Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) Stock Rating Upgraded by Argus

Argus upgraded shares of Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Thursday, MarketBeat reports. Argus currently has $26.00 price target on the bank’s stock.

Several other research analysts also recently issued reports on RF. DA Davidson upped their target price on shares of Regions Financial from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Citigroup increased their target price on Regions Financial from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on Regions Financial from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Regions Financial from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, October 21st. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on shares of Regions Financial from $22.00 to $21.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Regions Financial presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $24.35.

Regions Financial Price Performance

Shares of RF opened at $23.50 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.84. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $22.91 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $21.00. Regions Financial has a fifty-two week low of $13.95 and a fifty-two week high of $24.47. The stock has a market cap of $21.51 billion, a PE ratio of 13.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 1.17.

Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) last released its earnings results on Friday, October 18th. The bank reported $0.49 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.53 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $1.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.80 billion. Regions Financial had a return on equity of 12.60% and a net margin of 18.78%. The company’s revenue was down 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.49 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Regions Financial will post 2.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Regions Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd will be paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.26%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 2nd. Regions Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 56.50%.

Institutional Trading of Regions Financial

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. EntryPoint Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Regions Financial in the first quarter worth about $26,000. American National Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in Regions Financial by 1,856.7% in the 3rd quarter. American National Bank & Trust now owns 1,174 shares of the bank’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,114 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP boosted its stake in Regions Financial by 157.2% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,335 shares of the bank’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 816 shares during the period. MV Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Regions Financial by 75.6% during the 1st quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,435 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 618 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. raised its position in shares of Regions Financial by 530.0% during the second quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 1,493 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 1,256 shares during the last quarter. 79.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Regions Financial Company Profile

Regions Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and bank-related services to individual and corporate customers. It operates through three segments: Corporate Bank, Consumer Bank, and Wealth Management. The Corporate Bank segment offers commercial banking services, such as commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, and investor real estate lending; equipment lease financing; deposit products; and securities underwriting and placement, loan syndication and placement, foreign exchange, derivatives, merger and acquisition, and other advisory services.