Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) Sees Strong Trading Volume

Regions Financial Co. (NYSE:RF) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Friday . Approximately 2,669,322 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 69% from the previous session’s volume of 8,515,249 shares.The stock last traded at $18.48 and had previously closed at $19.00.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on RF. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on Regions Financial from $21.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Friday, April 5th. Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $21.00 price objective on shares of Regions Financial in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Regions Financial from $21.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Regions Financial from $19.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of Regions Financial from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $20.00 to $23.00 in a report on Monday, March 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $20.39.

Regions Financial Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $17.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.04, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The company’s fifty day moving average is $19.32 and its 200 day moving average is $18.00.

Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) last posted its earnings results on Friday, April 19th. The bank reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.45 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $1.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.75 billion. Regions Financial had a return on equity of 14.50% and a net margin of 22.66%. The company’s revenue was down 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.62 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Regions Financial Co. will post 1.98 earnings per share for the current year.

Regions Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 3rd will be paid a $0.24 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 31st. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.08%. Regions Financial’s dividend payout ratio is currently 45.93%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Regions Financial

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of RF. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC purchased a new stake in Regions Financial in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Regions Financial in the first quarter worth $26,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Regions Financial by 86.5% in the fourth quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,399 shares of the bank’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 649 shares during the period. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Regions Financial in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC boosted its stake in Regions Financial by 103.2% during the fourth quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 1,477 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 750 shares during the period. 79.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Regions Financial

Regions Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and bank-related services to individual and corporate customers. It operates through three segments: Corporate Bank, Consumer Bank, and Wealth Management. The Corporate Bank segment offers commercial banking services, such as commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, and investor real estate lending; equipment lease financing; deposit products; and securities underwriting and placement, loan syndication and placement, foreign exchange, derivatives, merger and acquisition, and other advisory services.