach from Bank of New York Mellon regarding a potential merger. The Wall Street Journal reported that BNY Mellon expressed interest in merging with Northern Trust, though Northern Trust emphasized its intent to continue operating independently. Additionally, Northern Trust’s stock price target was raised to $116 by Truist Securities, which maintained a Hold rating on the stock. This adjustment follows a review of Northern Trust’s market performance and position, particularly its advantages in the equity market.
In another development, Northern Trust announced the appointment of Gary Paulin and Joseph Tanious as chief investment strategists for International and North America, respectively. These appointments are part of Northern Trust’s strategy to enhance its investment expertise and global market presence. Furthermore, Northern Trust has appointed Jeff Alexander as President and CEO of The Northern Trust Company, Canada. Alexander will oversee the asset servicing business in Canada, succeeding Katie Pries, who is transitioning to a global role. These leadership changes reflect Northern Trust’s ongoing commitment to its operations and clients, especially in the Canadian market.
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