Investors have recently been blasted with banking headlines, with a new development flashing across the screen weekly.
Of course, the coverage initially started with the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
And just on March 19th, it was revealed that Switzerland’s largest bank, UBS UBS, agreed to take over Credit Suisse CS. Valued at roughly $3.25 billion, the purchase price reflects a significant discount.
Now, First-Citizens BancShares FCNCA is in the spotlight. Why?
On Sunday, the FDIC made a big announcement –
“The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) entered into a purchase and assumption agreement for all deposits and loans of Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, National Association, by First–Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Raleigh, North Carolina.“
That’s big news. And to little surprise, FCNCA shares roared in pre-market trading, opening up nearly 50% higher.
Following the surge, FCNCA shares are up more than 15% year-to-date, vaulting it ahead of the S&P 500’s 5% gain.
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Starting today, the 17 former branches of SVB will operate under the banner of First-Citizens, with FCNCA assuming all deposits.
In response, other banking stocks, including Western Alliance WAL and First Republic Trust FRC, also found buyers in pre-market trading. Both stocks have struggled amid banking concerns, underperforming the general market by wide margins year-to-date.
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With investors continuing to digest these developments and the volatility they bring, it’s beneficial to consider companies seeing their outlooks drift higher, such as W.W. Grainger GWW.
As shown below, analysts have recently become bullish on the stock, pushing their bottom-line estimates higher across all timeframes.
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GWW has consistently exceeded quarterly estimates, registering six consecutive double beats. In its latest print, W.W. Grainger posted sales 1% above expectations and delivered a 2.5% EPS beat.
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In addition, the stock pays a dividend, currently yielding 1% annually. While the yield isn’t on the high end, GWW’s 6% five-year annualized dividend growth rate shows a commitment to increasingly rewarding its shareholders.
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Bottom Line
Investors can’t catch a break from banking headlines, with fears of contagion following developments within Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse taking the majority of focus as of late.
Now, investors were served a fresh headline over the weekend surrounding First-Citizens BancShares’ FCNCA purchase of SVB.
For investors looking to steer clear from the volatility, targeting stocks with strong outlooks, such as W.W. Grainger GWW, could be a great consideration.
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Credit Suisse Group (CS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
UBS Group AG (UBS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report
First Republic Bank (FRC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (FCNCA) : Free Stock Analysis Report
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
