On Monday, Customers Bancorp (NYSE:CUBI) shares experienced an uptick following the announcement of a new share buyback plan. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods maintained an Outperform rating on the bank's stock, with a steady price target of $65.00.
The newly authorized buyback plan allows for the repurchase of approximately 498,000 shares, representing about 1.6% of the company's outstanding stock.
The buyback initiative is seen as a positive move for the stock, which showed an approximate 1.5% outperformance compared to the KRX index this morning. Analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods believe the buyback plan will bolster the stock, especially given that Customers Bancorp's Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio is above the targeted level and its tangible common equity (TCE) is nearing the 7.5% goal, with a reported 7.3% as of March 31.
The financial institution's decision to implement a share repurchase program is anticipated to be beneficial to shareholders. Since the current model did not account for any buybacks, any executed repurchases could provide an incremental increase to earnings per share (EPS), assuming all other factors remain constant.
Customers Bancorp's proactive approach to share buybacks comes at a time when the bank's financial metrics, such as CET1 and TCE ratios, are healthy, providing the flexibility to return value to shareholders through such initiatives. The Outperform rating by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reflects confidence in the bank's stock performance and strategic financial management.
In other recent news, Customers Bancorp has announced the authorization of a new stock repurchase program. This plan allows for the repurchase of up to 497,509 shares of its outstanding common stock over the next year. This initiative follows the expiration of the previous plan, coinciding with the company's successful efforts to strengthen its capital ratios.
In terms of earnings and revenues, Customers Bancorp reported a promising Q1 2024 performance, indicating continued growth and strategic advancements.
The bank achieved $1 billion in production for the fourth consecutive quarter, contributing to the repayment of higher-cost wholesale certificates of deposit. The company also expects loan growth of $1.5 billion to $2 billion over the next three quarters and is aiming for a PPNR run rate of over $100 million by Q4.
Customers Bancorp is entering Phase 2 of its deposit transformation, with executives expressing confidence in the bank's differentiated business model and client-centric culture. These recent developments indicate a positive outlook for the company's future performance.
InvestingPro Insights
As Customers Bancorp (NYSE:CUBI) embarks on its share buyback journey, it's important for investors to consider the company's financial health and market position. With a market capitalization of $1.54 billion and a remarkably low P/E ratio of 6.55, the bank is trading at a low earnings multiple, which may attract value-oriented investors. The P/E ratio has remained stable, with the last twelve months as of Q1 2024 showing a similar figure of 6.53.
InvestingPro Tips indicate that Customers Bancorp has been profitable over the last twelve months and analysts expect it to remain profitable this year. While the company does not pay a dividend, it has shown a high return over the last year with a 58.56% price total return, which could be a sign of strong investor confidence. However, it is worth noting that the stock price has experienced significant volatility, with a 6-month price total return of -16.73%.
For investors looking to delve deeper into Customers Bancorp's performance and future prospects, InvestingPro offers additional insights and tips. There are 7 more InvestingPro Tips available that could help in making a well-informed decision. To explore these valuable insights, visit https://www.investing.com/pro/CUBI and consider using the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.