Stonegate Investment Group LLC Grows Stake in Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF)

Stonegate Investment Group LLC increased its holdings in Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF - Free Report) by 142.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 411,298 shares of the bank's stock after purchasing an additional 241,517 shares during the quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC's holdings in Regions Financial were worth $8,938,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Regions Financial by 5.4% in the first quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 304,011 shares of the bank's stock worth $6,606,000 after purchasing an additional 15,652 shares during the last quarter. LBP AM SA grew its stake in shares of Regions Financial by 149.4% in the fourth quarter. LBP AM SA now owns 730,614 shares of the bank's stock worth $17,184,000 after purchasing an additional 437,691 shares during the last quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Regions Financial in the fourth quarter worth about $1,965,000. LPL Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of Regions Financial by 4.0% in the fourth quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 939,376 shares of the bank's stock worth $22,094,000 after purchasing an additional 36,438 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. grew its stake in shares of Regions Financial by 4.8% in the first quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 567,715 shares of the bank's stock worth $12,336,000 after purchasing an additional 25,795 shares during the last quarter. 79.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Regions Financial Stock Up 1.0%

RF traded up $0.22 during trading on Friday, hitting $22.18. 21,251,660 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,323,016. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $21.18 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $22.46. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. Regions Financial Corporation has a 12-month low of $17.74 and a 12-month high of $27.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.67, a PEG ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 0.96.

Regions Financial (NYSE:RF - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The bank reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.03. Regions Financial had a return on equity of 13.04% and a net margin of 21.43%. The business had revenue of $1.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.84 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.37 EPS. Analysts predict that Regions Financial Corporation will post 2.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Regions Financial Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 2nd. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.51%. Regions Financial's dividend payout ratio is 48.08%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Regions Financial from $29.00 to $22.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Regions Financial from $26.00 to $23.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 3rd. Stephens reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $24.00 target price on shares of Regions Financial in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on Regions Financial from $28.00 to $25.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Regions Financial from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday, June 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Regions Financial presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $25.80.

Regions Financial Profile

Regions Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and bank-related services to individual and corporate customers. It operates through three segments: Corporate Bank, Consumer Bank, and Wealth Management. The Corporate Bank segment offers commercial banking services, such as commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, and investor real estate lending; equipment lease financing; deposit products; and securities underwriting and placement, loan syndication and placement, foreign exchange, derivatives, merger and acquisition, and other advisory services.