On Tuesday, UBS analyst Erika Najarian upgraded Bank of America stock from Neutral to Buy, setting a new price target of $53.00, up from the previous $43.00. The upgrade reflects the analyst’s view that Bank of America is an undervalued beneficiary of potential regulatory easing related to the Basel 3 framework.
Najarian highlighted that Bank of America could gain from a more lenient final capital rule, noting the bank's strong propensity to repurchase shares, with current buybacks at $3.5 billion per quarter. The analyst anticipates Bank of America will buy back $18 billion worth of stock in 2025, which would represent 5% of its current market capitalization of $348.35 billion. InvestingPro data reveals the bank has maintained dividend payments for 54 consecutive years, with 11 straight years of dividend increases, demonstrating a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
The UBS analyst also pointed to potential advantages for Bank of America in capital markets. With expectations of a capital markets resurgence in 2025, Bank of America is poised to benefit, potentially at a lower valuation multiple than competitors like JPMorgan or brokerage firms. Although UBS's estimates are conservative, forecasting a 3% year-over-year growth in trading and an 18% increase in investment banking, any additional upside could significantly impact the bank's bottom line.
Najarian's projections include a consolidated expense growth of 3.5% for Bank of America, which is considered high for the bank. However, the analyst suggests that any positive developments in capital markets would likely contribute to profit, despite the anticipated increase in expenses.
The upgrade by UBS reflects a positive outlook for Bank of America, as it stands to benefit from both deregulation and a potential uptick in capital markets activity. The new price target of $53.00 indicates a belief in the bank's capacity to outperform its current valuation and deliver shareholder value through strategic buybacks and capitalizing on market opportunities. Trading at a P/E ratio of 16.4x, with analyst targets ranging from $39.50 to $58.00, BAC offers compelling metrics that can be explored in depth through InvestingPro's comprehensive research reports, available for over 1,400 US stocks.
In other recent news, Bank of America has been the subject of several important developments. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a cease and desist order against the bank due to deficiencies in its anti-money laundering measures. Bank of America, along with JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) and Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC), also faces a lawsuit from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) over alleged failures to protect consumers from fraud on the Zelle payment network. Furthermore, the CFPB has taken action against Bank of America for illegal practices related to credit card rewards programs.
On a positive note, both CFRA and Citi have upgraded Bank of America's stock. CFRA raised its rating to "Buy" from "Hold" and set a price target of $53, citing expectations of strong net interest income and non-interest income. Citi, meanwhile, upgraded the bank's rating from "Neutral" to "Buy" and raised the price target to $54, highlighting potential returns above 15%.
These are recent developments that have had an impact on Bank of America. The bank is actively addressing the regulatory actions and continues to work with the OCC to enhance its anti-money laundering measures. It is also cooperating with the CFPB in relation to the allegations concerning Zelle and credit card practices. Meanwhile, the upgrades from CFRA and Citi reflect a positive outlook on the bank's financial performance.
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