Zions Bancorp’s (ZION) Case for Regional Bank Upside

Core Viewpoint - Zions Bancorporation, National Association (NASDAQ:ZION) is considered one of the best financial stocks to buy, with analysts predicting solid upside potential for regional banks in 2026 due to favorable economic drivers [1]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - JPMorgan analyst Anthony Elian maintained a Neutral rating on Zions Bancorporation and raised the price target to $67 from $62, citing solid upside potential for regional banks [1]. - Evercore ISI increased its price target for Zions Bancorporation to $65 from $61 while maintaining an Outperform rating, following an investor meeting with the bank's management [2]. Group 2: Management and Growth Strategies - Zions' management is focused on creating significant operating leverage in 2026, with potential share buybacks and accelerated balance-sheet growth driven by increasing commercial loan and SBA trends [3]. - Zions Bancorporation is a Utah-based regional bank that provides a range of services including commercial and small business banking, retail banking, investment banking, real estate financing, and wealth management [3].