Here's Why Banner Corporation (BANR) Stock Is A Solid Bet

From the vast universe of banking stocks, today we pick Banner Corporation (NASDAQ:BANR) for you. The company offers a profitable investment opportunity based on steady earnings growth and robust fundamentals.

It has been witnessing upward estimate revisions, reflecting analysts’ optimism about its earnings growth potential. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 and 2020 displayed an upward trend.

Further, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock has gained 5.8% in the last three months.

Banner Corporation has a number of other aspects that make it an attractive investment option.

Why Banner Corporation is a Must Buy

Earnings per Share Growth: In the last 3-5 years, Banner Corporation witnessed EPS growth of 8.4%. Further, its long-term (3-5 years) expected EPS growth of 7% promises reward for shareholders. In addition, the company recorded average positive earnings surprise of 15.62% in the last four quarters.

Revenue Strength: Banner Corporation continues to witness top-line improvement. Since 2014, the company has recorded a continued rise in its sales, witnessing five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 22.3% in 2018.

The company’s projected sales growth (F1/F0) of 9% (as against the nil industry average) indicates constant upward momentum in revenues.

Superior Return on Equity (ROE): Banner Corporation’s ROE is 10.44% compared with the industry average of 8.75%, highlighting the company’s commendable position over its peers.

Strong Leverage: Banner Corporation’s debt/equity ratio is 0.44 compared to the industry average of 0.62, indicating a relatively lower debt burden. It highlights the financial stability of the company even in an unstable economic environment.

Other Stocks to Consider

Great Southern (NYSE:SO) Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:GSBC) , a Zacks #1 Ranked (Strong Buy) stock, has been witnessing upward estimate revisions for the past 30 days. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE:MTB) has been witnessing upward estimate revisions for the past 60 days. At present, it carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

Hamilton Lane Inc. (NASDAQ:HLNE) has been witnessing upward estimate revisions for the past 30 days. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019

In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year?

Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%.

See Latest Stocks Today >>

M&T Bank Corporation (MTB): Free Stock Analysis Report

Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. (GSBC): Free Stock Analysis Report

Banner Corporation (BANR): Free Stock Analysis Report

Hamilton Lane Inc. (HLNE): Free Stock Analysis Report

Original post

Zacks Investment Research