Huntington Bancshares Target Raised to $23, Faces Historical March Losses
Morgan Stanley raised Huntington Bancshares’ price target to $23 from $21 and kept an Overweight rating, citing loan growth, net interest margin expansion and capital returns. Historic seasonality models list Huntington among 12 finance-sector S&P 500 stocks with average March losses near 10% and win rates around 20%.
1. Morgan Stanley Price Target Increase
Morgan Stanley analyst Manan Gosalia boosted Huntington Bancshares’ price target to $23 from $21, maintaining an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm cited accelerating loan growth driven by commercial and consumer portfolios, expanding net interest margins from a higher rate environment and a commitment to shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks.
2. March Seasonality Risks
Quantitative analysis of the past decade identifies Huntington as one of 12 finance-sector stocks among the 25 worst S&P 500 performers in March. Banking peers have averaged losses of nearly 10% in March with win rates around 20%, suggesting potential short-term volatility for Huntington as the quarter closes.