Barclays analyst Matthew Keating upgraded his view on the U.S. Mid-Cap Banks industry to Positive from Neutral. There seems to be a lot less enthusiasm for the banks this year, Keating tells investors in a research note. The focus this year is on rising trade tensions, slowing global growth, and chance of a recession, says the analyst. However, he believes the slide in bank stock sentiment creates opportunities for investors "willing to withstand some volatility in the near term." Along with the sector, Keating upgraded Synovus Financial (SNV) and Texas Capital (TCBI) to Overweight from Equal Weight and Bank OZK (OZK) and People's United Financial (PBCT) to Equal Weight from Underweight. Based on his relative ratings system, he downgraded Prosperity Bancshares (PB) to Equal Weight from Overweight and New York Community Bancorp (NYCB) to Underweight from Equal Weight.

Truist lowered the firm's price target on Bank OZK to $47 from $48 and keeps a Hold rating on the shares as part of a broader research note recapping Q1 earnings among Community and Regional Banks. The firm's updated model for Fed funds rate forecast calls for zero cuts in 2024 and four 25bps cuts in 2025 from three in 2023 and 2024 previously, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Truist is also revising its FY24 and FY25 EPS on the bank to $6.40 and $6.65 from $5.94 and $5.94, with estimate revisions driven by higher net interest income, including greater net interest margin expansion and earning asset growth.