You Can Do Way Better Than Truist Financial Stock. Buy and Hold This Forever, Instead.

Core Viewpoint - Truist, formed from the merger of BB&T and SunTrust in 2019, has struggled to achieve promised efficiencies and returns, with stock performance reflecting investor dissatisfaction [2][9]. Company Overview - Truist was established through the merger of two regional banks, BB&T and SunTrust, which had assets between $200 billion and $230 billion at the time of the merger announcement [7]. - The merger aimed to create a new brand and deliver best-in-class efficiency and returns [1]. Performance Metrics - Truist's initial promises included an efficiency ratio of 51% and a return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) of 22%. However, the bank's recent performance showed an adjusted efficiency ratio of 55.7% and an ROTCE of 13.6% [8]. - Over the past five years, Truist's stock has only increased by approximately 7%, indicating underperformance compared to market expectations [2]. Challenges of Mergers - Mergers in the banking sector often face challenges such as destroying tangible book value (TBV) and the complexities of integrating different corporate cultures and legacy systems [4][6]. - Regulatory and execution risks are significant, and revenue synergies may not always materialize as anticipated [6]. Comparison with Competitors - Bank of America is highlighted as a more favorable investment option, boasting a ROTCE of over 15.4% and a strong retail deposit base [11]. - Despite being more expensive on a price-to-tangible book basis, Bank of America is seen as a safer bet due to its diversified services and potential for growth [12]. Future Outlook - Bank of America is expected to recover its TBV as low-yielding bonds mature and is positioned to benefit from deregulation, which may enhance lending capacity and shareholder distributions [14].