# Huntington Bancshares (HBAN)

Sector: Regional bank

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | $15.27 |
| Fair value (Analysts) | $18.30 |
| Discount to fair value | 16.6% |
| Fair value uncertainty (Analysts) | High |
| Economic moat (Analysts) | None |
| LSEG analyst rating (1 strong buy to 5 strong sell) | 2.1 |
| Data as of | 2026-10-16 |
| Next earnings | 2026-10-22 (confirmed) |

## In short

The market prices Huntington for lower earnings growth after it cut its 2027 target because of high deposit costs, and a stable margin with the full Cadence cost savings can close the gap over three to five quarters.

## Themes and gap

- Themes: Interest rates (interest-rates), High debt (leverage)
- Gap type: Can close (closable)
- Why: The Q3 2026 report on October 22, 2026, and the 2027 outlook in January 2027 show whether the margin and the cut 2027 EPS target hold.

## About

Huntington Bancshares is a US regional bank holding company based in Columbus, Ohio. At June 30, 2026, it had $284 billion in assets, $189 billion in loans and $222 billion in deposits, with branches in 21 states. It grew fast in the last year: it bought Veritex Holdings in Texas on October 20, 2025, and Cadence Bank in the South on February 1, 2026. Its Consumer and Regional Banking segment serves people and small businesses, and it makes auto loans through car dealers. Its Commercial Banking segment lends to middle-market and large companies and has 17 national specialty lending groups. It also sells payments and cash management, wealth management and capital markets services. Most of its revenue is net interest income, the margin between what it earns on loans and securities and what it pays on deposits.

## Thesis

The market prices Huntington for lower earnings growth than it promised when it bought Cadence and Veritex. On September 16, 2026, Huntington cut its 2027 adjusted EPS target to $1.75 to $1.83. It said that short-term interest rates stayed high, which raised deposit costs, and that competition from other banks and private credit lowered loan growth and loan yields. It also cut its 2026 net interest income growth outlook to about 35% from 39% to 43%. The market also doubts that the new markets in Texas and the South will grow as planned, and it watches capital: the CET1 ratio was 10.0% at June 30, 2026, lower than before the purchases. For the gap to close, three things must be true. Net interest margin must hold in the low to mid 3.20s and loans must grow about 6% in 2027, as the new outlook assumes. The $435 million of yearly cost savings from Cadence and Veritex must show in expenses from Q4 2026. Net charge-offs must stay within the 0.25% to 0.35% range, so that buybacks of $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion in 2027 can go ahead. The Q3 2026 report on October 22, 2026, is the first test after the cut. The Q4 report and the 2027 outlook in January 2027 are the main test. If they confirm the new targets, the gap can close over the next three to five quarters. The main reason it may not close is a longer period of high deposit costs, which would push the margin and the 2027 target down again.

## Checkpoints

- Oct 22, 2026: Q3 2026 earnings: margin and loan growth after the cut. Status: Pending. Watch: A net interest margin in the low 3.20s, net charge-offs within 0.25% to 0.35% and a 2026 outlook kept at the September levels pass; a lower margin or another cut fails.
- Jan 2027 (estimate): Q4 2026 results and the 2027 outlook. Status: Pending. Watch: A 2027 outlook that keeps adjusted EPS of $1.75 to $1.83 and buybacks of $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion passes; a lower EPS range or smaller buybacks fails.

## Balance sheet

Huntington funds itself mostly with deposits. At June 30, 2026, total assets were $284.0 billion and deposits were $222.5 billion, of which 69% were insured. Other funding was $3.1 billion of short-term borrowings and $18.7 billion of long-term debt. Cash and due from banks was $3.3 billion, and interest-earning deposits with banks were $12.7 billion. Huntington had $127.6 billion of selected contingent liquidity sources, mostly unused secured borrowing capacity. Loans and leases were $189.4 billion, and the allowance for credit losses was 1.78% of loans. Securities were $35.2 billion available for sale and $14.4 billion held to maturity. Capital is the real limit. Total shareholders' equity was $32.6 billion, including $2.9 billion of preferred stock, and goodwill and other intangible assets were $10.4 billion after the Cadence purchase. The estimated CET1 ratio was 10.0%, and tangible book value was $9.65 per share. The quarterly common dividend was $0.155 per share.

As of 2026-06-30.

Sources:

- https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/49196/000004919626000066/hban-20260630.htm
- https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/49196/000004919626000060/hban20260630_8kex991.htm
- https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/49196/000004919626000077/hbanbarxpresentation_vf.htm

## Recent events

- 2026-09-18: Huntington said that Helga Houston, a Senior Executive Vice President, will retire on December 31, 2026.
- 2026-09-16: At an investor conference, Huntington cut its 2027 adjusted EPS target to $1.75 to $1.83. It cut its 2026 net interest income growth outlook to about 35% from 39% to 43%, because deposit costs stayed high and loan growth and loan yields were lower than expected. It raised its 2026 fee income growth outlook to about 32%, said that the $435 million of yearly cost savings from Cadence and Veritex was fully delivered, and expects buybacks of $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion in 2027.
- 2026-09-03: The board appointed Brantley Standridge as President of Huntington, from September 8, 2026. Stephen Steinour stays as Chairman and CEO.
- 2026-07-23: Huntington reported Q2 2026 results. EPS was $0.33 and adjusted EPS was $0.39. Net interest income rose 40% from a year earlier to $2.05 billion, and fee income rose 67% to $785 million, mostly because of the Cadence and Veritex purchases. The net interest margin was 3.21%. Net charge-offs were 0.25% of loans. The CET1 ratio was 10.0%, and Huntington bought back $159 million of shares. It completed the systems conversion of Cadence Bank in mid-June.
- 2026-02-01: Huntington completed its purchase of Cadence Bank, which added $51.3 billion of assets and $43.5 billion of deposits.

## Risks

- High: Short-term interest rates stayed higher than Huntington expected in January 2026, and deposit competition rose. If deposit costs stay high, the net interest margin can fall below the low 3.20s and the 2027 EPS target can fall again.
- Medium: Average total assets rose 37% from Q2 2025 to Q2 2026, mostly through two bank purchases. Problems with customers or staff in the Cadence and Veritex markets, or lower revenue synergies than planned, can lower growth.
- Medium: Credit losses are low now, at 0.25% of loans in Q2 2026, but nonperforming assets rose to 0.85% of loans and other real estate. A weaker economy can raise losses on commercial, commercial real estate and auto loans.
- Medium: The CET1 ratio fell to 10.0% at June 30, 2026, from 10.5% a year earlier, and it was 9.0% including unrealized securities losses. New capital rules or larger losses can limit the planned buybacks.

## Links

- Page: https://picks.kamadorueda.com/company/HBAN/
- History of changes: https://picks.kamadorueda.com/company/HBAN/history/
- JSON with full history: https://picks.kamadorueda.com/data/company/HBAN.json

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