- "We view Wells Fargo (WFC -2.7%) as a core bank holding, but shares have reached our price target and we believe sentiment is now overwhelmingly positive after leading returns in 2014 (+21%, #1 among the top 50 banks)," says Baird's David George, who earlier downgraded the stock from Outperform to Neutral.
- Put the money in another bank? Not so quick, says George, suggesting the Fed could tighten later and be less aggressive than most expect, disappointing those hoping for higher rates to boost profits. Other than Wells Fargo, George sees sentiment highest in PNC Financial (PNC -2.7%), SunTrust (STI -3.9%), and U.S. Bancorp (USB -2.2%).
- Asset-sensitive names like Comerica (CMA -3.7%) and Zions (ZION -3.4%) lagged in 2014, but estimates still look to high.
- Top ideas would be Fifth Third (FITB -2.7%), Capital One (COF -2.4%), and JPMorgan (JPM -3%), but George is having a tough time finding value in the sector.
- Previously: Longtime Wells Fargo bull rings the register (Jan. 5)