Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) Share Price Passes Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average – Time to Sell?

Shares of Regions Financial Co. (NYSE:RF) passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $23.00 and traded as high as $23.85. Regions Financial shares last traded at $23.52, with a volume of 7,412,465 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently commented on RF. Morgan Stanley reissued an “equal weight” rating and issued a $32.00 price target (up from $28.00) on shares of Regions Financial in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised shares of Regions Financial from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and raised their price target for the company from $27.00 to $28.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Regions Financial from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Stephens raised shares of Regions Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $26.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 29th. Finally, DA Davidson upped their target price on Regions Financial from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Regions Financial has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $27.61.

Regions Financial Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The company has a market capitalization of $21.47 billion, a PE ratio of 13.34, a PEG ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $25.19 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $23.00.

Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) last posted its earnings results on Friday, October 18th. The bank reported $0.49 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.53 by ($0.04). Regions Financial had a return on equity of 12.60% and a net margin of 18.78%. The firm had revenue of $1.79 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.80 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.49 EPS. The business’s revenue was down 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Regions Financial Co. will post 2.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Regions Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.23%. Regions Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 56.50%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Regions Financial

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. American National Bank & Trust boosted its holdings in shares of Regions Financial by 1,856.7% during the third quarter. American National Bank & Trust now owns 1,174 shares of the bank’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,114 shares during the period. Quarry LP lifted its holdings in Regions Financial by 157.2% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,335 shares of the bank’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 816 shares during the period. Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Regions Financial in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of Regions Financial during the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Benjamin Edwards Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Regions Financial by 47.0% during the second quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 2,027 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 648 shares in the last quarter. 79.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other 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.