On Monday, Stephens, a financial analyst firm, updated its price target for Ameris Bancorp (NASDAQ:NYSE:ABCB), increasing it to $67.00 from the previous $64.00. The firm maintained an Equal Weight rating on the stock. The revision follows Ameris Bancorp's recent earnings report, where the company's operating earnings per share (EPS) of $1.38 surpassed the consensus estimate of $1.25 and Stephens' own estimate of $1.27. This beat was attributed to strong and stable asset quality trends, along with a lower provision for credit losses.
Despite the positive EPS, Ameris Bancorp's core pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) of $127.8 million fell short of both the consensus expectation of $135.5 million and Stephens' forecast by $0.08 and $0.07, respectively. Consequently, Stephens has adjusted its earnings expectations for Ameris Bancorp for the years 2024 to 2026. The firm forecasts a decrease in earnings by 3%, 6%, and 3% for each of those years, respectively. The downward revision is mainly due to a slightly lower than anticipated net interest margin (NIM) and reduced expectations for mortgage banking revenues in the upcoming quarters.
Despite the lower PPNR and adjustments to future earnings, Stephens highlighted the robustness of Ameris Bancorp's diversified business model. The bank continues to show an above-peer return profile in terms of return on assets (ROA), PPNR, and return on tangible common equity (ROTCE). The analyst firm believes that Ameris Bancorp has the potential to enhance its performance further, especially if mortgage banking recovers and loan growth picks up, supported by a strong defense of its net interest margin.
The new price target represents a 9% increase from the previous target, reaffirming the analyst's view that Ameris Bancorp holds steady investment potential. The Equal Weight rating suggests that Stephens views the stock as fairly valued at its current price, expecting it to perform in line with the broader market or its sector peers.
In other recent news, Ameris Bancorp has reported a robust net income of $99.2 million for the third quarter during its earnings call, which includes adjustments for a gain from the sale of mortgage servicing rights and minor hurricane-related expenses. The company also anticipates mid-single-digit growth for both loans and deposits going into 2024. A $100 million stock buyback plan has been renewed through October 2025, indicating confidence in the company's future.
The bank's executives, Nicole Stokes and Palmer Proctor, outlined a positive outlook for loan and deposit growth. Ameris Bancorp maintains strong capital ratios with a net interest margin of 3.51%. The company, while focused on organic growth, may consider strategic acquisitions if they offer significant value.
Despite slight margin compression in the third quarter, Ameris Bancorp achieved strong growth in net interest income and tangible book value per share. The company's diversified earning asset base grew 7.6% annualized. These are the recent developments at Ameris Bancorp.
InvestingPro Insights
Complementing Stephens' analysis, recent data from InvestingPro sheds additional light on Ameris Bancorp's financial position and market performance. The company's market capitalization stands at $4.21 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12.81, indicating a relatively attractive valuation compared to its earnings. This aligns with an InvestingPro Tip highlighting that ABCB is trading at a low P/E ratio relative to its near-term earnings growth, supporting Stephens' Equal Weight rating.
Ameris Bancorp's revenue growth of 11.92% over the last twelve months demonstrates the company's ability to expand its business, which could contribute to the potential performance enhancements mentioned by Stephens. Additionally, the bank's strong profitability is evident from its impressive operating income margin of 46.29% for the same period.
Another InvestingPro Tip notes that Ameris Bancorp has maintained dividend payments for 11 consecutive years, reflecting financial stability and a commitment to shareholder returns. This consistent dividend history, combined with the current dividend yield of 0.98%, may appeal to income-focused investors.
For readers seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 6 additional tips for Ameris Bancorp, providing deeper insights into the company's financial health and market position.
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