Post-Rate Cut Rally: 3 Bank Stocks to Watch as They Hit New Highs

Group 1: Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve reduced its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.00-4.25%, marking the first reduction since December 2024 [1] - The Fed signaled two more rate cuts by the end of 2025, attributing the easing to a softening labor market rather than inflation pressures [1] Group 2: Impact on Banking Sector - Several U.S. banking stocks, including Citigroup, Bank of America, and Citizens Financial Group, reached new 52-week highs following the Fed's announcement [2] - Lower interest rates are expected to support net interest income (NII) growth, easing funding pressure for banks [3] - The improved lending backdrop and higher refinancing activity will help offset potential yield compression on loans and securities [3] - Increased borrowing and market liquidity are anticipated to drive higher deal volumes and trading opportunities, benefiting investment banking and trading businesses [3] Group 3: Citigroup Insights - Citigroup's NII has shown a three-year CAGR of 8.4% (ended 2024), with expectations for a 4% year-over-year increase in 2025 [5][12] - The company is streamlining consumer banking operations globally, exiting from nine countries to focus on wealth management and investment banking [6] - Citigroup projects a CAGR of 4-5% in revenues by the end of 2026, with expected annualized run rate savings of $2-2.5 billion by 2026 [7] Group 4: Bank of America Insights - Bank of America's NII has experienced a CAGR of 9.3% over the last three years, with management expecting a 6-7% year-over-year growth in 2025 [9][12] - The bank plans to open over 150 financial centers by 2027, with 40 expected to open this year, supporting NII and cross-selling opportunities [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bank of America's earnings implies year-over-year growth of 12.2% and 16.1% for 2025 and 2026, respectively [13] Group 5: Citizens Financial Insights - Citizens Financial's total revenues have shown a CAGR of 3% over the last four years, driven by NII and fee income [14] - The company expects NII to grow 3-5% and non-interest income to rise 8-10% year-over-year in 2025 [14][12] - Citizens Financial aims for a return on tangible equity of 16-18% and a net interest margin of 3.25-3.50% by 2027 [15]