The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Bancorp, Bank of Commerce Holdings, JPMorgan Chase, U.S. Bancorp and Citigroup

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 6, 2018 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include The Bancorp, Inc. TBBK, Bank of Commerce Holdings BOCH, JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM, U.S. Bancorp USB and Citigroup Inc. C.

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

Wage Spike Seals December Rate Hike: 5 Picks

On Nov 2, Treasury yields soared after wages increased by a record level in October. Job additions easily outperformed estimates even as the unemployment rate remained flat at a 49-year low. These developments strengthened the view that the Fed would attempt to control inflation by announcing further rate hikes. The Fed is widely tipped to raise rates after its meeting in December.

Last month’s spurt in wages more or less seals the deal on another rate hike for the year. A flurry of bullish economic reports released recently has made bonds less attractive compared to their equity counterparts. An increase in rates widens the yield spread for banks, which in turn boosts their margins. Adding banking stocks to your portfolio looks like a smart option at this point.

Wage Gains Hit Nine-Year High

According to a fresh report from the Department of Labor, the U.S. economy added 250,000 jobs in October, significantly higher than the estimated level of 193,000. This rebound in employment occurs after the plunge in hiring caused by Hurricane Florence.

Meanwhile, average hourly earnings increased by 5 cents or 0.2% to $27.30. The figure was in line with estimates and marginally lower than September’s increase of 0.3%. However, the year-over-year increase in wages increased from 2.8% to 3.1%. This is the fastest pace of wage increases recorded since early 2009.  

Substantial wage hikes announced by major employers like Amazon are likely responsible for the strong increase noted in wages. Restaurants and retailers have substantially raised wages. Costco boosted its entry level pay by $1 an hour in June. Also, Microsoft has reportedly handed out large bonuses to stay ahead in the cloud computing race.

Yields Spike, December Hike Likely

Consequently, the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond increased 6.7 basis points to 3.454%, a fresh four-year high. This resulted in a weekly increase of 13.9 basis points, the widest such increase since Oct 5. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note increased 7 basis points to 3.214%, its highest level in three weeks. This brings its weekly increase to 13.7 basis points, also the highest since Oct 5.

The spike in wage growth more or less confirms a December rate hike from the Fed. This increase was widely expected in any case. But it is important to note that the Fed adheres to the belief that a slide in unemployment results in higher wage growth. This in turn results in higher inflation. According to the CME Fedwatch tool, the odds of the Fed hiking rates to 2.25%-2.50% post a December 18-19 policy meeting is 81% as of Nov 2.

Our Choices

October’s spike in wage gains clearly indicates that the labor pool continues to tighten even as the jobs market hovers near full employment. This is likely to lead to further wage increases, causing the Fed to hike rates to combat inflationary pressures. In such an event, a rate hike in December is more or less inevitable.

Adding banking stocks to your portfolio looks like a profitable option at this time. This is because these are likely to benefit from the widening of the yield spread. We have narrowed our search to the following stocks based on a good Zacks Rank and other relevant metrics.

The Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for The Bancorp Bank which offers a variety of banking products and services.

Bancorp has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The company has expected earnings growth of 45.1% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 1.4% over the last 30 days.

Bank of Commerce Holdings is the holding company for Redding Bank of Commerce that offers banking services to both individuals and businesses.

Bank of Commerce’s expected earnings growth for the current year is 42.2%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 5.2% over the last 30 days. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a financial holding company with assets worth $2.62 trillion and stockholders’ equity worth $259 billion as of Sep 30, 2018.

JPMorgan Chase has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The company has expected earnings growth of 35.1% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 1.4% over the last 30 days.

U.S. Bancorp offers a variety of financial services in the United States. The company has operated a well-balanced business model, with non-interest income representing 44% of net revenue in 2017.

U.S. Bancorp has a Zacks Rank #2. The company has expected earnings growth of 19.8% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 0.6% over the last 30 days.

Citigroup Inc. is a globally diversified financial services holding company providing a range of financial products and services.

Citigroup has a Zacks Rank #2. The company has expected earnings growth of 25.5% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 1.4% over the last 30 days.

Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?

Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.

Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.  

See the pot trades we're targeting>>

About Zacks Equity Research

Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.

Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News

Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>.

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch

Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts

Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.

Media Contact

Zacks Investment Research

800-767-3771 ext. 9339

support@zacks.com

https://www.zacks.com/

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
Citigroup Inc. (C) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
U.S. Bancorp (USB) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
The Bancorp, Inc. (TBBK) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Bank of Commerce Holdings (CA) (BOCH) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research