Best Bank Companies To Buy Right Now

On Friday, Christopher & Banks (NYSE: CBK  ) will release its latest quarterly results. With the company having recovered from the brink of failure a year ago, investors are wondering what the retailer still has planned to produce further growth.

A year ago, Christopher & Banks saw its stock plunge to just $1 per share as the retailer faced widening losses and had to fend off a prospective acquirer's attempts to buy out the company. Since then, though, the retailer has made an impressive comeback. Let's take an early look at what's been happening with Christopher & Banks over the past quarter and what we're likely to see in its quarterly report.

Stats on Christopher & Banks

Analyst EPS Estimate Best Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: EverBank Financial Corp (EVER.N) EverBank Financial Corp, incorporated in 2004, is an unitary savings and loan holding company. The Company provides a range of financial products and services directly to customers through multiple business channels. Its operating subsidiary is EverBank. As of December 31, 2011, EverBank had $ 10.3 billion deposits. EverBank offers a range of banking, lending and investing products to consumers and businesses. EverBank provides services to customers through Websites, over the phone, through the mail and at 14 Florida-based Financial Centers. The Company operates in two operating business segments: Banking and Wealth Management, and Mortgage Banking. Its Banking and Wealth Management segment includes earnings generated by and activities related to deposit and investment products and services and portfolio lending and leasing activities. Its Mortgage Banking segment consists of activities related to the origination and servicing of residential mortgage loans. In April 201 2, the Company acquired MetLife Bank�� warehouse finance business. In October 2012, it acquired Business Property Lending, Inc. Asset Origination and Fee Income Businesses The Company has a range of asset origination and fee income businesses. The Company generates generate fee income from its mortgage banking activities, which consist of originating and servicing one-to-four family residential mortgage loans. It originates prime residential mortgage loans using a centrally controlled underwriting, processing and fulfillment infrastructure through financial intermediaries (including community banks, credit unions, mortgage bankers and brokers), consumer direct channels and financial centers. Its mortgage origination activities include originating, underwriting, closing, warehousing and selling to investors prime conforming and jumbo residential mortgage loans. From its mortgage origination activities, it earns fee-based income on fees charged to b orrowers and other noninterest income from gains on sales ! fr! om mortgage loans and servicing rights. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it originated six billion dollars of residential loans. It generates mortgage servicing business through the retention of servicing from its origination activities, acquisition of bulk mortgage servicing rights (MSR) and related servicing activities. The Company�� mortgage servicing business includes collecting loan payments, remitting principal and interest payments to investors, managing escrow funds for the payment of mortgage-related expenses, such as taxes and insurance, responding to customer inquiries, counseling delinquent mortgagors, supervising foreclosures and liquidations of foreclosure properties and otherwise administering its mortgage loan servicing portfolio. It earns mortgage servicing fees and other ancillary fee-based income in connection with these activities. It services a portfolio by both product and investor, including agency and private pools of mortgages secured by properties throughout the United States. As of December 31, 2011, its mortgage servicing business, which services mortgage loans for itself and others, managed loan servicing administrative functions for loans with unpaid principal balance (UPB) of $54.8 billion. The Company originates originate equipment leases nationwide through relationships with approximately 280 equipment vendors with networks of creditworthy borrowers and provide asset-backed loan facilities to other leasing companies. Its equipment leases and loans finance essential-use health care, office product, technology and other equipment. Its commercial financings range from approximately $25,000 to $1.0 million per transaction, with typical lease terms ranging from 36 to 60 months. Its commercial finance activities provide it with access to approximately 25,000 small business customers nationwide, which creates opportunities to cross-sell its deposit, lending and wealth management pro ducts. It focuses to offer warehouse loans, which are s! hort-! te! rm revo! lving facilities, primarily securitized by agency and government collateral. It provides financial advisory, planning, brokerage, trust and other wealth management services to its mass-affluent and high-net-worth customers through its registered broker dealer and recently-formed registered investment advisor subsidiaries. Interest-Earning Asset Portfolio As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� interest-earning assets were $11.7 billion. As of December 31, 2011, its loan and lease held for investment portfolio was $6.5 billion. As of December 31, 2011, the carrying values of its interest-earning assets are: residential, government-insured (residential), securities, commercial and commercial real estate, Bank of Florida (covered), lease financing receivables, and other. Residential includes primarily prime loans originated and retained from its mortgage banking activities, acquired from third parties or held for sale to other investors. government-insured (residential) includes Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) pool buyouts with government insurance, sourced from its mortgage banking segment and third-party sources. Securities include non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and collateralized mortgage obligation (CMO) purchased at significant discounts. This portfolio includes protection against credit losses from purchase discounts, subordination in the securities structures and borrower equity. Commercial and commercial real estate includes a range of commercial loans, including owner-occupied commercial real estate, commercial investment property and small business commercial loans. As of December 31, 2011, Bank of Florida (Covered) includes commercial, multi-family and commercial real estate loans with $71.3 million of purchase discounts. Lease financing receivables include covered lease financing receivables. As of December 31, 2011, the lease portfolio had $64.7 million of total discounts. Other includes home equity loan! s and lin! ! es of cre! dit, consumer and credit card loans and other investments. Deposit Generation As of December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately $10.3 billion in deposits. Its market-based deposit products, consisting of its WorldCurrency, MarketSafe and EverBank Metals Select products, provide investment capabilities for customers seeking portfolio diversification with respect to foreign currencies, commodities and other indices. Its financial portal includes online bill-pay, account aggregation, direct deposit, single sign-on for all customer accounts and other features. Its Website and mobile device applications provide information on its product offerings, financial tools and calculators, newsletters, financial reporting services and other applications for customers to interact with it and manages all of their EverBank accounts on a single integrated platform. Its new mobile applications allow customers using iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry devices to view account balances, conduct real time balance transfers between EverBank accounts, administer billpay, review account activity detail and remotely deposit checks. The Company generates deposit customer relationships through its consumer direct, financial center and financial intermediary distribution channels. Its consumer direct channel includes Internet, e-mail, telephone and mobile device access to product and customer support offerings. Its direct distribution with a network of 14 financial centers in Florida metropolitan areas, include Jacksonville, Naples, Ft. Myers, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa Bay and Clearwater. As of December 31, 2011, its financial centers had average deposits of $130.5 million, which is approximately double the industry average. In addition, it generates noninterest-bearing escrow deposits from its mortgage servicing business. Best Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: National Australia Bank Ltd (NAB.AX) National Australia Bank Limited provides products, advice and services. In Australia, it operates through National Australia Bank, MLC and UBank. In the United Kingdom, it operates through Clydesdale Bank. In New Zealand, it operates through Bank of New Zealand. In the United States, it operates through Great Western Bank. Segments include Business Banking, Personal Banking, Wholesale Banking, UK Banking and NZ Banking, MLC and NAB and Great Western Ban. As of April 5, 2012, the Company and its associated entities ceased to be a substantial holder in BlueScope Steel Limited. On May 17, 2012, it ceased to be a substantial holder in Spark Infrastructure Group and Sandfire Resources NL. As of August 24, 2012, the Company and its associated entities ceased to be holder in Tabcorp Holdings Limited. In September 2012, the Company and its associated entities have ceased to be a substantial holder in Incitec Pivot Limited, as of August 30, 2012. Top 5 Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: U.S. Bancorp(USB) U.S. Bancorp, a financial services holding company, provides various banking and financial services in the United States. It generates various deposit products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, money market savings, and time certificates of deposit accounts. The company originates a portfolio of loans comprising commercial loans and lease financing; commercial real estate; residential mortgage; and retail loans consisting of credit cards, retail leasing, home equity and second mortgages, and other retail loans. It also offers wholesale lending, equipment finance, small-ticket leasing, depository, treasury management, capital markets, foreign exchange, and international trade services to middle market, large corporate, commercial real estate, and public sector clients. In addition, U.S. Bancorp provides telebanking and automated teller machine (ATM) services, as well as cash management services. The company, through other subsidiaries, provides trust, private banking, financial advisory, investment management, retail brokerage services, insurance, and custody and fund services; and payment services, including consumer and business credit cards, stored-value cards, debit cards, corporate and purchasing card services, consumer lines of credit, and merchant processing. U.S. Bancorp primarily serves individuals, estates, foundations, business corporations, and charitable organizations. It operates a network of approximately 3,031 banking offices and 5,310 ATMs. The company was founded in 1863 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Advisors' Opinion: [By Philip van Doorn] U.S. Bancorp (USB_) of Minneapolis, for example, recorded a 2012 operating return on average assets (ROA) of 1.62%, according to Thomson Reuters Bank Insight, making it one of the best performers among large-cap banks. This performance was not an aberration, as the company was in the top five for return on average equity among actively traded U.S. bank stocks from the beginning of 2006 through the third quarter of 2012. [By James K. Glassman]  The venerable investment firm Brown Brothers Harriman, which has catered to wealthy families since 1818, has launched some excellent mutual funds in recent years. The managers of BBH Core Select look for stocks that sell for a "meaningful discount" from their judgment of a firm’s intrinsic, or true, value, thus providing what financial scholar Benjamin Graham called a "margin of safety." A prime holding for the past eight years has been Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp (symbol: USB), one of the best-run banks in the world. Its stock has risen 35% in the past year, but the P/E is still reasonable at 10, and the 2.5% dividend yield gives you more income than a ten-year Treasury bond. [By Louis Navellier] U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB) provides its customers with lending and depository services, cash management, foreign exchange and trust and investment management services. Since this time last March, USB is up 19%. USB stock gets an “A” grade for operating margin growth, a “B” grade for earnings growth, a “B” grade for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, a “B” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months, an “A” grade for cash flow, and a “B” grade for return on equity.  Best Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Citigroup Inc.(C) Citigroup, Inc., a global financial services company, provides consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions with a range of financial products and services. The company operates through two segments, Citicorp and Citi Holdings. The Citicorp segment operates as a global bank for businesses and consumers with two primary businesses, Regional Consumer Banking and Institutional Clients Group. The Regional Consumer Banking business provides traditional banking services, including retail banking, and branded cards in North America, Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The Institutional Clients Group business provides securities and banking services comprising investment banking and advisory services, lending, debt and equity sales and trading, institutional brokerage, foreign exchange, structured products, cash instruments and related derivatives, and private banking; and transaction services consisting of treasury and trade solutions, and securiti es and fund services. The Citi Holdings segment operates Brokerage and Asset Management, Local Consumer Lending, and Special Asset Pool businesses. The Brokerage and Asset Management Business, through its 49% stake in Morgan Stanley Smith Barney joint venture and Nikko Cordial Securities, offers retail brokerage and asset management services. The Local Consumer Lending business provides residential mortgage loans, retail partner card loans, personal loans, commercial real estate, and other consumer loans, as well as western European cards and retail banking services. The Special Asset Pool business is a portfolio of securities, loans, and other assets. Citigroup Inc. has approximately 200 million customer accounts and operates in approximately 160 countries. The company was founded in 1812 and is based in New York, New York. Advisors' Opinion: [By Philip van Doorn] Citigroup (C_). O'Connor on Friday reiterated his "Buy" rating and raised his 12-month price target for Citi to $46 from $40, saying that "in our base-case scenario, our preference is to own bank stocks that still have leverage to the recovery (vs. current stock prices). We believe C is best positioned for this." The analyst estimates that Citigroup will earn $4.60 a share in 2013, with EPS increasing to $5.14 in 2014 and $6.01 in 2015, with key elements being the U.S. housing recovery and the company's cost-cutting efforts. O'Connor also sees less interest rate risk for Citigroup than for other large U.S. banks, because of the company's international exposure. Citigroup also trades at the lowest multiples to book value and to forward earnings estimates, among the banks covered by Deutsche Bank. Citi's shares closed at $41.39 Thursday, trading for 0.8 times the reported Sept. 30 tangible book value of $52.70. [By Philip van Doorn] Citigroup (C) closed at $36.37 Tuesday, returning 38% year-to-date, following last year's 44% decline. Like Bank of America, Citi's shares are heavily discounted, at just 0.7 times the Dec. 30 tangible book value of $49.81. The shares trade for eight times the consensus 2013 EPS estimate of $4.70. KBW analyst David Konrad rates Citi "Market Perform," with a price target of $42, and estimates the company will report first-quarter EPS of 80 cents, with full-year earnings of $3.40 for 2012, followed by 2013 EPS of $4.40. [By David Sterman] This may seem to be an odd choice for a long-term portfolio. Citigroup has caused all kinds of pain for investors in recent years. But behind the scenes, Citigroup has been transforming itself into a major global player. CEO Vikram Pandit has sought to reduce Citigroup’s exposure to the weak U.S. economy while aggressively investing in the world’s most dynamic emerging economies . Right now, North America and Europe constitute about two-thirds of revenue. But emerging markets are expected to grow at a faster pace than Europe and North America in coming years, so that revenue mix may move closer to 50/50. If the dollar weakens further, as many economists predict, then that international exposure will really pay off as Citigroup’s foreign earnings rise in value. [By Vodicka] Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C), recent price $4.55: To prove that all bargain stocks don't have to be hidden gems, consider this "too-big-to-fail" bank. After trading above $55 a share in 2007, Citi got crushed in the 2008 financial collapse and has struggled since. However, it's now profitable again, plans a 10-for-1 reverse stock split in May and will also be resuming its dividend. What makes it most attractive for the long run, however, is its price-to-tangible-book-value ratio of just 1.02 - down from a 10-year-high of 5.24. In essence, you're getting right at a dollar's worth of real assets for every dollar you invest now. Best Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Wells Fargo & Company(WFC) Wells Fargo & Company, through its subsidiaries, provides retail, commercial, and corporate banking services primarily in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Community Banking; Wholesale Banking; and Wealth, Brokerage, and Retirement. The Community Banking segment offers deposits, including checking, market rate, and individual retirement accounts; savings and time deposits; and debit cards. Its loan products comprise lines of credit, auto floor plans, equity lines and loans, equipment and transportation loans, education loans, residential mortgage loans, health savings accounts, and credit cards. This segment also provides equipment leases, real estate financing, small business administration financing, venture capital financing, cash management, payroll services, retirement plans, loans secured by autos, and merchant payment processing services; purchases sales finance contracts from retail merchants; and a family of funds, and investment managemen t services. The Wholesale Banking segment offers commercial and corporate banking products and services, including commercial loans and lines of credit, letters of credit, asset-based lending, equipment leasing, international trade facilities, trade financing, collection services, foreign exchange services, treasury and investment management, institutional fixed-income sales, commodity and equity risk management, insurance, corporate trust fiduciary and agency services, and investment banking services. This segment also provides banking products for commercial real estate market, and real estate and mortgage brokerage services. The Wealth, Brokerage, and Retirement segment offers financial advisory, brokerage, and institutional retirement and trust services. As of December 31, 2010, the company served its customers through approximately 9,000 banking stores in 39 States and the District of Columbia. Wells Fargo & Company was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in San Franci sco, California. Advisors' Opinion: [By James K. Glassman]  San Francisco–based Wells Fargo (symbol: WFC) is one of the country's biggest banks, with more than 11,000 branches in 39 states. It makes more loans to home buyers and small-business owners than any other U.S. bank. And it's one of the most profitable banks, with a net profit margin of 18.1% -- better than that of most of its peers. That means that even in a slow-moving economy, the bank should hold up well. Wells, which reported record earnings in the second quarter, raised its dividend in 2011 and 2012. The stock yields 2.7% and trades at 9 times expected 2013 earnings. [By Philip] Wells Fargo's (WFC) forward P/E was 7.9, based on Friday's closing price of $25.40 and consensus 2012 EPS estimate of $3.22. The shares trade just over the company's reported book value of $24.13, as of Sept. 30. Out of 895 publicly traded U.S. bank and thrift stocks -- excluding those trading on the Pink Sheets -- 273 trade for less than $5 a share, according to data supplied by SNL. We narrowed down the list down to 21 names with three-month daily average trading volume of more than 50,000 shares. We further pared the list to the five names with the most upside implied by mean price targets among analysts polled by FactSet, limiting the group to bank and thrift holding with "Buy" ratings from at least half the covering analysts. [By Sherry Jim] Miller had $361 Million WFC shares at the end of December. WFC gained 24.7% during the last 12 months and outperformed the SPY by 3.2 percentage points. Stock holdings increased by 18.5% during the last quarter and WFC returned 9.1% since then. Warren Buffett was extremely bullish about Wells Fargo during the fourth quarter, adding another 6+ Million shares to his $11+ Billion WFC holdings. [By Buffett]  Buffett loves a fat pitch -- a stock priced so low that buying it almost guarantees a home run. So when worries that a recession would hit Wells Fargo (WFC) and its heavy exposure to real-estate loans hammered the bank's stock in the 1990, Buffett bought. There's a similar scenario at play today. So the bank's stock once again looks cheap. Morningstar, a fairly strict value-stock shop, has its highest (five-star) rating on the stock, with a buy limit of $31.50. That means the stock looks like a great buy now, trading at around $28.90. Banking is a commodity business -- meaning that it's hard for bankers to distinguish their offerings enough to stand out. Buffett hates these kinds of businesses. So what does he still own Wells Fargo? Several reasons, say Buffett experts. First, Wells Fargo management gets top grades, says Todd Lowenstein, portfolio manager of the HighMark Value Momentum Fund (HMVMX). Buffett typically gravitates toward companies with outstanding management teams. Evidence of the management strength at Wells Fargo, says Lowenstein, can be seen in its consistently above-average return on assets, a measure of how well a company produces profits. The bank also has lower loan delinquency and foreclosure rates than competitors, another sign of prudence. And Wells Fargo management is frugal, a quality Buffett famously loves. The bank is currently working on reducing expenses by $1.5 billion a quarter. Management showed that it allocates capital wisely, a quality Buffett likes, when it bought Wachovia bank on the cheap during the credit crisis and turned itself into a national bank. Buffett owns 342.6 million shares, making it one of his largest holdings, according to Tickerspy. (All ownership stats in this piece come from Tickerspy.) 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