Core Viewpoint - Heritage Financial Corporation is a regional bank showing signs of potential recovery and maintaining a stable consensus price target, reflecting analysts' confidence in its performance and growth potential [2][6]. Company Overview - Heritage Financial Corporation, trading on NASDAQ under the symbol HFWA, is based in Olympia, Washington, providing a range of financial services including personal and business banking, mortgage lending, and wealth management [1]. Price Target and Analyst Sentiment - Analysts have maintained a stable consensus price target for HFWA at $29 over the past month and quarter, up from $27.5 a year ago, indicating steady confidence in the company's performance [2]. - Analyst Gordon McGuire from Stephens has set a lower price target of $26, suggesting a more cautious outlook despite the overall stability [2][5]. Earnings Performance - In Q2 2025, Heritage Financial reported earnings of $0.53 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.50 and improving from $0.45 per share in the same quarter last year, showcasing a strong track record of exceeding expectations [4][6]. - The upcoming third-quarter earnings report, scheduled for October 23, 2025, is highly anticipated, with expectations of earnings growth and potential for another earnings beat [3][5]. Technical Indicators - A hammer chart pattern indicates support for the stock, alongside upward trends in earnings estimate revisions, suggesting a possible trend reversal [3].

Core Viewpoint - Zions Bancorporation is facing significant challenges due to a $50 million loan default, which has negatively impacted its stock price and raised concerns about the broader banking sector's stability [2][3][4] Company Overview - Zions Bancorporation provides a range of financial services, including commercial and retail banking, mortgage lending, and investment services [1] - The company is set to release its quarterly earnings on October 20, 2025, with analysts estimating earnings per share of $1.46 and projected revenue of approximately $841.5 million [1] Recent Developments - The $50 million loan write-down has led to a sharp decline in Zions' stock price, dropping over 11% following the announcement [3][4] - This loan default has contributed to a broader market retreat, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping by 301 points (0.65%) and the S&P 500 declining by 0.63% [2][4] Financial Metrics - Zions' price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is approximately 8.18, and the price-to-sales ratio is about 1.39 [5] - The enterprise value to sales ratio stands at around 2.30, and the enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio is approximately 15.15 [5] - The company has an earnings yield of about 12.23%, a debt-to-equity ratio of approximately 1.07, and a current ratio of around 0.15 [5]

Group 1 - Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) is recommended as a strong investment opportunity due to favorable conditions in the banking sector, particularly with the recent decrease in short-term interest rates and the potential for long-term rates to rise [1] - The strategy of banks, including Wells Fargo, involves borrowing at lower short-term rates and lending at higher long-term rates, making them attractive when short rates decline [1] - The stock is currently trading around the $82 range, and there is an indication that it remains a viable option for investors who do not currently own it [1] Group 2 - Wells Fargo is identified as a global financial services firm that offers a range of services including banking, investment products, and mortgage lending [2]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to help investors identify stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market in the short term [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - The Style Scores consist of four categories: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score, each focusing on different investment strategies [3][4][5][6] - Value Score emphasizes finding undervalued stocks based on financial ratios [3] - Growth Score assesses a company's future growth potential through earnings and sales projections [4] - Momentum Score identifies trends in stock prices and earnings estimates to optimize entry points [5] - VGM Score combines all three styles to highlight stocks with the best overall characteristics [6] Zacks Rank and Style Scores Interaction - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to guide investment decisions, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks historically yielding an average annual return of +23.75% since 1988 [7] - The combination of Zacks Rank and Style Scores helps investors select stocks with the highest probability of success [9] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B are recommended for maximizing returns [9][10] Company Spotlight: Webster Financial Corporation - Webster Financial Corporation, based in Stanford, CT, operates through Webster Bank and HSA Bank, offering a range of financial services [11] - The company holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a VGM Score of B, indicating strong investment potential [11] - Webster Financial's Value Style Score is B, supported by a forward P/E ratio of 9.67, making it attractive to value investors [12] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates by nine analysts have increased the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 by $0.15 to $5.86 per share, with an average earnings surprise of +1.6% [12]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools to help investors make informed decisions and enhance their confidence in the stock market [1] - The Zacks Style Scores provide a unique rating system for stocks based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, aiding investors in selecting securities with high potential for market outperformance [2][3] Zacks Style Scores - Stocks are rated from A to F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [3] - The Value Score identifies attractive stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales, focusing on undervalued stocks [3] - The Growth Score evaluates stocks based on projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to find those with sustainable growth [4] - The Momentum Score helps investors capitalize on price trends, using factors like one-week price change and monthly earnings estimate changes [5] - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors seeking value, growth, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to simplify portfolio building [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically produced an average annual return of +23.62% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] - There are over 800 stocks rated 1 or 2, making it essential for investors to utilize Style Scores to narrow down choices [9] Investment Strategy - For optimal returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [10] - Stocks with a 3 (Hold) rank should also have A or B Scores to maximize upside potential [10] - The direction of earnings estimate revisions is crucial; stocks with lower ranks and declining forecasts pose higher risks [11] Company Spotlight: Webster Financial (WBS) - Webster Financial Corporation, based in Stanford, CT, operates through three segments, providing various banking and financial services [12] - Currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of B, WBS has a Momentum Style Score of A and has seen a 17% increase in shares over the past four weeks [12][13] - Recent earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.07 to $5.78 per share, alongside an average earnings surprise of +1.6% [13]

Group 1: Zacks Premium Overview - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence, including daily updates on Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, access to the Zacks 1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens [1] Group 2: Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators designed to help investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market within 30 days, rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum [2] - The Style Scores consist of four categories: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score, each focusing on different investment strategies [3][4][5][6] Group 3: Value Score - The Value Score identifies attractive and discounted stocks using ratios such as P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow, appealing to value investors [3] Group 4: Growth Score - The Growth Score evaluates stocks based on projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow, targeting growth investors interested in sustainable long-term growth [4] Group 5: Momentum Score - The Momentum Score assists investors in capitalizing on price trends by analyzing one-week price changes and monthly earnings estimate changes [5] Group 6: VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors who utilize multiple investment strategies [6] Group 7: Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7][8] Group 8: Stock Analysis - First Horizon National (FHN) - First Horizon Corporation, based in Memphis, TN, offers diversified financial services through its subsidiary First Horizon Bank, including regional banking, mortgage lending, and wealth management [11] - FHN holds a 3 (Hold) Zacks Rank with a VGM Score of B, and a Momentum Style Score of B, having increased by 11.7% over the past four weeks [12] - Analysts have revised FHN's earnings estimate higher for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising by $0.04 to $1.71 per share, and an average earnings surprise of 6.5% [12]