Slow bank M&A has investors asking for deals, Wells Fargo says

Banc of California

25/02/2025 18:55

** Wells Fargo Securities says a slow start for bank mergers and acquisitions, so far this year, has left investors asking for deals

** The slow start is a bit surprising, with only five deals of $50 million-plus announced YTD as of Monday - brokerage

** Wells Fargo says the combination of regulatory and interest rate uncertainty, along with higher stock prices, has likely caused both "buyers and sellers to recalibrate"

** Brokerage still expects the deal flow to accelerate with passage of time in the new environment, adding that it anticipates 80 deals per year in 2025 and 2026

** BankUnited BKU.N, First Horizon FHN.N and Banc of California BANC.N score highest within brokerage's coverage in its consolidation scoreboard

** Wells Fargo expects most large banks to be potential buyers, including M&T Bank MTB.N, U.S. Bancorp USB.N, KeyCorp KEY.N and PNC Financial PNC.N

** Other buyers could be the larger regional banks, while the vast majority of deals are still likely to occur in the sub-$10 billion in asset range - Wells Fargo

 (Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)

 ((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))