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Is The PNC Financial Services Group (PNC) the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stock to Buy?
Is The PNC Financial Services Group (PNC) the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stock to Buy?

Yahoo

time05-04-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Is The PNC Financial Services Group (PNC) the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stock to Buy?

We recently published a list of the 11 Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC) stands against other best regional bank dividend stocks. The year 2024 proved to be a strong one for major US banks, with the six largest institutions collectively reporting a 20% increase in net profits compared to the previous year, according to FactSet data. This performance ranks among the most successful years for the US banking sector in the past two decades. The industry rebounded significantly following the widely publicized bank failures of 2023, which saw several prominent lenders collapse. Based on Financial Times estimates, trading revenue for the year climbed to $123 billion, reflecting a 10% rise from 2023, while investment banking fees jumped 34% to $36 billion. This surge was driven by a recovery in dealmaking activity later in the year, as more companies moved forward with equity and debt offerings. Regional banks have been gaining momentum within the banking sector following the regional banking turmoil of spring 2023, which prompted lenders to prioritize liquidity, often at any cost. While their performance was strong relative to the Russell small cap index, it still fell short of the broader market's full-year return of over 25.02%. Despite the gains in 2024, bank stocks have lagged the broader market over multiple years, creating an attractive investment opportunity at historically low valuations. By the end of the year, the price-to-earnings (P/E) multiples of the Regional Banking Index and Community Bank Index were nearly half that of the broader market's, highlighting their relative discount. Moreover, in the fourth quarter of 2024, approximately two-thirds of US regional banks reported higher earnings compared to the previous year. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, 35 out of 51 banks with assets between $10 billion and $100 billion saw year-over-year growth in earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter, based on financial reports released between January 13 and January 24. In addition, 27 regional banks posted quarter-over-quarter improvements, while 22 recorded EPS gains on both a quarterly and annual basis. Meanwhile, only 11 regional banks experienced EPS declines in both comparisons. A report from S&P Global Ratings noted that fourth-quarter net income improved due to easing pressures on net interest margins (NIM) and an increase in fee income. For the full year 2024, the net income benefited from reduced provisions and stable fee income, though NIM compression partially offset these gains. Regional banks saw another consecutive increase in net interest income (NII) during the quarter, supported by modest loan growth and an improved NIM. However, for the full year, NII remained under pressure. The report further mentioned that in the fourth quarter, median NIM rose by 5 basis points to 3.14%, as declining deposit costs outweighed the impact of lower loan yields and asset repricing. The firm anticipates a slight increase in earnings for 2025, driven by the possibility of higher NIMs and a gradual uptick in loan growth. The banking sector remains a favorite among investors as it ranks among the top two sectors for dividend payments. An S&P Global report estimated that banks worldwide distribute approximately $380 billion in dividends. Given this, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks from the regional banking sector. An investor confidently discussing portfolio options with their asset manager. For this article, we used a Yahoo Finance screener to identify regional banking companies. From the resultant list, we picked 11 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, as per Insider Monkey's database of Q4 2024. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of hedge funds' sentiment towards them. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 67 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC) is an American bank holding and financial services company that offers a wide range of related services to its consumers. The company delivered a strong performance in 2024 while continuing to invest in the long-term growth of its franchise. The bank expanded its customer base, strengthened client relationships, and remained committed to serving its stakeholders. It achieved record revenue and further reinforced its capital position. Meanwhile, PNC maintained a disciplined approach to cost management, resulting in positive operating leverage. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC) reported revenue of $5.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, which showed a 4% growth from the same period last year. The company posted a net interest income of $3.5 billion, reflecting a 3% increase, or $113 million, primarily due to lower funding costs and the ongoing repricing of fixed-rate assets. The bank's net interest margin improved by 11 basis points, reaching 2.75%. Meanwhile, fee income declined by 4%, or $84 million, to $1.9 billion, as elevated residential mortgage and capital markets activity in the third quarter contributed to the decrease. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC) currently offers a quarterly dividend of $1.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.97%, as of April 3. The company returned $0.9 billion to shareholders in the most recent quarter, including $0.6 billion in dividends. In addition, PNC has been growing has dividends for 14 consecutive years, which makes it one of the best dividend stocks. Overall, PNC ranks 1st on our list of the best dividend stocks from the regional banking sector. While we acknowledge the potential of PNC as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than PNC but that trades at 10 times its earnings and grows its earnings at double digit rates annually, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at .

Is Truist Financial (TFC) the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stock to Buy?
Is Truist Financial (TFC) the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stock to Buy?

Yahoo

time05-04-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Is Truist Financial (TFC) the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stock to Buy?

We recently published a list of the 11 Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) stands against other best regional bank dividend stocks. The year 2024 proved to be a strong one for major US banks, with the six largest institutions collectively reporting a 20% increase in net profits compared to the previous year, according to FactSet data. This performance ranks among the most successful years for the US banking sector in the past two decades. The industry rebounded significantly following the widely publicized bank failures of 2023, which saw several prominent lenders collapse. Based on Financial Times estimates, trading revenue for the year climbed to $123 billion, reflecting a 10% rise from 2023, while investment banking fees jumped 34% to $36 billion. This surge was driven by a recovery in dealmaking activity later in the year, as more companies moved forward with equity and debt offerings. Regional banks have been gaining momentum within the banking sector following the regional banking turmoil of spring 2023, which prompted lenders to prioritize liquidity, often at any cost. While their performance was strong relative to the Russell small cap index, it still fell short of the broader market's full-year return of over 25.02%. Despite the gains in 2024, bank stocks have lagged the broader market over multiple years, creating an attractive investment opportunity at historically low valuations. By the end of the year, the price-to-earnings (P/E) multiples of the Regional Banking Index and Community Bank Index were nearly half that of the broader market's, highlighting their relative discount. Moreover, in the fourth quarter of 2024, approximately two-thirds of US regional banks reported higher earnings compared to the previous year. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, 35 out of 51 banks with assets between $10 billion and $100 billion saw year-over-year growth in earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter, based on financial reports released between January 13 and January 24. In addition, 27 regional banks posted quarter-over-quarter improvements, while 22 recorded EPS gains on both a quarterly and annual basis. Meanwhile, only 11 regional banks experienced EPS declines in both comparisons. A report from S&P Global Ratings noted that fourth-quarter net income improved due to easing pressures on net interest margins (NIM) and an increase in fee income. For the full year 2024, the net income benefited from reduced provisions and stable fee income, though NIM compression partially offset these gains. Regional banks saw another consecutive increase in net interest income (NII) during the quarter, supported by modest loan growth and an improved NIM. However, for the full year, NII remained under pressure. The report further mentioned that in the fourth quarter, median NIM rose by 5 basis points to 3.14%, as declining deposit costs outweighed the impact of lower loan yields and asset repricing. The firm anticipates a slight increase in earnings for 2025, driven by the possibility of higher NIMs and a gradual uptick in loan growth. The banking sector remains a favorite among investors as it ranks among the top two sectors for dividend payments. An S&P Global report estimated that banks worldwide distribute approximately $380 billion in dividends. Given this, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks from the regional banking sector. A closeup view of a hand inserting a credit card into an ATM machine. For this article, we used a Yahoo Finance screener to identify regional banking companies. From the resultant list, we picked 11 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, as per Insider Monkey's database of Q4 2024. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of hedge funds' sentiment towards them. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 57 Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) offers a wide range of banking services, including commercial banking, savings accounts, mortgages, and credit cards. The company continues to prioritize regulatory compliance, adhering to the stricter prudential standards and capital requirements set for Category III banking institutions. Staying compliant is vital to supporting the company's day-to-day operations and long-term strategic plans. As one of the largest banks in the US, Truist enjoys a strong foothold in rapidly expanding regions such as Florida and Georgia. The bank has recently ramped up its focus on digital transformation and technological innovation, enhancing its services to better compete with emerging fintech players. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) generated $5.11 billion in revenue, marking a 5% year-over-year increase. Net income for the quarter stood at $1.28 billion. The bank saw a $6.5 billion, or 1.4%, increase in average earning assets, mainly due to a $7.7 billion, or 6.6%, rise in average securities. Average deposits rose by $5.7 billion, or 1.5%, while average short-term borrowings jumped by $4.2 billion, or 20%. On the other hand, the average long-term debt declined by $1.2 billion, or 3.4%. Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) also maintains a solid track record when it comes to dividends, having made consistent payments to shareholders since 1997. In 2024, the company returned $3.8 billion to common shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, including $500 million worth of stock buybacks. The dividend payout ratio stood at 57%, with a total shareholder payout ratio of 98%, making Truist one of the best dividend stocks. It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.62%, as of April 3. Overall, TFC ranks 2nd on our list of the best dividend stocks from the regional banking sector. While we acknowledge the potential of TFC as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than TFC but that trades at 10 times its earnings and grows its earnings at double digit rates annually, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at . Sign in to access your portfolio

M&T Bank (MTB): Among the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy
M&T Bank (MTB): Among the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy

Yahoo

time05-04-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

M&T Bank (MTB): Among the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy

We recently published a list of the 11 Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE:MTB) stands against other best regional bank dividend stocks. The year 2024 proved to be a strong one for major US banks, with the six largest institutions collectively reporting a 20% increase in net profits compared to the previous year, according to FactSet data. This performance ranks among the most successful years for the US banking sector in the past two decades. The industry rebounded significantly following the widely publicized bank failures of 2023, which saw several prominent lenders collapse. Based on Financial Times estimates, trading revenue for the year climbed to $123 billion, reflecting a 10% rise from 2023, while investment banking fees jumped 34% to $36 billion. This surge was driven by a recovery in dealmaking activity later in the year, as more companies moved forward with equity and debt offerings. Regional banks have been gaining momentum within the banking sector following the regional banking turmoil of spring 2023, which prompted lenders to prioritize liquidity, often at any cost. While their performance was strong relative to the Russell small cap index, it still fell short of the broader market's full-year return of over 25.02%. Despite the gains in 2024, bank stocks have lagged the broader market over multiple years, creating an attractive investment opportunity at historically low valuations. By the end of the year, the price-to-earnings (P/E) multiples of the Regional Banking Index and Community Bank Index were nearly half that of the broader market's, highlighting their relative discount. Moreover, in the fourth quarter of 2024, approximately two-thirds of US regional banks reported higher earnings compared to the previous year. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, 35 out of 51 banks with assets between $10 billion and $100 billion saw year-over-year growth in earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter, based on financial reports released between January 13 and January 24. In addition, 27 regional banks posted quarter-over-quarter improvements, while 22 recorded EPS gains on both a quarterly and annual basis. Meanwhile, only 11 regional banks experienced EPS declines in both comparisons. A report from S&P Global Ratings noted that fourth-quarter net income improved due to easing pressures on net interest margins (NIM) and an increase in fee income. For the full year 2024, the net income benefited from reduced provisions and stable fee income, though NIM compression partially offset these gains. Regional banks saw another consecutive increase in net interest income (NII) during the quarter, supported by modest loan growth and an improved NIM. However, for the full year, NII remained under pressure. The report further mentioned that in the fourth quarter, median NIM rose by 5 basis points to 3.14%, as declining deposit costs outweighed the impact of lower loan yields and asset repricing. The firm anticipates a slight increase in earnings for 2025, driven by the possibility of higher NIMs and a gradual uptick in loan growth. The banking sector remains a favorite among investors as it ranks among the top two sectors for dividend payments. An S&P Global report estimated that banks worldwide distribute approximately $380 billion in dividends. Given this, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks from the regional banking sector. A busy financial advisor talking to a client in their office. For this article, we used a Yahoo Finance screener to identify regional banking companies. From the resultant list, we picked 11 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, as per Insider Monkey's database of Q4 2024. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of hedge funds' sentiment towards them. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 46 M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE:MTB) ranks sixth on our list of the best dividend stocks from the regional banking industry. The New York-based bank holding company offers services in commercial banking, consumer banking, institutional banking, and wealth management. The company has a long-standing track record of solid business performance, even during challenging periods, due to its exceptional risk management and high-quality assets. During the Great Recession following the 2008 financial crisis, the bank remained profitable every quarter—continuing a streak of profitability that dates back to the 1970s. Notably, M&T was the only bank among the dozens in the broader market that maintained its dividend without any reductions throughout the crisis, a period that proved especially difficult for the banking sector. In the fourth quarter of 2024, M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE:MTB) posted a revenue of $2.4 billion, which showed a 3.7% growth from the same period last year. The revenue beat analysts' estimates by $39.3 million. The company's capital position has continued to improve, with its CET1 capital ratio rising for the seventh straight quarter, reaching an estimated 11.67% as of December 31, 2024. This marks a 13 basis-point increase from the 11.54% reported on September 30, 2024. In addition, the bank saw a $2.7 billion increase in average investment securities, while the yields on those securities rose by 18 basis points. M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE:MTB) has a strong balance sheet as the company returned $226 million to shareholders in common stock dividends. Its quarterly dividend comes in at $1.35 per share for a dividend yield of 3.31%, as of April 3. The company has been rewarding shareholders with growing dividends for the past eight consecutive years. Overall, MTB ranks 6th on our list of the best dividend stocks from the regional banking sector. While we acknowledge the potential of MTB as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than MTB but that trades at 10 times its earnings and grows its earnings at double digit rates annually, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at . Sign in to access your portfolio

U.S. Bancorp (USB): Among the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy
U.S. Bancorp (USB): Among the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy

Yahoo

time05-04-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

U.S. Bancorp (USB): Among the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy

We recently published a list of the 11 Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB) stands against other best regional bank dividend stocks. The year 2024 proved to be a strong one for major US banks, with the six largest institutions collectively reporting a 20% increase in net profits compared to the previous year, according to FactSet data. This performance ranks among the most successful years for the US banking sector in the past two decades. The industry rebounded significantly following the widely publicized bank failures of 2023, which saw several prominent lenders collapse. Based on Financial Times estimates, trading revenue for the year climbed to $123 billion, reflecting a 10% rise from 2023, while investment banking fees jumped 34% to $36 billion. This surge was driven by a recovery in dealmaking activity later in the year, as more companies moved forward with equity and debt offerings. Regional banks have been gaining momentum within the banking sector following the regional banking turmoil of spring 2023, which prompted lenders to prioritize liquidity, often at any cost. While their performance was strong relative to the Russell small cap index, it still fell short of the broader market's full-year return of over 25.02%. Despite the gains in 2024, bank stocks have lagged the broader market over multiple years, creating an attractive investment opportunity at historically low valuations. By the end of the year, the price-to-earnings (P/E) multiples of the Regional Banking Index and Community Bank Index were nearly half that of the broader market's, highlighting their relative discount. Moreover, in the fourth quarter of 2024, approximately two-thirds of US regional banks reported higher earnings compared to the previous year. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, 35 out of 51 banks with assets between $10 billion and $100 billion saw year-over-year growth in earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter, based on financial reports released between January 13 and January 24. In addition, 27 regional banks posted quarter-over-quarter improvements, while 22 recorded EPS gains on both a quarterly and annual basis. Meanwhile, only 11 regional banks experienced EPS declines in both comparisons. A report from S&P Global Ratings noted that fourth-quarter net income improved due to easing pressures on net interest margins (NIM) and an increase in fee income. For the full year 2024, the net income benefited from reduced provisions and stable fee income, though NIM compression partially offset these gains. Regional banks saw another consecutive increase in net interest income (NII) during the quarter, supported by modest loan growth and an improved NIM. However, for the full year, NII remained under pressure. The report further mentioned that in the fourth quarter, median NIM rose by 5 basis points to 3.14%, as declining deposit costs outweighed the impact of lower loan yields and asset repricing. The firm anticipates a slight increase in earnings for 2025, driven by the possibility of higher NIMs and a gradual uptick in loan growth. The banking sector remains a favorite among investors as it ranks among the top two sectors for dividend payments. An S&P Global report estimated that banks worldwide distribute approximately $380 billion in dividends. Given this, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks from the regional banking sector. An experienced banker on the trading floor, monitoring financial markets in real time. For this article, we used a Yahoo Finance screener to identify regional banking companies. From the resultant list, we picked 11 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, as per Insider Monkey's database of Q4 2024. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of hedge funds' sentiment towards them. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 48 U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB) is a Minnesota-based bank holding company that provides a wide range of financial services, including commercial and consumer banking, payment processing, wealth management, and investment solutions. The company places a strong emphasis on operational efficiency and prudent balance sheet management, both key factors in supporting its long-term profitability. In the fourth quarter of 2024, U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB) delivered results that slightly exceeded Wall Street's expectations. Earnings per share came in at $1.07, narrowly beating the forecast of $1.05, while revenue reached $7.01 billion, just above the projected $7 billion. Despite facing economic uncertainty and regulatory changes, the company achieved solid net income growth, reflecting its ability to manage challenges effectively. Net interest income rose slightly to $4.18 billion, supported by successful repricing efforts, although the net interest margin declined marginally to 2.71%. The company also continued to advance its fintech capabilities, highlighted by the launch of Elavon's cloud-based payment gateway. On March 11, U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB) announced a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share, which was in line with its previous dividend. It is one of the best dividend stocks on our list, as the company grew its dividends for 14 consecutive years. The stock has a dividend yield of 5.16%, as of April 3. Overall, USB ranks 5th on our list of the best dividend stocks from the regional banking sector. While we acknowledge the potential of USB as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than USB but that trades at 10 times its earnings and grows its earnings at double digit rates annually, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at . Sign in to access your portfolio

First Horizon Corporation (FHN): One of the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy
First Horizon Corporation (FHN): One of the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy

Yahoo

time05-04-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

First Horizon Corporation (FHN): One of the Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy

We recently published a list of the 11 Best Regional Bank Dividend Stocks to Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where First Horizon Corporation (NYSE:FHN) stands against other best regional bank dividend stocks. The year 2024 proved to be a strong one for major US banks, with the six largest institutions collectively reporting a 20% increase in net profits compared to the previous year, according to FactSet data. This performance ranks among the most successful years for the US banking sector in the past two decades. The industry rebounded significantly following the widely publicized bank failures of 2023, which saw several prominent lenders collapse. Based on Financial Times estimates, trading revenue for the year climbed to $123 billion, reflecting a 10% rise from 2023, while investment banking fees jumped 34% to $36 billion. This surge was driven by a recovery in dealmaking activity later in the year, as more companies moved forward with equity and debt offerings. Regional banks have been gaining momentum within the banking sector following the regional banking turmoil of spring 2023, which prompted lenders to prioritize liquidity, often at any cost. While their performance was strong relative to the Russell small cap index, it still fell short of the broader market's full-year return of over 25.02%. Despite the gains in 2024, bank stocks have lagged the broader market over multiple years, creating an attractive investment opportunity at historically low valuations. By the end of the year, the price-to-earnings (P/E) multiples of the Regional Banking Index and Community Bank Index were nearly half that of the broader market's, highlighting their relative discount. Moreover, in the fourth quarter of 2024, approximately two-thirds of US regional banks reported higher earnings compared to the previous year. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, 35 out of 51 banks with assets between $10 billion and $100 billion saw year-over-year growth in earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter, based on financial reports released between January 13 and January 24. In addition, 27 regional banks posted quarter-over-quarter improvements, while 22 recorded EPS gains on both a quarterly and annual basis. Meanwhile, only 11 regional banks experienced EPS declines in both comparisons. A report from S&P Global Ratings noted that fourth-quarter net income improved due to easing pressures on net interest margins (NIM) and an increase in fee income. For the full year 2024, the net income benefited from reduced provisions and stable fee income, though NIM compression partially offset these gains. Regional banks saw another consecutive increase in net interest income (NII) during the quarter, supported by modest loan growth and an improved NIM. However, for the full year, NII remained under pressure. The report further mentioned that in the fourth quarter, median NIM rose by 5 basis points to 3.14%, as declining deposit costs outweighed the impact of lower loan yields and asset repricing. The firm anticipates a slight increase in earnings for 2025, driven by the possibility of higher NIMs and a gradual uptick in loan growth. The banking sector remains a favorite among investors as it ranks among the top two sectors for dividend payments. An S&P Global report estimated that banks worldwide distribute approximately $380 billion in dividends. Given this, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks from the regional banking sector. An experienced banker offering financial advice to a young couple. For this article, we used a Yahoo Finance screener to identify regional banking companies. From the resultant list, we picked 11 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, as per Insider Monkey's database of Q4 2024. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of hedge funds' sentiment towards them. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 52 First Horizon Corporation (NYSE:FHN) is the parent company of First Horizon Bank that operates through three key divisions: Regional Banking, Specialty Banking, and Corporate. The company offers a comprehensive suite of financial services, catering to both businesses and individuals with products such as loans, deposits, and wealth management solutions. In the past 12 months, the stock has surged by over 12%. First Horizon Corporation (NYSE:FHN) reported strong earnings in the fourth quarter of 2024, with a revenue of $824 million, which saw a 3% growth from the same period last year. Strong client relationships and a well-balanced business model enabled the company to generate earnings despite a challenging interest rate environment. Business growth remained steady in 2024, supported by a strong net interest margin, higher counter-cyclical revenues, and a decline in net charge-offs. The company achieved solid performance during the quarter, with a two-basis-point expansion in net interest margin, a 6% rise in fixed income revenue, and net charge-offs of 8 basis points, positioning it for a strong start to 2025. First Horizon Corporation (NYSE:FHN) offers a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.49%, as of April 3. During the quarter, the company returned $930 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. Overall, FHN ranks 3rd on our list of the best dividend stocks from the regional banking sector. While we acknowledge the potential of FHN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than FHN but that trades at 10 times its earnings and grows its earnings at double digit rates annually, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at .

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