Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ:HBAN) is included among the 15 Cheapest Stocks with Highest Dividends.
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On March 31, Morgan Stanley lowered its price recommendation on Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ:HBAN) to $21 from $23. It reiterated an Overweight rating on the shares. The analyst noted that the median bank stock in its coverage has declined about 5% over the past 30 days. This pullback was tied to concerns around the ongoing Middle East conflict and its potential impact on economic growth and inflation. There were also worries linked to private credit headlines. In response, the firm reduced price targets across the group by roughly 9% on average, reflecting lower valuation multiples as risk in the broader environment increased.
During the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call, management said it expects net interest income to grow around 10% to 13% in 2026. This outlook is supported by projected loan growth of 11% to 12% and deposit growth of 8% to 9%. They also expect fee revenues to increase between 13% and 16%. At the same time, core expenses are projected to rise about 10% to 11%. Baseline operating leverage is estimated at roughly 150 to 200 basis points.
Management added that the guidance already includes cost synergies from Veritex being fully realized by Q2, and from Cadence by Q4. Cadence is expected to contribute between $1.85 billion and $1.9 billion in net interest income, along with about $300 million in fee revenue for the year. On credit quality, net charge-offs are projected to range between 25 and 35 basis points. Losses are expected to come in at the lower end early in the period. They also highlighted ongoing investment in digital capabilities and continued expansion across new and existing markets. Management said that the current 2026 outlook for Huntington’s stand-alone growth in net interest income, assets, deposits, and fees generally comes in above 2025 levels.
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ:HBAN) is a regional bank holding company. Through its main subsidiary, Huntington National Bank, and its affiliates, the company provides a broad range of services. These include banking, payments, wealth management, and risk management solutions for consumers, small and mid-sized businesses, corporations, municipalities, and other organizations.
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