Banner (BANR) Could Be a Great Choice

Company Overview - Banner (BANR) is based in Walla Walla and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of 3.08% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.50 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.1%, which is higher than the Financial - Savings and Loan industry's yield of 2.61% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.34% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of $2.00 represents a 3.1% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the last five years, Banner has increased its dividend two times on a year-over-year basis, achieving an average annual increase of 4.50% [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 35%, indicating that it pays out 35% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year, Banner expects solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 projected at $5.84 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 2.46% [5] Investment Considerations - Banner is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile and current Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [6] - The company is positioned as a strong dividend play, particularly appealing to income investors who seek consistent cash flow from their investments [6]