AZTR receives NYSE delisting warning over equity requirement
Investing.com - Stephens raised its price target on Horizon Bancorp (NASDAQ:HBNC) to $22.00 from $19.00 on Tuesday, while maintaining an Overweight rating on the stock. The new target aligns with broader analyst sentiment, as InvestingPro data shows HBNC trading at a P/E ratio of 14.1x with a notable 3.8% dividend yield, maintained consistently for 39 consecutive years.
The price target increase follows Horizon’s recent announcement and partial execution of a plan to strengthen its balance sheet from capital and liquidity perspectives, while also improving its profitability profile.
Key components of Horizon’s strategy included selling $1.4 billion of low-yielding securities, paying off $1.1 billion of wholesale borrowings, and raising approximately $100 million through common equity and subordinated debt.
Despite noting approximately 36% tangible book value dilution, Stephens indicated these actions removed an overhang on the stock that would likely have persisted for years, with the market appearing to agree as HBNC shares are now positive for the year.
Stephens maintained its 2025 operating EPS estimate at $1.80 while increasing its 2026 estimate to $2.00 from $1.90, with the firm expecting third and fourth quarter 2025 earnings to be noisy before the full benefits are reflected in first quarter 2026 results.
In other recent news, Horizon Bancorp announced the completion of a common stock offering, raising approximately $103.5 million in gross proceeds. This offering involved the sale of 7,138,050 shares at $14.50 per share, including additional shares sold through the underwriters’ fully exercised option. Prior to this, Horizon Bancorp had priced the offering at $14.50 per share, initially planning to raise around $90 million. The company has indicated that the net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including potential balance sheet repositioning.
In a strategic move, Horizon Bancorp’s stock rating was upgraded by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW) from Market Perform to Outperform. This upgrade follows the company’s announcement of strategic actions aimed at unlocking earnings power and improving financial metrics. Additionally, Horizon Bank, a subsidiary of Horizon Bancorp, appointed John Hatfield as Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing. Hatfield, with over 20 years of experience, will lead the strategic direction of the bank’s marketing efforts. These developments reflect Horizon Bancorp’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its market position and support future growth.
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