Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ:WTFC) Bolsa

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORP

Wintrust Financial

Wintrust Finl

Wintrust Financial Corp is a financial holding company that provides community-oriented, personal, and commercial banking services to customers generally located in the Chicago metropolitan area, southern Wisconsin, northwest Indiana, and western Michigan. The company provides specialty finance services, including financing for the payment of property and casualty insurance premiums and life insurance premiums, and wealth management services to customers in its market area. The company's operations consist of three primary segments: community banking, specialty finance, and wealth management. The company generates the majority of its revenue from the community banking segment.

Wintrust Financial Corporation - Common Stock

Wintrust Financial Corp

Wintrust Financial Corporation - Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D

Wintrust Financial Corporation - Depositary Shares, Each Representing a 1/1,000th Interest in a Share of 6.875% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E

WIIM

FCNCA

GGAL

GSBC

HSBC

INDB

PNFP

SFBS

TCBI

UMBF

WSFS

WTFC

Shares of banking companies are trading lower in response to President Trump's sweeping Liberation tariffs and retaliatory responses. The industry is now facing greater macroeconomic uncertainty and recession fears.

BANC

EWBC

FITB

MUFG

SBCF

SMFG

TBBK

ZION

Shares of banking companies are trading lower as markets react to President Trump's announcement of sweeping tariffs.

Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 9.69% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 29.56%. Currently, Wintrust Financial has a market capitalization of $7.37 billion. 
Buying $1000 In WTFC: If an investor had bought $1000 of WTFC stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $3,697.57 today based on a price of $110.85 for WTFC at the time of writing.
<h3>Wintrust Financial's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742221810_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

News

Trading Ideas

If You Invested $1000 In This Stock 5 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today

Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 4.29% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 18.91%. Currently, Wintrust Finl has a market capitalization of $8.20 billion. 
Buying $1000 In WTFC: If an investor had bought $1000 of WTFC stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $2,224.77 today based on a price of $123.30 for WTFC at the time of writing.
<h3>Wintrust Finl's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1740674709_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 2.66% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 15.21%. Currently, Wintrust Finl has a market capitalization of $8.62 billion. 
Buying $100 In WTFC: If an investor had bought $100 of WTFC stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $204.08 today based on a price of $129.61 for WTFC at the time of writing.
<h3>Wintrust Finl's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738860385_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$100 Invested In Wintrust Finl 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

Wintrust Finl's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NYSE">WTFC</a>) short percent of float has risen 15.71% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 969 thousand shares sold short, which is 1.62% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.36 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Wintrust Finl Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738174516_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Wintrust Finl has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Wintrust Finl's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Wintrust Finl's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.05%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Peering Into Wintrust Finl's Recent Short Interest

Dividends

Wintrust Financial Corporation Increases Dividend From $0.45 To $0.50/Share

6 analysts have shared their evaluations of Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) during the recent three months, expressing a mix of bullish and bearish perspectives.
The table below summarizes their recent ratings, showcasing the evolving sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have recently evaluated Wintrust Finl and provided 12-month price targets. The average target is $153.5, accompanied by a high estimate of $157.00 and a low estimate of $150.00. This current average reflects an increase of 6.75% from the previous average price target of $143.80. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737658830_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Exploring Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Overview</h2>
An in-depth analysis of recent analyst actions unveils how financial experts perceive Wintrust Finl. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Karl Shepard</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$152.00</td>
<td>$152.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nathan Race</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$156.00</td>
<td>$151.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Long</td>
<td>Raymond James</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Strong Buy</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jared Shaw</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$151.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nicholas Holowko</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$157.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jared Shaw</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$151.00</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Wintrust Finl. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of Wintrust Finl compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts gauge the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Wintrust Finl's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Capture valuable insights into Wintrust Finl's market standing by understanding these analyst evaluations alongside pertinent financial indicators. Stay informed and make strategic decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WTFC/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Wintrust Finl analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>About Wintrust Finl</h2>
Wintrust Financial Corp is a financial holding company operating in the Chicago metropolitan area and southern Wisconsin through its wholly-owned banking subsidiaries. Wintrust conducts its business through three segments: community banking, specialty finance, and wealth management. Among other services, the company provides community-oriented, personal, and commercial banking, as well as the origination and purchase of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market. A majority of its banks are banks chartered by the state of Illinois with scores of locations. The company has historically grown through both de novo organization and acquisitions. A majority of its loan portfolio is commercial, mostly in real estate. A majority of Wintrust's net revenue is net interest income.
<h3>Wintrust Finl's Economic Impact: An Analysis</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Below industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization reflects a smaller scale relative to peers. This could be attributed to factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Wintrust Finl's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 3.72% as of 31 December, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Financials sector.
Net Margin: Wintrust Finl's net margin is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 27.93%, the company may encounter challenges in effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): Wintrust Finl's ROE surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 2.99% ROE, the company effectively utilizes shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): Wintrust Finl's ROA falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.28%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns from its assets.
Debt Management: Wintrust Finl's debt-to-equity ratio surpasses industry norms, standing at 0.71. This suggests the company carries a substantial amount of debt, posing potential financial challenges.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.
Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.
In addition to their assessments, some analysts extend their insights by offering predictions for key metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates. This supplementary information provides further guidance for traders. It is crucial to recognize that, despite their specialization, analysts are human and can only provide forecasts based on their beliefs.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings

Expert Outlook: Wintrust Finl Through The Eyes Of 6 Analysts

RBC Capital analyst Karl Shepard maintains Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Outperform and maintains $152 price target.

Price Target

RBC Capital Maintains Outperform on Wintrust Finl, Maintains $152 Price Target

Piper Sandler analyst Nathan Race maintains Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $151 to $156.

Piper Sandler Maintains Overweight on Wintrust Finl, Raises Price Target to $156

Raymond James analyst David Long reiterates Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Strong Buy and raises the price target from $135 to $150.

Reiteration

Raymond James Reiterates Strong Buy on Wintrust Finl, Raises Price Target to $150

Barclays analyst Jared Shaw maintains Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $151 to $155.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on Wintrust Finl, Raises Price Target to $155

Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $2.63 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $2.49 by 5.62 percent. The company reported quarterly sales of $638.60 million which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $640.96 million by 0.37 percent. This is a 11.88 percent increase over sales of $570.80 million the same period last year.

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Earnings Misses

Wintrust Finl Q4 2024 GAAP EPS $2.63 Beats $2.49 Estimate, Sales $638.60M Miss $640.96M Estimate

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
• 3M (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.66 per share on revenue of $5.78 billion. 
• United Microelectronics (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UMC#NYSE">UMC</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.15 per share on revenue of $1.87 billion. 
• Complete Solaria (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSLR#NASDAQ">CSLR</a>) is expected to report quarterly loss at $0.21 per share on revenue of $76.50 million. 
• Old National (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONB#NASDAQ">ONB</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.46 per share on revenue of $485.57 million. 
• Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.88 per share on revenue of $2.21 billion. 
• FB Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FBK#NYSE">FBK</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.83 per share on revenue of $131.14 million. 
• KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.32 per share on revenue of $1.75 billion. 
• Mercantile Bank (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBWM#NASDAQ">MBWM</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.14 per share on revenue of $57.33 million. 
• Prologis (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLD#NYSE">PLD</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.38 per share on revenue of $1.94 billion. 
• Guaranty Bancshares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GNTY#NYSE">GNTY</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.61 per share on revenue of $29.49 million. 
• Charles Schwab (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.89 per share on revenue of $5.13 billion. 
• Peoples Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEBO#NASDAQ">PEBO</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.75 per share on revenue of $109.93 million. 
• Forestar Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOR#NYSE">FOR</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.70 per share on revenue of $328.44 million. 
• New Oriental Education (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EDU#NYSE">EDU</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.33 per share on revenue of $1.06 billion. 
• Community Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBU#NYSE">CBU</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.89 per share on revenue of $192.78 million. 
• D.R. Horton (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $2.39 per share on revenue of $7.12 billion. 
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>
• Zions Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZION#NASDAQ">ZION</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.26 per share on revenue of $787.50 million. 
• United Airlines Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $3.01 per share on revenue of $14.34 billion. 
• SmartFinancial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMBK#NYSE">SMBK</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.50 per share on revenue of $44.37 million. 
• Simmons First Ntl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFNC#NASDAQ">SFNC</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.35 per share on revenue of $208.67 million. 
• Netflix (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $4.20 per share on revenue of $10.13 billion. 
• Trustco Bank (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRST#NASDAQ">TRST</a>) is likely to report earnings for its fourth quarter. 
• Progress Software (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PRGS#NASDAQ">PRGS</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $1.22 per share on revenue of $211.34 million. 
• Interactive Brokers Gr (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBKR#NASDAQ">IBKR</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.82 per share on revenue of $1.37 billion. 
• Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWC#NASDAQ">HWC</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $1.28 per share on revenue of $365.13 million. 
• Pinnacle Finl Partners (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNFP#NASDAQ">PNFP</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.78 per share on revenue of $470.83 million. 
• Agilysys (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGYS#NASDAQ">AGYS</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.34 per share on revenue of $73.15 million. 
• Seagate Tech Hldgs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STX#NASDAQ">STX</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.87 per share on revenue of $2.32 billion. 
• Pathward Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CASH#NASDAQ">CASH</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.24 per share on revenue of $171.35 million. 
• Fulton Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FULT#NASDAQ">FULT</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.42 per share on revenue of $315.73 million. 
• Great Southern Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSBC#NASDAQ">GSBC</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.32 per share on revenue of $55.33 million. 
• Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $2.49 per share on revenue of $632.53 million. 
• Capital One Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $2.71 per share on revenue of $10.21 billion. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AGYS

CASH

CSLR

New Oriental Education & Technology Group

FULT

GNTY

IBKR

MBWM

NFLX

PEBO

PRGS

SCHW

SFNC

SMBK

TRST

Earnings Scheduled For January 21, 2025

Regional banks still have room to run and thrive even as it is &#8220;easy to overstate the advantage&#8221; for big banks, says Truist Securities in its latest note, highlighting three key paths for regional banks to succeed.
What Happened: Big banks have clear economies of scale, and they have been re-rated relative to small banks with the top five U.S. banks holding about 47% market share for a decade. According to the Truist Securities note, dated Jan. 6, the big banks are in a better position, but at the same time, individual regionals can position themselves to thrive.
Truist initiated coverage on 14 regional financial companies outlining three key strategies relating to pace, magnitude, and quality for the regional banks to remain competitive.
<ul>
<li>Differentiated Growth: Focus on unique and sustainable growth opportunities via differentiated customer base, a different form of fee Income and a niche business with competitive moat. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Disciplined Capital Allocation: Efficiently deploy capital to support growth and enhance shareholder value.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Navigating the Evolving Landscape: Adapt to changing market conditions, including interest rates, yield curve shifts, loan and deposit growth, and commercial real estate market dynamics.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Regional Banks</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$51</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HBAN#NASDAQ">HBAN</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>M&amp;T Bank (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$151</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Citizens Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFG#NYSE">CFG</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$49</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Comerica Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMA#NYSE">CMA</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCNCA#NASDAQ">FCNCA</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$2,303</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Regions Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$25</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cards</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ally Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALLY#NYSE">ALLY</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$350</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Capital One Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$229</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Discover Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Synchrony Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYF#NYSE">SYF</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$72</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/42867184/yield-curve-normalization-cheap-valuation-eps-growth-to-boost-banks-in-2025-truist-initiates-coverage-on-these-14-regional-names">Yield Curve Normalization, Cheap Valuation, EPS Growth To Boost Banks In 2025: Truist Initiates Coverage On These 14 Regional Names</a>
Why It Matters: The three listed key paths for regional banks and card companies to thrive can be differentiated and linked to the stocks as mentioned by Truist in their research note.
Differentiated Growth Stories
<ul>
<li>Differentiated Customer Base: American Express Co has an exclusive high-end customer base, which would require an investment of over $100 billion to replicate, according to Truist. On the other hand, Fifth Third Bancorp has a unique ability to organically build a strong deposit market share.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Differentiated Form of Fee Income: Capital One Financial Corp has seen an expansion of network revenues following the acquisition of Discover. While, KeyCorp&#8217;s leading regional investment banking franchise will be favored by given the potential for increased deal activity driven by the Federal Reserve&#8217;s interest rate cuts and anticipated political changes.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Niche Business with Competitive Moat: Wintrust Financial Corp secures a dominant position in the highly profitable insurance premium finance market. Whereas, Huntington Bancshares Inc&#8216;s differentiated approach, including its expansion into new lending areas, will support its continued strong performance in loan, deposit, and fee growth across high-quality markets.</li>
</ul>
Disciplined Capital Deployment
<ul>
<li>Another way in which the regional banks could thrive includes a disciplined capital deployment which typically follows organic growth first, followed by dividends and buybacks, and potentially mergers and acquisitions. However, the key lies not in the order itself, but in the flexibility and agility with which banks can adjust their capital allocation strategy in response to evolving company, industry, and macroeconomic conditions.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Truist believes some banks are attractively valued for share repurchases. M&amp;T Bank Corp&#8216;s CFO in a recent conference hinted at higher buybacks in 2025.</li>
</ul>
Navigating The Evolving Landscape
<ul>
<li>According to Truist, it&#8217;s not unusual for multiple challenges to arise simultaneously. The current environment has witnessed sluggish loan and deposit growth amidst rapid interest rate hikes. However, it is anticipated that at least some of these headwinds will begin to abate in the coming year, leading to a more favorable environment for the banking sector</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>CRE Valuation: Banks with significant commercial real estate exposure in high-growth, high-income markets, such as Fifth Third and Huntington, are well-positioned for future CRE origination opportunities. M&amp;T and Citizens Financial Group Inc. will also benefit from an eventual improvement in market conditions.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42836744/baby-its-cold-outside-these-5-winter-ready-stocks-have-what-it-takes-to-make-you-feel-warm-and-cozy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baby, It's Cold Outside: These 5 Winter-Ready Stocks Have What It Takes To Make You Feel Warm And Cozy</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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HBAN

Regional Banks Can Thrive Despite Big Bank Dominance: Truist Securities Highlights Three Key Paths For Thriving Regional Banks

Analysts at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/truist-securities">Truist Securities</a> initiated coverage on 24 large-cap, regional, and trust banks, as well as credit card companies. They anticipate strong earnings growth over the next two years, projecting an annual increase of 12-15% fueled by factors like improving loan growth, a steeper yield curve, and ample capital for expansion.
What Happened: Forecasting a favorable environment for banks in 2025 and 2026, the analysts at Truist foresee a less stringent regulatory environment, with more clarity and flexibility for banks regarding mergers and acquisitions, and the deployment of excess capital.
The note highlighted that the banking stocks were de-rated during the first two years of Trump 1.0 because the yield curve was flattened and late-cycle macro concerns surfaced, even as the administration enacted bank-friendly tax reform and regulatory tailoring. However, according to the brokerage, a little Fed easing and a steeper curve are necessary for the stocks to be re-rated and two rate cuts are expected in 2025, as hinted by Fed during their December meeting. 
According to Truist, while bank valuations have increased, they remain relatively attractive compared to historical levels. They currently trade at a price-to-book value (P/TBV) below their post-financial crisis average, and at a significant discount to the broader market. The note adds that given the current market valuations, bank stocks appear undervalued relative to the S&amp;P 500.
However, despite Truist beliefs that the sector offers attractive opportunities, careful stock selection is crucial according to them. &#8220;While we're not at &#8216;close your eyes and buy ‘em levels,&#8217; we still see attractive opportunities across the sector and view stock selection as increasingly important,&#8221; the note said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42836744/baby-its-cold-outside-these-5-winter-ready-stocks-have-what-it-takes-to-make-you-feel-warm-and-cozy">Baby, It&#8217;s Cold Outside: These 5 Winter-Ready Stocks Have What It Takes To Make You Feel Warm And Cozy</a>
Why It Matters: Truist&#8217;s coverage on 24 financial stocks is spread across three subgroups namely, large-cap, regional, and trust banks, which is initiated with a positive outlook.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Large-Cap Banks</h3>
The research note examines long-term investment potential of large U.S. banks as these institutions possess significant advantages, including, &#8220;embedded offense&#8221; with the presence of strong existing businesses and customer relationships.
It also anticipates cyclical tailwinds and capital leverage for such banks given a favorable economic environment and the ability to effectively utilize capital for growth.
These factors position large U.S. banks to achieve organic growth by the expansion of core businesses, double-digit earnings growth and an attractive returns on equity.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Large Cap Banks</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Citigroup (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$85</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wells Fargo (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$82</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$260</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PNC Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNC#NYSE">PNC</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$215</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>US Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$54</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Regional Banks And Cards</h3>
Truist also initiated coverage on 14 regional financial companies outlining three key strategies for regional banks to remain competitive.
<ul>
<li>Differentiated Growth: Focus on unique and sustainable growth opportunities.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Disciplined Capital Allocation: Efficiently deploy capital to support growth and enhance shareholder value.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Navigating the Evolving Landscape: Adapt to changing market conditions, including interest rates, yield curve shifts, loan and deposit growth, and commercial real estate market dynamics.</li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Regional Banks</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$51</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HBAN#NASDAQ">HBAN</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>M&amp;T Bank (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$151</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Citizens Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFG#NYSE">CFG</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$49</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Comerica Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMA#NYSE">CMA</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCNCA#NASDAQ">FCNCA</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$2,303</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Regions Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$25</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cards</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ally Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALLY#NYSE">ALLY</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$350</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Capital One Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$229</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Discover Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Synchrony Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYF#NYSE">SYF</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$72</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trust Banks And Capital Markets</h3>
Truist anticipates gradual interest rate decreases, the eventual end of quantitative tightening, and a healthy economy and capital markets providing a competitive landscape to trust banks.
According to the analysts, investors should prioritize stocks with the potential for sustained operating leverage. Which is the ability to increase profitability significantly with relatively small increases in revenue. And stocks with strong capital returns, with high levels of income through dividends and share buybacks.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Trust Banks And Capital Markets</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BK#NYSE">BK</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$91</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Charles Schwab (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$86</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Northern Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTRS#NASDAQ">NTRS</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>State Street (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STT#NYSE">STT</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$106</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42813271/as-billionaires-load-up-on-energy-stocks-given-trumps-proposed-policies-this-analyst-highlights-charlie-mungers-1962-oil-investment-which-can-outperform-all-the-rest">As Warren Buffett And Other Billionaires Load Up On Energy Stocks, This Analyst Highlights Charlie Munger&#8217;s 1962 Oil Investment Which Can &#8216;Outperform All The Rest&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

Long Ideas

Market Summary

Initiation

General

NTRS

Yield Curve Normalization, Cheap Valuation, EPS Growth To Boost Banks In 2025: Truist Initiates Coverage On These 14 Regional Names

Wintrust Finl's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NYSE">WTFC</a>) short percent of float has risen 24.22% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 951 thousand shares sold short, which is 1.59% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.45 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Wintrust Finl Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1735754422_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Wintrust Finl has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Wintrust Finl's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Wintrust Finl's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.68%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

(WTFC) - Analyzing Wintrust Finl's Short Interest

UBS analyst Nicholas Holowko assumes Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $157.

UBS Assumes Wintrust Finl at Buy, Announces Price Target of $157

Barclays analyst Jared Shaw maintains Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $130 to $151.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on Wintrust Finl, Raises Price Target to $151

Wintrust Finl's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NYSE">WTFC</a>) short percent of float has fallen 17.91% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 654 thousand shares sold short, which is 1.1% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.42 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Wintrust Finl Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1733336117_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Wintrust Finl has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Wintrust Finl's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Wintrust Finl's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.49%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

How Is The Market Feeling About Wintrust Finl?

Press Releases

Wintrust Financial Corporation Reports Record Full Year Net Income

Wintrust Financial Corporation Announces Cash Dividends, Increasing Quarterly Common Stock Dividend Rate by 11.1%

Wintrust Financial Corporation Completes Integration with LPL Platform

Wintrust Financial Corporation to Present at Raymond James  46th Annual Institutional Investors Conference

Wintrust Financial Corporation to Present at RBC Capital Markets Global Financial Institutions Conference on March 4, 2025

Wintrust Recognized with 14 Coalition Greenwich Best Bank Awards in Middle Market Banking

Management

Wintrust Names New Leader for Brand, Engagement, and Impact

Wintrust Financial Corporation Announces First Quarter 2025 Earnings Release Schedule

Wintrust Board Members Edward Wehmer and Scott Heitmann  to Conclude Long-time Board Service

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