Stocks

First Citizens Bancshares Positioned for Success Post-Elections, Analyst Reports

Published December 9, 2024

First Citizens Bancshares Inc (NASDAQ: FCNCA) has seen significant growth, with its shares rising over 50% in value year to date, attracting considerable attention.

According to a recent report from Deutsche Bank, First Citizens Bancshares stands out as one of the "biggest potential winners" following the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.

Analyst Bernard von-Gizycki has initiated coverage on First Citizens with a bullish "Buy" rating, setting an ambitious price target of $2,600 per share.

Overview of First Citizens Bancshares

First Citizens Bancshares has a strong track record as a "serial acquirer," which positions it well to capitalize on a pro-growth, pro-business environment likely to emerge in the wake of the elections. According to Von-Gizycki, this shift is expected to stimulate an increase in bank mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Five Key Reasons for Optimism

  1. First Citizens is anticipated to thrive under "a likely more favorable backdrop starting in 2025," benefiting from forthcoming deregulation initiatives.
  2. The company is well placed to see a surge in activity within capital markets, which will foster loan growth in its SVB Commercial segment.
  3. First Citizens maintains robust capital levels, which enables share repurchases and strengthens its financial positioning.
  4. There is considerable potential for an increase in net interest income, driven by asset sensitivity and adjusting rate cut expectations.
  5. The company demonstrates significant balance sheet flexibility, allowing it to navigate varied interest rate scenarios effectively.

Current Stock Performance: As of the latest update, shares of First Citizens Bancshares have experienced a slight decline, with a decrease of 0.23%, bringing the stock price to $2,191.54.

This optimistic outlook for First Citizens Bancshares suggests a bright future, especially as the political landscape evolves in the coming years.

Banking, Investment, Elections