Challenging operating backdrop for U.S. Banks - Raymond James

Pacific Premier Bancorp

17/06/2020 19:26

** Raymond James says the impact of the coronavirus-induced
lockdown, and the still ongoing pandemic present a challenging
operating backdrop for banks
    ** With prospects of near-zero interest rates for a
protracted period, return to "normalized" earnings for banks
could be several years in the making - Raymond James
    ** However, brokerage raises 2021 EPS estimates for the
sector, says the situation is seemingly "less bad" than it was
in early April 
    ** Raises ratings on Cadence Bancorp  CADE.N , Regions
Financial  RF.N , PacWest Bancorp  PACW.O , Flagstar Bancorp
 FBC.N , Pacific Premier Bancorp  PPBI.O  to "strong buy"
    ** Downgrades First Merchants Corp  FRME.O  to "market
perform" and Commerce Bancshares  CBSH.O  to "underperform"
    ** Recommends investors buy stocks with defensive
characteristics; beta names down YTD that offer large upside
potential in a recovery scenario
    ** Recent changes made to the Paycheck Protection Program
(PPP) have postponed banks booking majority of fees from
program; expect bulk of the PPP fees to be booked in Q4 -
Raymond James
    ** Global banking regulators said on Wednesday that banks
could be offered more relief, if needed  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2DU55W
    ** U.S. bank profits plunged 70% to $18.5 billion in Q1
2020, data showed  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2DT1EN 




 (Reporting by Devbrat Saha)
 ((Devbrat.Saha@thomsonreuters.com; +91 8061822770 (direct),
+1-646-223-8780 (extension 2770);))