Portage County Legal News

Regional banks enjoy increasing popularity

MALCOLM BERKO
Taking Stock
Published: June 11, 2019

Dear Mr. Berko: If you think it's a good idea, we'd like to invest $25,000 each in three regional banks for our self-managed retirement account. During the last 14 years we earned an average annual return of 8.2%. I think continued improvement in the economy warrants this purchase. We've selected PNC, and I would like you to recommend two more.

We also have a modestly successful architectural practice. The high taxes here are killing us. We're vacationing to Florida and thinking seriously about moving there. I've been offered an equity position with a firm in your area and was hoping you might know of them. -- C.P., San Diego

Der C.P.: Wow! That 8.2 percent is an impressive 14-year record.

The problem with most folks retiring to Florida from high-tax states is, when you vote as Floridians, you vote for the same bloody politicians who raised your taxes in California, New Jersey, Illinois, etc. Stay there. There are so many of you here that vehicular traffic becomes assaultive, restaurant prices increase 20 percent, and waiting lines at retailers, theaters, even physician's offices become intolerable. Your record numbers diminish our quality of life. Florida has 386 people per square mile. And many of us who are longtime Florida residents prefer that you stay home. Or move to Texas, which has 98 residents per square mile and no income tax.

I recognize the name of the firm that you may join. They've a good reputation with clients in various cities and have been in business for longer than I can remember. An architect I know in Tampa tells me it's a high-class firm with "exceptionally good political connections." That's important. Your visit to their Florida office will tell you if the job-fit warrants leaving the Left Coast.

There seems to be unusual optimism for the regional banks. The three most prominent reasons are:

1. Tax reform: Now that the new statutory rate has been lowered to 21%, the increased earnings potential will improve capital generation, encourage stock buybacks and grow dividends.

2. A strong economy: The GDP's growing nicely, unemployment is lower and higher wages plus benefits from tax reform have increased consumer confidence. Consequently, banks benefit from consumer spending and higher loan growth.

3. Changes in regulation: Under the Obama administration, banks fought a strangling regulatory landscape. Regional banks were forced to hold enormous amounts of excessive capital. Excess capital can be leveraged or returned to shareholders, giving management more flexibility.

PNC Financial Services (PNC-$133), a $40 billion Pittsburgh bank, yields 3.1% and is a bank I'd care to own. Its 2,500 branches, 10,000 ATMs and 53,000 employees in the Midwest produced record revenue, earnings and dividend growth, a comfortable P/E plus a swell 1.38% net profit margin. This is a grand bank, though I'm dismayed by enormous insider selling of tens of thousands of shares this year.

I'd recommend Keycorp (KEY-$16.95), a $14 billion bank from Cleveland, with a generous 3.9% yield and a fine 10-year record of revenue, earnings and dividend growth. Trend Spotter and Sander O'Neill have positive recommendations, while Value Line believes KEY could trade in the middle $30 by 2023. And you'd be earning a good dividend while waiting for that to happen.

Finally, I like Huntington Bancshares (HBAN-$13.45), an $11 billion bank homeported in Columbus, Ohio, and founded in 1866. HBAN owns a fine 1.41% net profit margin, thanks to good management, and pays a generous 4% dividend that's been raised in each of the last nine years and may be raised repeatedly in the future, as its revenues and earnings should continue to improve. The Street suggests that HBAN's 1,000 branches and 16,000 employees could help its shares trade in the $20s during the coming four years with nice dividends along the way.

(Please address your financial questions to Malcolm Berko, P.O. Box 8303, Largo, FL 33775, or email him at mjberko@yahoo.com.)

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