Is Huntington Bancshares Stock Underperforming the Dow?

Core Viewpoint - Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) is a regional financial services company with a market cap of $24.8 billion, offering a range of retail, commercial, and wealth management services primarily in the Midwest [1]. Company Overview - HBAN is classified as a "large-cap" stock due to its valuation exceeding $10 billion, and it has a strong digital presence along with an extensive branch network [2]. Stock Performance - HBAN shares have decreased by 2.6% from their 52-week high of $18.03 and have underperformed the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which rose by 5.6% over the past three months [3]. - Year-to-date, HBAN stock is up 7.9%, lagging behind the Dow's 13% gain, and has increased by 1.9% over the past 52 weeks compared to the Dow's 8.6% return [4]. - The stock has been trading above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages since late November, indicating a recent uptrend [4]. Recent Developments - On December 10, HBAN shares rose over 3% following the announcement of a reduction in its prime rate from 7% to 6.75%, effective December 11, 2025, after a previous cut on October 30 [5]. - In contrast, rival Regions Financial Corporation (RF) has seen a significant improvement of 16.4% in 2025 and 8.1% over the past year, outperforming HBAN [5]. Analyst Sentiment - Despite the stock's underperformance, analysts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook on HBAN, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from 23 analysts and a mean price target of $19.84, representing a 13% premium to current levels [6].