** Piper Sandler upgrades Capital City Bank Group CCBG.O
to "overweight" from "neutral" on expectations for faster loan
growth
** Raises PT to $31.5 from $29; new PT marks 24% upside to
stock's last close
** Brokerage says CCBG stands to benefit from rate hikes and
an improved outlook for loan growth, which will bring in higher
net interest income for the bank
** Says co has also done a better-than-expected job of
managing expenses
** YTD, shares are down 4%
(Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru)
((Niket.Nishant@thomsonreuters.com;))