Banking, finance, and taxes

Are Regions Financial Earnings Good Enough?

Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE: RF) reported its second-quarter financial results Tuesday before the markets opened. The company had $0.20 in earnings per share (EPS) on $1.41 billion in revenue, versus Thomson Reuters consensus estimates of $0.20 in EPS on $1.31 billion in revenue. In the second quarter of last year, the company posted EPS of $0.21 and revenue of $1.28 billion.

During this quarter, Reputation Institute and American Banker magazine released survey results showing that, among U.S. banks, Regions Financial ranked highest in reputation with customers.

Ending loans totaled $80 billion for the second quarter, an increase of 5% compared to the same period of last year. Business lending balances increased 6%, while consumer lending balances increased 3%. Average deposit balances totaled $97 billion, an increase of 4%, or $4.1 billion.

Credit quality improved as net charge-offs declined 31%, representing 0.23% of average loans, and nonperforming loans (excluding loans held for sale) declined 16%.

Capital and liquidity remained strong as the Basel III fully phased-in pro-forma Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was estimated at 11%, and the loan-to-deposit ratio was 83%. Tangible common book value per share was $8.37 for the second quarter.

Grayson Hall, chairman, president and CEO of Regions Financial, said:

This quarter’s results reflect continued momentum in 2015. We continued to grow loans, increasing 2 percent over the previous quarter, and we also grew fee revenue from sources such as capital markets, mortgage and cards. We are continuing to expand our customer base and deepen those relationships by meeting more customer needs, which is creating sustainable growth.

Shares closed Monday at $10.20, in a 52-week trading range of $8.59 to $10.83. In early trading Tuesday, shares were up 2.6% at $10.47. The stock has a consensus analyst price target of $11.16.

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