Deutsche Bank Raises 3 Top Banks to Buy After Recent Sell-Off

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By Lee Jackson Published
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As bad as harsh sell-offs can be, they do serve at least one good purpose. Top stocks get hammered along with momentum leaders, and prices become very reasonable again. A new report from Deutsche Bank says that the sell-off in high-quality financial stocks is putting some of the very best on sale. The Deutsche Bank team is focused on what they call “higher quality large regional banks.” They upgraded three banks to a rating of Buy from Hold.

PNC Financial Services

This top regional bank is down over 10% in the past month. The PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: PNC) is one of the largest U.S. diversified financial services organizations providing retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. With consistent earnings growth and a very positive and growing loan portfolio, the company is a premiere super-regional bank stock to own.

The Deutsche Bank team highlights numerous positives, including the bank implementing huge cost savings plans. They note the fact the bank pointed to up to $100 million of new saving on the second-quarter earnings conference call. They also cite the bank’s outstanding credit/risk management and the limited exposure to the capital markets related areas.

PNC shareholders receive a very solid 2.3% dividend. The Deutsche Bank price target for the stock is $105, while the Thomson/First Call consensus target is $102.55. Shares closed Tuesday at $90.98.

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U.S. Bancorp

This is another top regional bank that took a beating in the recent downturn, dropping over 15% at one point. U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) has $419 billion in assets as of June 30, 2015, and is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States. The company operates 3,164 banking offices in 25 states and 5,020 ATMs, and it provides a comprehensive line of banking, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions.

The analysts at Deutsche Bank note that the bank has underperformed other, larger regional banks over concerns about lower revenue and higher expenses. They also point to the fact that U.S. Bancorp has no meaningful capital markets exposure, has among the best risk management/credit profile in the industry and generates the highest returns of its peers.

USB investors are paid a very solid 2.5% dividend. The Deutsche Bank price target is $47, and the consensus price objective is $47.54. Shares closed most recently at $41.43.

Wells Fargo

While more than a super-regional, this top bank was also upgraded at Deutsche Bank. Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) may see a solid benefit when yields start moving higher. In the meantime, the analysts like the bank’s diverse business model, which protects against current low rates. Wells Fargo has slowly, but surely, become one of the biggest mortgage lending companies in the United States, in addition to its normal banking and brokerage businesses. An increase in commercial real estate lending could really boost the bank’s bottom line, which some on Wall Street feel could aid a big return in capital to shareholders. The stock remains a top Warren Buffett holding.

The Deutsche Bank team points to the potential for cost savings and note that the bank’s excess liquidity provides flexibility to take advantage of higher rates, and the exposure to capital markets is less than comparable market sensitive banks/brokers. They also think that third-quarter interest income could be better than expected.

Wells Fargo investors are paid a generous 2.9% dividend. The Deutsche Bank price target is $60, and the consensus is set lower at $59.81. The stock closed on Tuesday at $52.93.

ALSO READ: 3 Stocks to Buy That Got Hit Despite Great Earnings and Prospects

These top bank stocks provide very solid total return potential. More conservative accounts looking to add new positions may be well served buying any of the three.

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About the Author Lee Jackson →

Lee Jackson has covered Wall Street analysts' equity and debt research and equity strategy daily for 24/7 Wall St. since 2012. His broad and diverse career, which included a stint as the creative services director at the NBC affiliate in Austin, Texas, gives him unique insight into the financial industry and world.

Lee Jackson's journey in the financial industry spans over 30 years, with nearly two decades as an institutional equity salesperson at Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and Morgan Stanley. His career was marked by his presence on the sell side during pivotal Wall Street events, from the dot.com rise and bubble to the Long Term Capital Management debacle, 9/11, and the Great Recession of 2008. This is a testament to his resilience and adaptability in the face of market volatility.

Lee Jackson’s practical financial industry experience, acquired from a career at some of the biggest banks and brokerage firms, is complemented by a lifetime of writing on various platforms. This unique combination allows him to shed light on the intricacies and workings of Wall Street in a way that only someone with deep insider experience and knowledge can. Moreover, his extensive network across Wall Street continues to provide direct access for him and 24/7 Wall St., a privilege few firms enjoy.

Since 2012, Jackson’s work for 24/7 Wall St. has been featured in Barron’s, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, Business Insider, TradingView, Real Money, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Benzinga, and other media outlets. He attended the prestigious Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and has a degree in broadcasting from the Specs Howard School of Media Arts.

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