Are Wall Street Analysts Bullish on Huntington Bancshares Stock?

Company Overview - Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) is a regional bank holding company based in Columbus, Ohio, providing a comprehensive range of banking services primarily in the U.S. Midwest and surrounding states, with a market capitalization of approximately $22.4 billion [1] Stock Performance - HBAN shares have underperformed the broader market, declining 3.1% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by 17.4%. Year-to-date, HBAN is down 6.3%, compared to the S&P 500's 16% return [2] - The stock has also lagged behind the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF), which has returned 10.8% over the past 52 weeks and 8.1% year-to-date [3] Recent Developments - The recent decline in HBAN stock is largely due to investor concerns regarding its $7.4 billion all-stock acquisition of Cadence Bank, which may lead to near-term dilution of tangible book value and a pause in share buybacks until the integration is completed [4] - Broader caution in the regional banking sector, driven by margin pressures, funding cost risks, and economic uncertainty, has negatively impacted sentiment towards HBAN, despite relatively stable fundamentals [5] Earnings Outlook - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, analysts project HBAN's earnings per share (EPS) to grow by 20.2% year-over-year to $1.49. The company has a strong earnings surprise history, having beaten or matched bottom-line estimates in the last four quarters [5] Analyst Ratings - Among 22 analysts covering HBAN, the consensus rating is a "Strong Buy," an upgrade from "Moderate Buy" two months ago. This rating is based on 16 "Strong Buy" ratings, one "Moderate Buy," four "Holds," and one "Strong Sell" [6] - The current analyst configuration is more bullish than two months ago, when 15 analysts had a "Strong Buy" rating [7]