Which Bank Stock to Buy Post Q4 Earnings: Bank of America or Truist?

Core Insights - Bank of America (BAC) and Truist Financial (TFC) reported solid fourth-quarter 2025 results with year-over-year growth in earnings and revenues, prompting a comparison of their investment potential post-earnings [2] Group 1: Bank of America (BAC) - BAC is expected to see net interest income (NII) growth of approximately 5-7% in 2026, driven by asset repricing, loan and deposit growth, and technological efficiency [3][11] - The bank plans to expand its financial center network by opening over 150 centers by 2027, enhancing customer relationships and tapping into new markets [4] - BAC's non-interest income streams, including asset management fees and investment banking, showed positive momentum and are expected to continue in 2026 [5] - The bank's return on equity (ROE) stands at 11.07%, indicating efficient use of shareholder funds [21] - Following the 2025 stress test, BAC raised its dividend by 8% to 28 cents per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.15% [17] Group 2: Truist Financial (TFC) - TFC expects NII growth of 3-4% in 2026, supported by average loan growth and fixed-rate asset repricing [10][11] - The company announced a growth plan to open 100 new branches and renovate over 300 existing locations by 2030, focusing on enhancing its digital capabilities [8] - TFC's ROE is lower at 9.03%, reflecting less efficient use of shareholder funds compared to BAC [21] - TFC maintains a higher dividend yield of 4.14%, with its dividend payout remaining at 52 cents per share [17] Group 3: Comparative Analysis - Over the past six months, BAC shares have risen by 11.3%, outperforming TFC's 7.9% increase [13] - In terms of valuation, TFC is trading at a forward P/E of 11.11X, while BAC is at 11.94X, indicating TFC is trading at a discount [16][17] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates BAC's earnings growth of 13.1% and 14.4% for 2026 and 2027, respectively, while TFC's growth is estimated at 13.4% and 12.1% [23][26] - Overall, BAC is viewed as better positioned for long-term growth due to its scale, diversified income streams, and ongoing expansion strategy, despite TFC's higher dividend yield [29][30]