Wall St futures flat amid US-China trade jitters; bank earnings in focus
On Wednesday, Truist Financial (NYSE:TFC) Corporation’s stock rating was downgraded by analysts at Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James from Outperform to Market Perform. The downgrade followed the company’s recent announcement of a lowered outlook for the first quarter of 2025. According to InvestingPro data, four analysts have recently revised their earnings estimates downward, while the stock currently trades below its Fair Value. The bank, with a market capitalization of $53.55 billion, is set to report its next earnings on April 17. Analysts expressed concern over the full-year guidance, suggesting it could be at risk if the economy continues to decelerate.
The Raymond James analysts noted that despite Truist Financial’s strategic moves, including the sale of Truist Insurance Holdings (TIH) and improved capital positioning, they remain skeptical about the bank’s ability to leverage these advantages into increased profitability. They pointed out that the expected growth in loans and fee business is likely to be delayed due to the challenging economic environment. Despite these challenges, the bank maintains a remarkable 53-year streak of consecutive dividend payments, currently offering a 5.07% yield. For deeper insights into Truist’s financial health and extensive analyst coverage, InvestingPro subscribers can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report, part of the analysis available for 1,400+ US stocks.
The skepticism from Raymond James is partly based on the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow forecast, which anticipates a 1.8% decline in real GDP for the first quarter of 2025. This economic outlook could potentially hinder Truist Financial’s performance, though InvestingPro analysis indicates that both net income and sales are expected to grow this year, despite the current challenging environment.
Truist Financial’s management has been actively making investments across its businesses, aiming for an offensive positioning in the market. However, the analysts at Raymond James are questioning the effectiveness of these strategies in the medium-term, contrasting the optimistic Street forecasts of a 14.7% return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) in 2027 with the 13.0% ROTCE in 2024.
The bank’s future profitability is a subject of concern for Raymond James, as the firm adjusts its expectations for Truist Financial in light of the recent developments and economic forecasts. The downgrade reflects a more cautious stance on the company’s stock amidst the current economic uncertainties.
In other recent news, Truist Financial Corporation has reported strong fourth-quarter earnings, surpassing analyst expectations and prompting several firms to adjust their outlooks. Analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW) have raised their price target for Truist Financial to $57, citing a $0.05 per share beat on pre-provision net revenue due to net interest income growth and reduced expenses. Similarly, Stephens analyst Terry McEvoy increased the price target to $57, highlighting the bank’s growth momentum and strong capital position. Raymond James also lifted its price target to $53, acknowledging Truist’s robust loan and average earning asset growth, despite a higher loan loss provision impacting earnings per share.
Baird analyst David George upgraded Truist Financial’s stock rating from Neutral to Outperform, pointing out the bank’s undervaluation compared to historical levels and its peers. He noted that Truist’s strong capital flexibility should support loan growth and share buybacks. In a strategic move, Truist appointed Claudia Davis Adamson as the new head of small business banking, emphasizing its commitment to the small business sector. These developments reflect a positive outlook for Truist Financial, supported by strong earnings, strategic leadership appointments, and favorable analyst ratings.
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