Best Bank Stocks To Own Right Now

tags:HSBA,FCF,WFC,CM,AP,

The U.K. economy shows little sign of breaking out of its “pattern of uninspiring growth,” and the first quarter may have been weaker than expected.

The first three months of the year may have seen gross domestic product gain as little as 0.2 percent as severe weather cramped growth, a report by the EY Item Club will say Monday. That’s below the 0.3 percent estimate of economists before the initial reading of the data, which will be published Friday. It also downgraded its annual forecast to 1.6 percent, from 1.7 percent previously.

While the Item Club expects two Bank of England interest-rate increases this year and a further two in 2019, it said there remains uncertainty around the outlook for policy. Governor Mark Carney on Thursday pushed back against the high expectations for tightening at the May 10 meeting, pointing out that there are other opportunities.

“Raising interest rates this year is not an open and shut case,” said Howard Archer, chief economic adviser to the EY ITEM Club. “With inflation heading down and the Bank of England’s view of the supply-side of the economy arguably too pessimistic, two rate hikes this year risk exerting unnecessary pressure on consumers.”

Best Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: HSBC Holdings PLC (HSBA)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  HSBC (LON:HSBA) had its price target dropped by equities research analysts at Citigroup from GBX 810 ($10.78) to GBX 800 ($10.65) in a report released on Tuesday. The brokerage currently has a “buy” rating on the financial services provider’s stock. Citigroup’s price target points to a potential upside of 9.59% from the stock’s previous close.

• [By Max Byerly]

  HSBC Holdings plc (LON:HSBA) has received an average recommendation of “Hold” from the sixteen analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, ten have issued a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 768.33 ($9.80).

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  HSBC (LON:HSBA) had its target price lowered by equities research analysts at Shore Capital from GBX 721 ($9.60) to GBX 625 ($8.32) in a report issued on Tuesday. The brokerage presently has a “sell” rating on the financial services provider’s stock. Shore Capital’s price objective indicates a potential downside of 14.71% from the company’s previous close.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Morgan Stanley set a GBX 855 ($10.91) price target on HSBC (LON:HSBA) in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the financial services provider’s stock.

• [By Max Byerly]

  HSBC (LON:HSBA) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Credit Suisse Group to a “neutral” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday. The firm presently has a GBX 720 ($9.38) target price on the financial services provider’s stock, up from their previous target price of GBX 680 ($8.86). Credit Suisse Group’s price target suggests a potential upside of 5.82% from the company’s previous close.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Credit Suisse Group set a GBX 720 ($9.32) price target on HSBC (LON:HSBA) in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the financial services provider’s stock.

Best Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: First Commonwealth Financial Corporation(FCF)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on First Commonwealth Financial (FCF)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  First Commonwealth Financial (NYSE:FCF) was upgraded by investment analysts at ValuEngine from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report released on Monday.

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on First Commonwealth Financial (FCF)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on First Commonwealth Financial (FCF)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on First Commonwealth Financial (FCF)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on First Commonwealth Financial (FCF)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

Best Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: Wells Fargo & Company(WFC)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Lange]

  Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) released its second-quarter financial results before the markets opened on Friday. The company said that it had $0.98 in earnings per share (EPS) and $21.6 billion in revenue, while consensus estimates had called for $1.12 in EPS on revenue of $21.68 billion. The same period of last year reportedly had EPS of $1.08 and $22.17 billion in revenue.

• [By ]

  The most noteworthy takeaways from Berkshire's weekend:

  Buffett remains bullish on Wells Fargo (WFC) and CEO Tim Sloan despite its spate of scandals. A CEO for Berkshire's healthcare initiatives with JPMorgan & Chase (JPM) and Amazon (AMZN) is expected to be announced in a few months.  Both Buffett and Munger continue to think valuations on potential targets remain too high. Keep an Eye on PayPal

  PayPal (PYPL) is due for a good session on Monday after CEO Dan Schulman gave a bullish 45 minute interview with Jim Cramer at TheStreet's Investor Boot Camp conference on Saturday. Schulman easily downplayed the threat of Amazon in mobile payments.

• [By Matthew Frankel, CFP]

  Frankel: Obviously, I'll be watching all of the big banks reporting earnings. But Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) is one that I really have my eye on, just because their last quarterly report was so terrible. Last quarter, they missed expectations. I don't really pay too much attention to expectations, as we've said on the show. But their revenue dropped almost 3% year over year. Their deposit base is down 2%. The big takeaway is, as of the end of last quarter, there were no signs that their scandals and whatever have really begun to get into the past yet. So, I'm looking for that. 

• [By Chris Lange]

  Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) short interest dropped to 33.20 million shares from the previous reading of 35.83 million. Shares were trading at $57.88, within a 52-week range of $49.27 to $66.31.

• [By Chris Lange]

  And Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) will report its fourth-quarter results before Friday's opening bell too. The consensus estimates are EPS of $1.07 and revenue of $22.3 billion. Shares closed most recently at $62.75, in a 52-week range of $49.27 to $63.05. The consensus price target is $61.74.

Best Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce(CM)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Motley Fool Transcribers]

  Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM)Q3 2018 Earnings Conference CallAug. 23, 2018, 8:00 a.m. ET

  Contents: Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants Prepared Remarks:

  Operator

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Sigma Planning Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM) (TSE:CM) by 12.6% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 7,383 shares of the bank’s stock after acquiring an additional 826 shares during the period. Sigma Planning Corp’s holdings in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce were worth $642,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM) (TSE:CM) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, May 23rd, Zacks reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 28th will be paid a dividend of 1.036 per share by the bank on Friday, July 27th. This represents a $4.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.63%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 27th.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Alberta as represented by Alberta Investment Management Corp boosted its position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM) (TSE:CM) by 54.3% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 911,300 shares of the bank’s stock after buying an additional 320,800 shares during the quarter. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce comprises approximately 1.0% of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Alberta as represented by Alberta Investment Management Corp’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest position. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Alberta as represented by Alberta Investment Management Corp’s holdings in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce were worth $103,633,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Best Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation(AP)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ]

  Wellington, New Zealand (AP) -- New Zealand plans to slaughter about 150,000 cows as it tries to eradicate a strain of disease-causing bacteria from the national herd.

• [By ]

  This undated photo provided by BMW shows the 2018 BMW X3, a luxury compact SUV with more traditional design and a starting price of $41,995, including the destination fee. The Audi Q5 and the BMW X3 are two of the most popular compact luxury SUVs out today. Shoppers are typically drawn to the Q5 and the X3 because of their appealing mix of refinement, utility, safety and performance. (Photo: AP)

• [By ]

  London (AP) -- The British government said Sunday it is scrapping a promise to reconsider the ban on fox hunting, a centuries-old rural tradition contentiously outlawed more than a decade ago.

• [By ]

  This Jan. 28, 2018, file photo shows music streaming apps clockwise from top left, Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Pandora and Google on an iPhone in New York. (Photo: AP)