One of the best regional bank dividend stocks to buy


Recently, I’ve published a list of Buy 11 Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks. In this article, we look at where Huntington BankShares Inc. (NASDAQ: HBAN) competes against other top regional bank dividend stocks.

2024 has proven to be a strong bank for major US banks. According to FactSet data, the six largest institutions collectively report a 20% increase in net profit compared to the previous year. This performance ranks as the most successful year for the US banking sector in the last 20 years. The industry has backed up significantly following the widely publicized bank failures in 2023. Based on Financial Times estimates, annual trading revenue rose to $123 billion, reflecting a 10% increase from 2023, while investment bank fees went from 34% to $36 billion. This surge was driven by a recovery in trading activity later in the year as more companies advanced in providing fairness and debt.

Regional banks have gained momentum within the banking sector following the regional bank turmoil in spring 2023, with lenders often taking liquidity at any cost. Their performance was stronger than Russell’s small cap index, but it still didn’t reach the full-year returns of the broader market, over 25.02%. Despite profits in 2024, bank stocks have lagged behind the wider market for several years, creating attractive investment opportunities with historically low ratings. By the end of the year, multiples of revenue (P/E) from the price of regional bank index and community bank index are roughly half of the broader market, highlighting relative discounts.

Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2024, approximately two-thirds of US regional banks reported higher revenues compared to the previous year. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, there are 35 out of 51 banks with assets of $10 to $100 billion in earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter, 35 have grown from $10 to $100 billion in assets of $10 to $100 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. On the other hand, only 11 regional banks have experienced a decline in EPS in both comparisons.

A report by S&P Global Ratings noted that fourth quarter net income was improved due to increased tariff revenues, easing pressure on net profit margins (NIM). Full-year net income for 2024 was benefited from a provisional decline and stable fee revenue, although NIM compression partially offset these profits. Regional banks were further increased in net interest income (NII) during the quarter, supported by modest loan growth and NIM improvements. However, throughout the year, the NII remained under pressure.

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