COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (Nasdaq: HBAN) will participate in the 2026 UBS Financial Services Conference on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Steve Steinour, chairman, president, and chief executive officer, and Zach Wasserman, chief financial officer, are scheduled to present to analysts and investors at 11:20 AM (Eastern Time). They will discuss business trends, financial performance, and strategic initiatives. The presentation will include forward-looking s ...

U.S. stock futures are pointing lower this Monday, February 2nd, 2026, as investors grapple with a confluence of factors including weaker global manufacturing data, rising borrowing costs, and renewed concerns surrounding the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. The premarket session indicates a cautious start to the trading week, with major indexes poised to open in negative territory.Premarket Trading and Futures MovementsAs of early Monday, E-mini S&P 500 contracts are down approximately 0.7% to 1.2%, si ...

Core Insights - Huntington Bancshares has successfully completed its merger with Cadence Bank, enhancing its market position in Texas and Mississippi [1][2][3] - The merger positions Huntington as the eighth-largest bank in Texas and the leading bank in Mississippi by deposit market share [2][3] - The combined entity now holds approximately $279 billion in assets, $221 billion in deposits, and $187 billion in loans as of December 31, 2025 [3] Company Growth and Strategy - The merger is seen as a strategic partnership that will accelerate Huntington's growth initiatives in high-growth markets across Texas and the South [2][3] - Huntington plans to maintain Cadence's existing branch network of 390 locations without closures and aims to invest in its growth over time [3][6] - The integration of Cadence's customers into Huntington's systems is expected to occur in mid-2026, with detailed information to be provided to customers in the coming weeks [6] Board of Directors Changes - Following the acquisition, Huntington's Board of Directors has appointed three new members, all former directors of Cadence Bank [4][5][6] - The new board members include James D. "Dan" Rollins III, Virginia Hepner, and Alice Rodriguez, each bringing extensive banking and leadership experience [4][5][6] - The addition of these directors is expected to complement Huntington's existing board and support its strategic vision [6] Company Overview - Huntington Bancshares is a regional bank holding company with $279 billion in assets, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio [7] - The company provides a comprehensive suite of banking, payments, wealth management, and risk management products and services [7] - Huntington operates nearly 1,400 branches across 21 states, enhancing its geographical reach and service capabilities [7]

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ:HBAN) is included among the 7 Best Low-Risk Dividend Stocks to Invest in. Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) Price Target Raised by $1 Image by Alexsander-777 from Pixabay Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ:HBAN) operates as a regional bank holding company. Through its main banking unit, Huntington National Bank, and related affiliates, it serves consumers as well as small and mid-sized businesses, corporations, municipalities, and other organizations. On J ...

Core Insights - The M&A outlook for 2026 remains strong despite rising geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges, with 72.6% of advisors expecting an increase in deal flow [5] - Geopolitical factors have overtaken inflation as the primary concern impacting business operations, marking a significant shift in advisor sentiment [5] M&A Market Trends - A 6.4% year-over-year decline in expected M&A deal flow is noted, yet optimism persists among investment bankers [5] - Interest rate cuts in various regions have kept the private equity M&A outlook elevated, with 45.3% of bankers expecting an increase in sponsor dealmaking [5] - Market volatility and economic uncertainty are seen as the top factors delaying deal closings, with 56.6% of advisors highlighting this concern [5] Deal Characteristics and Valuations - Advisors anticipate a rise in global expansion (+7.8% YOY) and vertical integration (+5.1% YOY) deals, while expectations for recapitalizations (-12% YOY) and capital raises (-10.7% YOY) have decreased [5] - 66% of investment bankers indicate that recurring revenue will be the most important characteristic for acquirers in 2026 [5] - 25.5% of advisors expect M&A transaction multiples to moderately rise, while 66% foresee little to no change in multiples [5] Seller Considerations - Realistic deal valuations are identified as crucial for sellers to achieve successful M&A transactions, aligning with 48.1% of advisors who believe excessive valuation expectations may hinder deal closings [5]

Core Viewpoint - Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) is experiencing underperformance in its stock relative to the broader market, despite showing some positive operational metrics in its recent earnings report [2][4]. Company Overview - Huntington Bancshares is an Ohio-based regional bank holding company that operates primarily through The Huntington National Bank, offering a variety of financial services including consumer, commercial, and mortgage banking, as well as wealth management and insurance [1]. Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, HBAN stock has declined marginally, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by 15%. In the last six months, HBAN shares have risen by 2.5%, compared to a 9.2% return for the S&P 500 [2]. - HBAN has also underperformed the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF), which returned 3.3% over the past year, although it outperformed the ETF's slight decline over the last six months [3]. Recent Earnings Report - On January 22, shares of Huntington Bancshares fell nearly 6% following the release of Q4 FY2025 earnings. The company reported an adjusted EPS of $0.37, which was slightly lower than the previous quarter but higher than the same period last year, indicating improving profitability [4]. - Net interest income increased by $197 million, or 14% year-over-year, reflecting strong balance-sheet growth. Noninterest income also rose by 4% annually to $582 million, despite some sequential softness [4]. Lending Activity - Lending activity remained strong, with average loans and leases increasing by 14% to $146.6 billion, demonstrating sustained demand across key segments [5]. - The quarter marked the successful completion of the Veritex integration, and management has reaffirmed its expansion strategy through a pending partnership with Cadence Bank, positioning Huntington for accelerated growth despite short-term market volatility [5]. Future Earnings Expectations - For the current fiscal year ending in December 2026, analysts project HBAN's EPS to grow by 11.4% year-over-year to $1.66. The company has a promising earnings surprise history, having beaten or matched bottom-line estimates in three of the past four quarters, although it missed in the previous quarter [6].

Index Changes - S&P Dow Jones Indices will implement changes to the S&P MidCap 400 and S&P SmallCap 600 indices effective January 30 and February 2, 2026 [1][3] - TTM Technologies (TTMI) will be added to the S&P MidCap 400, replacing Civitas Resources (CIVI), which is being acquired by SM Energy [1][3] - Amneal Pharmaceuticals (AMRX) will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600, replacing TTM Technologies [1][3] - Dutch Bros (BROS), Advanced Energy Industries (AEIS), and American Healthcare REIT (AHR) will be added to the S&P MidCap 400 on February 2, 2026, with Comerica (CMA), Cadence Bank (CADE), and PotlatchDeltic (PCH) being removed [1][3] - Apellis Pharmaceuticals (APLS) and LegalZoom.com (LZ) will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600, replacing Advanced Energy Industries and Elme Communities (ELME), respectively [1][3] Acquisition Details - SM Energy is acquiring Civitas Resources, and the deal is expected to close soon, with SM Energy remaining in the S&P SmallCap 600 post-merger [3] - Rayonier is acquiring PotlatchDeltic, and will remain in the S&P MidCap 400 after the merger [3] - Fifth Third Bancorp is acquiring Comerica, which will also remain in the S&P MidCap 400 post-acquisition [3] - Huntington Bancshares is acquiring Cadence Bank, with Cadence being removed from the S&P MidCap 400 [3] - Elme Communities is undergoing liquidation activities, making it no longer suitable for the S&P SmallCap 600 [3]

Core Viewpoint - Huntington Bancshares reported disappointing Q4 2025 results, missing revenue and EPS estimates, which led to a 6.02% decline in stock price, raising concerns about future profitability due to higher expenses and credit provisions [1][4]. Financial Performance - The bank's revenue grew by 12% in Q4, but EPS decreased, falling short of analysts' expectations [4]. - The criticized asset ratio increased from 3.79% to 4.23% quarter over quarter, indicating rising credit concerns [4]. - Management anticipates a 10% rise in expenses for 2026 due to pending acquisitions, negatively impacting market sentiment [4]. Growth Prospects - Despite recent challenges, management projects positive growth in key areas: net interest income, loans, deposits, and fee revenue are expected to rise by 11.5%, 11.5%, 8.5%, and 14.5% at the midpoint, respectively [5]. - Full synergies from the Vertex acquisition are expected by Q2 and from the Cadence acquisition by Q4, suggesting potential for successful expansion into the Southern U.S. market [5]. Market Context - Trading volume for Huntington Bancshares reached 86.2 million shares, significantly above the three-month average of 28.4 million shares, indicating heightened investor interest or concern [2]. - The broader market saw the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite increase by 0.54% and 0.91%, respectively, while other regional banks like Fifth Third Bancorp and KeyCorp also faced declines [3].

Core Viewpoint - Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 37 cents, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 39 cents, while the prior-year quarter EPS was 34 cents [1][9] Financial Performance - The company’s net income attributable to common shareholders (GAAP basis) was $519 million for the quarter, down from $530 million in the prior-year quarter [2] - For the full year 2025, EPS was $1.39, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.49, but showing improvement from $1.22 in 2024 [3] - Total quarterly revenues increased 11.3% year over year to $2.19 billion, although it missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.20 billion [4] - Full-year revenues aggregated to $8.23 billion, up 10.7% year over year, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.21 billion [4] Income and Expenses - Net interest income (NII) on a fully taxable-equivalent (FTE) basis was $1.61 billion, up 14.2% from the prior-year quarter, driven by a rise in average earning assets and net interest margin (NIM), which increased by 12 basis points to 3.15% [5] - Non-interest income rose 4.1% year over year to $582 million, while non-interest expenses surged 20.5% year over year to $1.42 billion, primarily due to increases in almost all cost components [5][9] - The efficiency ratio was 64.2%, up from 58.6% in the year-ago quarter, indicating a decline in profitability [6] Loans and Deposits - As of December 31, 2025, average loans and leases increased 7.8% sequentially to $146.6 billion, and average total deposits rose 5.1% sequentially to $173.2 billion [7] Credit Quality - Net charge-offs were $89 million, down from $97 million in the prior-year quarter, while the allowance for credit losses increased 12.1% to $2.74 billion [8][10] - Total non-performing assets were $945 million as of December 31, 2025, up 14.9% from the prior-year quarter [8] Capital Ratios - The common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 10.4%, down from 10.5% in the year-ago period, while the regulatory Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio increased to 12% from 11.9% [11] Recent Developments - Huntington Bancshares secured regulatory and shareholder approvals for a $7.4 billion all-stock acquisition of Cadence Bank, expected to close on February 1, 2026, which will expand its presence across 21 states [12] - The company completed a $1.9 billion all-stock merger with Veritex Holdings Inc. in October 2025, enhancing its footprint in key Texas markets [13] Strategic Outlook - The company’s inorganic expansion efforts are anticipated to support revenue growth in the near term, with a focus on strengthening commercial banking capabilities and expanding in key growth markets [14]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, earnings per common share was $0.30, and on an adjusted basis, EPS was $0.37, reflecting a 9% year-over-year increase [17] - Revenue growth for 2025 was 11%, with adjusted EPS growth at 16% and 290 basis points of positive operating leverage [7][17] - Average loans grew 14.4% year-over-year, with organic loan growth of $10.1 billion, exceeding the $9.5 billion added through the Veritex partnership [17][19] - Average deposits increased 5.1% quarter-over-quarter and 8.6% year-over-year, with core deposits growing $5.5 billion year-over-year [19][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumer banking saw a 4% year-over-year increase in primary bank relationships, while business banking grew by 7% [8] - New initiatives contributed $1.8 billion to loan growth, with significant contributions from Texas and North and South Carolina expansions [17][18] - Fee income from payments grew 5%, with commercial payment revenues up 8% year-over-year, and wealth management grew 10% [22][24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expanded its consumer and regional banking presence to 21 states, focusing on fast-growing markets [4][5] - The partnership with Veritex and Cadence is expected to enhance market growth and customer share in Texas and other new markets [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to become the leading people-first, customer-centered bank, leveraging a differentiated operating model [4][5] - Strategic investments in branch build-out, new commercial verticals, and fintech solutions are designed to enhance long-term growth [9][10] - The focus remains on organic growth, customer relationship deepening, and expanding wallet share while maintaining a moderate to low-risk profile [5][8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the sustainability of growth targets, emphasizing the effectiveness of their operating model and investments [34] - The outlook for 2026 includes expectations for net interest income growth between 10% and 13%, supported by loan and deposit growth [29][30] - Management anticipates continued strong performance in fee revenues, projecting growth between 13% and 16% [30] Other Important Information - The company achieved a 19% year-over-year increase in tangible book value while returning 40% of earnings through dividends [27] - Credit quality remains strong, with net charge-offs at 24 basis points and a criticized asset ratio of 4.2% [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on expense trajectory and cost savings - Management indicated that underlying expense growth is expected in the mid-single digits, with a focus on positive operating leverage [41][42] Question: Partnership approach and revenue synergies - The partnership model has allowed for quicker decision-making and greater certainty for employees, enhancing the potential for cost and revenue synergies [46][47] Question: Expected first quarter expenses - Management refrained from providing specific quarterly guidance but emphasized the importance of positive operating leverage [52][53] Question: Revenue-producing initiatives in expense guidance - Very little of the revenue synergies are included in the current guidance, with more details expected in future updates [55][56] Question: Credit guidance and seasoning of loans - Management confirmed that while seasoning is a factor, the overall credit performance has been exceptional, with expectations for 2026 in the lower end of the guidance range [86]