Valley National Bancorp (VLY) is rising as traders lean into an upcoming catalyst window. The company is set to report first-quarter 2026 earnings before the market opens on Thursday, April 23, 2026, with a management call at 8:30 a.m. ET—an event that often pulls in pre-earnings positioning in regional banks. (globenewswire.com)

Sentiment is also being reinforced by a shareholder-returns narrative after Valley’s board approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing up to 25 million shares. While the authorization is not yet effective, the program is slated to begin on April 27, 2026 and run through April 27, 2028, giving investors a clear date for when repurchases can start. (globenewswire.com)

The repurchase authorization creates a potential incremental source of demand for the stock and signals management confidence in capital generation, even before a single share is bought back. Because the program’s start date is close (April 27), the market can begin discounting the possibility of near-term activity, especially if earnings commentary supports capital and balance-sheet trajectory. (globenewswire.com)

The key near-term swing factor is the April 23 earnings report and conference call—investors will focus on profitability trends, credit quality and any updated outlook. Immediately after that, attention shifts to whether the company provides color on expected buyback pacing once the new authorization becomes effective on April 27. (globenewswire.com)