Core Viewpoint - Huntington Bancshares and Cadence Bank have received shareholder approval for their merger, which is a significant step towards finalizing the deal valued at $7.4 billion [1][2][4] Group 1: Merger Details - The merger agreement, announced in October 2025, involves Huntington Bancshares acquiring Cadence Bank, which has reported $53 billion in assets [1] - The deal is expected to be finalized on February 1, 2026, contingent upon the resolution or waiver of all outstanding closing conditions [2] - Cadence shareholders will receive 2.475 shares of Huntington's common stock for each share of Cadence [2] Group 2: Leadership Statements - Huntington Bancshares' CEO Steve Steinour emphasized the importance of shareholder approval as a milestone in the merger process, highlighting the potential for growth in shareholder value [2][3] - Cadence Bank's CEO Dan Rollins expressed satisfaction with the shareholder support, noting the expanded capabilities and expertise that the merger will bring to Cadence's customers [4] Group 3: Future Plans - Following the merger, Cadence's branches are set to adopt the Huntington name in the second quarter of 2026, indicating a planned integration of operations post-merger [3]

Core Viewpoint - The merger between Huntington Bancshares and Cadence Bank has received shareholder approval, marking a significant step towards the completion of the transaction, which is expected to close on February 1, 2026 [1][2]. Company Overview Huntington Bancshares - Huntington Bancshares is a regional bank holding company with assets totaling $223 billion, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. It offers a wide range of banking, payments, wealth management, and risk management services [3]. - The company operates over 1,000 branches across 14 states, providing services to consumers, small and middle-market businesses, corporations, and municipalities [3]. Cadence Bank - Cadence Bank is a regional bank with assets of $53 billion, focused on supporting individuals, businesses, and communities. It has more than 390 locations primarily in the South and Texas [4]. - The bank has been recognized as one of the best employers and as one of America's Best Banks by Forbes, highlighting its commitment to customer service and community engagement [4]. Merger Details - Shareholders from both Huntington and Cadence have overwhelmingly approved the merger, which aims to enhance capabilities and expand the footprint of both banks [2]. - The merger is anticipated to create significant opportunities for growth in shareholder value and improve service offerings to customers [2].

Core Viewpoint - Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is set to release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results on January 22, 2026, prior to market opening, with a conference call scheduled for 9 a.m. ET to discuss the results [1]. Group 1: Financial Results Announcement - The fourth quarter 2025 financial results will be available in the Investor Relations section of the company's website [1]. - A conference call will be held to review the quarterly financial results, accessible via a live Internet webcast or through a dial-in telephone number [2]. Group 2: Conference Call Details - The conference call can be accessed through a live Internet webcast or by dialing (877) 407-8029 or (201) 689-8029, with conference ID 13757925 [2]. - A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after its completion until January 30, 2026 [3]. Group 3: Company Overview - Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a regional bank holding company with $223 billion in assets, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio [4]. - The company provides a comprehensive suite of banking, payments, wealth management, and risk management products and services to various clients, including consumers and businesses [4]. - Huntington operates over 1,000 branches across 14 states, with some services extending to broader geographies [4].

Group 1 - Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ:HBAN) is recognized as one of the top cheap stocks under $20 to buy now, following the approval of its merger with Cadence Bank by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency [1] - The merger with Cadence Bank, a $53 billion regional bank, is expected to close on February 1, 2026, pending shareholder approvals and customary closing conditions [2] - RBC Capital has raised the price target for Huntington Bancshares to $20 from $19, maintaining an Outperform rating, highlighting management's consistency and strong performance expectations from recent acquisitions [3] Group 2 - Huntington Bancshares operates as a bank holding company providing full-service commercial and consumer banking services, divided into Consumer and Regional Banking and Commercial Banking segments [4]

Core Insights - Merger and acquisition activity among banks significantly increased in 2025, with over 170 deals announced, marking a rise of more than one-third from 2024 and nearly 80% from 2023 [6][3] - The total value of these deals reached approximately $47 billion, indicating a trend towards larger valuations compared to previous years [3][2] - A more favorable regulatory environment and expedited deal approval processes are expected to encourage further acquisitions in 2026 [6] Deal Highlights - Capital One Financial completed its acquisition of Discover Financial Services for $51.8 billion, creating a major player in the credit card market [4] - Fifth Third Bancorp's proposed acquisition of Comerica is set to create the ninth-largest U.S. commercial bank with $288 billion in assets, aiming for a close in Q1 2026 [8] - Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus Financial announced a merger of equals valued at $8.6 billion, expected to close on January 1, 2026 [14] - Huntington Bancshares is acquiring Cadence Bank for $7.4 billion, enhancing its presence in Texas and Southern markets, with a closing date anticipated around February 1, 2026 [20] - PNC Financial Services Group's purchase of FirstBank Holding Company for $4.1 billion is expected to close on January 5, 2026, significantly expanding PNC's footprint in Colorado [25] Market Reactions - Despite the increase in deal activity, not all transactions have been well-received by the market, with some leading to declines in stock prices for the involved banks [5] - The merger of Pinnacle and Synovus initially caused a 10% drop in stock prices due to concerns over the performance of mergers of equals [16] - PNC's stock experienced a 10% dip following the announcement of its acquisition of FirstBank, although it has since recovered [28]

Group 1 - Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) and Cadence Bank (CADE) have received approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for their proposed merger, with The Huntington National Bank as the surviving entity [1] - All necessary regulatory approvals for the Huntington-Cadence transaction have been obtained, paving the way for the merger [1] - The merger is anticipated to close on February 1, 2026, contingent upon shareholder approvals and the fulfillment or waiver of customary closing conditions outlined in the merger agreement [1]

Core Insights - Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) has received regulatory approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to proceed with its merger of Cadence Bank (CADE), with the transaction expected to close on February 1, 2026, pending shareholder approvals and customary closing conditions [1][10] Financial Details - The merger is structured as a 100% stock transaction valued at approximately $7.4 billion, where HBAN will issue 2.475 shares of common stock for each outstanding share of CADE common stock [2][10] - The deal is anticipated to be 10% accretive to Huntington's earnings per share, although it is projected to be modestly dilutive to regulatory capital at closing and 7% dilutive to tangible book value per share, with the dilution expected to be recovered within three years [3] Strategic Rationale - The merger will add over 390 Cadence branches, positioning the combined bank as the fifth-largest by deposit market share in Dallas and Houston, and eighth statewide in Texas [4] - Huntington is expected to enter the top 10 banks by deposits in Alabama and Arkansas, enhancing its competitive positioning in these growing regions [4] Geographic Expansion - The acquisition significantly broadens Huntington's geographic reach beyond its Midwest base, allowing it to operate across 21 states and maintain a presence in 12 of the 25 largest U.S. metropolitan areas [5][10] Inorganic Growth Strategy - Huntington has been expanding its footprint through a series of acquisitions, including the planned acquisition of advisory and trading units from Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, which will enhance its advisory and capital markets capabilities [6] - Previous acquisitions, such as Veritex Holdings, Capstone Partners, and the merger with TCF Financial, have also contributed to Huntington's growth and operational efficiency [7][8][9] Market Performance - Over the past six months, shares of Huntington have increased by 10.2%, outperforming the industry growth of 7.9% [11]

This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter. Huntington Bank’s $7.4 billion acquisition of Cadence Bank received approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Columbus, Ohio-based lender disclosed Monday. That marks the last regulatory green light needed for the transaction, which is expected to close Feb. 1, Huntington said. The timeline meets the bank’s initial projection that the deal wou ...

Core Viewpoint - Huntington Bancshares Incorporated and Cadence Bank have received all necessary regulatory approvals for their merger, which is set to close on February 1, 2026, pending shareholder approvals and customary closing conditions [2]. Company Overview Huntington Bancshares Incorporated - Huntington is a regional bank holding company with assets totaling $223 billion, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. It offers a wide range of banking, payments, wealth management, and risk management services [3]. - The company operates over 1,000 branches across 14 states, serving consumers, small and middle-market businesses, corporations, and municipalities [3]. Cadence Bank - Cadence Bank is a regional bank with assets of $53 billion, operating more than 390 locations primarily in the South and Texas. It provides comprehensive banking, investment, trust, and mortgage services [4]. - The bank has been recognized as one of the nation's best employers and as one of America's Best Banks for 2025 by Forbes [4].

Core Viewpoint - Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) is poised to report strong fourth-quarter results, with expectations of a significant year-over-year increase in adjusted earnings per share (EPS) and a positive outlook from analysts [2][3][6]. Financial Performance - For the fourth quarter, HBAN is expected to report an adjusted profit of $0.40 per share, reflecting a 17.7% increase from $0.34 per share in the same quarter last year [2]. - For the full fiscal year 2025, HBAN's adjusted EPS is projected to be $1.50, which is a 21% increase from $1.24 in 2024, with further growth expected in fiscal 2026 to $1.70 per share, a 13.3% year-over-year increase [3]. - The company's topline revenue for the recent quarter was $2 billion, marking a 13.8% year-over-year increase, while net income surged 25.2% year-over-year to $602 million, exceeding analysts' expectations [6]. Stock Performance - Over the past three months, HBAN's stock prices have increased by 10.6%, although this is lower than the S&P 500 Index's 15.4% rise and the Financial Services Select Sector SPDR Fund's 14.5% returns during the same period [4]. - Following the release of its Q3 results, HBAN's stock saw a slight uptick, supported by a 7.6% year-over-year growth in interest on loans and leases to $2.1 billion, and a 1.7% increase in overall interest income to $2.6 billion [5]. Analyst Sentiment - Analysts maintain a positive outlook on HBAN, with a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating among 23 analysts, which includes 16 "Strong Buys," one "Moderate Buy," five "Holds," and one "Strong Sell" [6]. - The mean price target for HBAN is $19.89, indicating a potential upside of 13.1% from current price levels [6].