Will Zions (ZION) Stock Beat Q2 Earnings On Higher Rates?

Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ:ZION) is slated to announce second-quarter 2017 results tomorrow, after the market closes. Its revenues and earnings are expected to grow year over year.

Driven by an increase in revenues and lower credit cost, Zions’ first-quarter earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, rise in operating expenses was an undermining factor.

Also, the company’s business activities and prospects encouraged analysts to revise earnings estimates. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the just concluded quarter moved 1.6% upward over the last 30 days.

Zions boasts an impressive earnings surprise history. The company’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 11.8%.

The company’s price performance has been decent as well. Its shares have gained 1.2% year to date as against the industry’s decline of 0.3%.

Why a Likely Positive Surprise?

Our proven model indicates that chances of Zions beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate this time are high. This is because, it has the right combination of two key ingredients – a positive Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better.

You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks ESP: The Earnings ESP for Zions is +1.61%. This is because the Most Accurate estimate of 63 cents is above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 62 cents.

Zacks Rank: Zions carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This further increases the predictive power of ESP.

Factors to Influence Q2 Results

Management expects net interest margin to benefit from the Mar 2017 rate hike. Also, we believe that increasing yields and growth in investment securities portfolio will boost margins to some extent in the to-be-reported quarter.

This is expected to have some positive impact on net interest income (NII) in the second quarter. Further, a modest improvement in loans will support NII.

Zions has been undertaking several initiatives to control costs. Though its cost-saving efforts are likely to reduce operating expenses to some extent, the company’s continued spending on technology systems overhaul and normal salary adjustments will keep overall expenses stable during the quarter.

Zions’ oil and gas-related exposure (9.4% of net loans) remains a matter of concern, despite a recovery in oil prices. Though the company expects energy-related losses to be lower year over year, oilfield services portfolio is likely to hamper significant improvement in asset quality. Hence, overall provisions should remain elevated during the quarter.

Other Stocks that Warrant a Look

Here are some other finance stocks worth considering, as they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter.

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:TROW) is slated to release results on Jul 25. It has an Earnings ESP of +2.38% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Hilltop Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HTH) has an Earnings ESP of +2.33% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is slated to release results on Jul 27.

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) has an Earnings ESP of +1.37% and a Zacks Rank #2. It is slated to report June quarter-end results on Jul 28.

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