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Investing.com - Citi has raised its price target on Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL) to $95.00 from $91.00 while maintaining a Buy rating on the stock. The $8.52 billion market cap bank, currently trading at $77.98, has demonstrated strong profitability with a P/E ratio of 10.73 and revenue growth of 11.37% over the last twelve months.
The price target increase reflects Citi’s modestly stronger earnings per share outlook and comfort with the bank’s credit profile, according to analyst notes released Tuesday.
Citi made modest adjustments to its model, including a slight increase in second-quarter loan growth projections for Western Alliance, though it noted that the lack of near-term interest rate cuts likely puts upward pressure on the bank’s GAAP expense base.
The research firm believes that any improvement in the national mortgage market would have a more pronounced positive impact on Western Alliance compared to its banking peers.
Citi also indicated that while it feels comfortable with the bank’s credit profile, which could help shares re-rate higher with July earnings, lower short-term interest rates would be more impactful to earnings per share and share price upside.
In other recent news, Western Alliance Bancorporation has been the focus of several significant developments. Jefferies initiated coverage of the company with a Buy rating and a price target of $95, highlighting its strong growth trajectory and enhanced capital ratios. The bank’s two-year compound annual growth rate for loans and deposits significantly surpassed its peers, reinforcing the positive outlook from Jefferies. Additionally, Truist Securities reiterated its Buy rating with a $92 price target, emphasizing the bank’s rare combination of growth and profitability. The analysts noted that Western Alliance’s transformation post-Global Financial Crisis has shifted its balance sheet toward lower credit risk loans.
Furthermore, Western Alliance’s shareholders approved key proposals at the Annual Meeting, including the election of board directors and a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation. The appointment of RSM US LLP as the independent auditor was also ratified. In regulatory news, UBS noted potential regulatory changes that could benefit mid-cap banks like Western Alliance, allowing them more room to grow without enhanced oversight. Lastly, the company declared quarterly dividends on both common and preferred stock, reflecting its policy of returning value to shareholders.
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