10 Best Banking Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds

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2. Citigroup Incorporated (NYSE:C)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 107

Citigroup Incorporated (NYSE:C) is one of the 10 best banking stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

On January 15, Piper Sandler reiterated its Overweight rating for Citigroup Incorporated (NYSE:C). The firm also raised the price target from $130 to $135, leading to an upside potential of 23% at the prevailing level.

Piper Sandler’s revisions came at the back of the company’s fourth quarter earnings. Based on management’s adjusted guidance, the firm has raised its EPS forecast for Citigroup Incorporated (NYSE:C).

On January 15, Truist Securities maintained its price target of $129 and a Buy rating on Citigroup Incorporated (NYSE:C), after the company reported solid fourth-quarter results. The firm noted that while reported EPS came in at $1.19, earnings adjusted to $1.81 after excluding a one-time loss related to the sale of Citi’s Russia subsidiary.

The adjusted figure exceeded consensus estimates by 12%, supported by solid provision and pre-provision net revenue performance. Citi also reaffirmed its target of generating a 10–11% ROTCE in 2026, with cost efficiency expected to improve as the bank guides towards an efficiency ratio of approximately 60%.

Citigroup Incorporated (NYSE:C) serves consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions through an extensive range of financial products and services. The business is broadly structured around five distinct segments, i.e., Services, Markets, Banking, U.S. Personal Banking, and Wealth. The company offers a range of products and solutions across its underlying segments.

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