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On Monday, Argus raised the stock price target for Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:HBAN) to $16.00, up from the previous $15.00, while reaffirming a Buy rating on the stock. The adjustment follows Huntington's second quarter earnings report on July 19, which revealed earnings per share (EPS) of $0.30, a decrease from $0.35 in the same quarter of the previous year but still surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.28.
The bank's revenue experienced a slight downturn, with a 2.1% year-over-year drop to $1.80 billion, attributed mainly to increased deposit costs. Despite the decline in revenue, Huntington saw a healthy growth in deposits. Average total core deposits climbed by 5.5% from the previous year, reaching $154 billion. This increase was driven by a $1.0 billion rise in Core Commercial deposits and a $6.2 billion boost in Core Consumer deposits.
During the second quarter earnings call, Huntington's management team confirmed their previous guidance for 2024. They anticipate average loans and deposits to both increase by 3%-4%. Moreover, they project a slight decrease in net interest income, ranging from down 1% to down 4%, while expecting noninterest income to grow by 5%-7%. Expenses are also forecasted to rise by 4.5%.
The revised stock target price of $16, up from $15, is based on a 12.6 times multiple of Argus's estimated 2024 EPS for Huntington Bancshares. The firm's analysis suggests confidence in the bank's financial performance and stability, particularly noting the robust growth in core deposits as a key factor in their valuation.
In other recent news, Huntington Bancshares has experienced several significant developments. The company's second-quarter earnings of $0.30 per share exceeded consensus estimates, leading to DA Davidson raising its price target for the firm to $17.50, up from $15.00, and maintaining a Buy rating. The company's Net Interest Income (NII) forecast was adjusted downward, but it reported loan and deposit growth surpassing that of its peers. Expense growth is also expected to slow in 2025.
Several analyst firms have adjusted their outlook on Huntington Bancshares. Piper Sandler raised its price target to $13.50, citing strong performance, but later downgraded the company to Neutral, reducing its price target to $11.50. RBC Capital maintained an Outperform rating and raised its price target to $17, while UBS reduced its price target to $15 but maintained a Buy rating. JPMorgan upgraded Huntington Bancshares from Neutral to Overweight, raising its price target to $18.00.
Furthermore, Huntington Bancshares announced the appointment of Angie Klett as President of Huntington Insurance, Inc., and plans to launch two new deposit verticals in 2024. These recent developments reflect the ongoing adjustments and strategic decisions being made by the company and various analysts.
InvestingPro Insights
As Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ: HBAN) garners attention with its recent earnings surpassing estimates and a price target upgrade by Argus, real-time data and insights from InvestingPro provide a further glimpse into the company's financial health and market performance.
With a market capitalization of $21.77 billion and a P/E ratio that has remained relatively stable at 13.73 over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, Huntington stands as a significant player in the banking sector. Notably, the bank has demonstrated a strong return over the last month, with a 17.66% price total return, and is currently trading near its 52-week high, at 99.47% of the peak value.
InvestingPro Tips highlight Huntington's capacity to maintain consistent dividend payments for 54 consecutive years, a testament to its financial resilience and commitment to shareholder returns. Additionally, analysts predict the company will remain profitable this year, supporting the optimistic outlook presented by Argus.
For investors seeking more in-depth analysis, InvestingPro offers several additional tips, which can be explored by visiting the dedicated page for Huntington Bancshares: https://www.investing.com/pro/HBAN. To access these insights, use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to receive up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription.
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