BOK Financial Reiterated at Neutral - Analyst Blog
June 03 2011 - 9:15AM
Zacks
After a detailed analysis
of the company fundamentals following first quarter 2011 earnings
results and in light of the current economic environment, we
reaffirm our Neutral recommendation on BOK Financial Corporation
(BOKF).
BOK Financial’s first
quarter 2011 earnings of 94 cents per share were slightly ahead of
the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 91 cents. The results also compare
favorably with the prior quarter’s earnings of 86 cents per share
and prior-year quarter’s earnings of 88 cents per share.
Results primarily reflect a
rise in interest revenue, lower expenses and an improvement in
credit metrics. However, fees and commissions revenue remained
stretched with a drop in mortgage banking income. BOK Financial
also announced a dividend increase.
Strategic expansions and
the local-leadership based business model of BOK Financial, which
has peers such as Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc.
(CFR) and First Financial Bankshares
Inc. (FFIN), have aided its expansion into a leading
financial service provider from a small bank in Oklahoma. Going
forward, we believe that its diverse revenue stream and expense
control initiatives would augment its earnings.
Capital ratios at BOK
Financial are exhibiting an uptrend while asset quality trends are
also improving. The company also continues to return wealth to its
shareholders in the form of dividends and concurrent with the first
quarter 2011 earnings results, it has also announced a sixth
consecutive annual hike since it paid its first cash dividend in
the second quarter of 2005. The increased dividend was paid last
month. Such a shareholder friendly approach augurs well for the
stock.
However, as economic and
employment conditions are likely to remain weak, we expect revenue
growth to be restricted. Additionally, we also expect both top and
bottom lines to bear the brunt of regulatory issues. Therefore, the
risk and reward profile of the company seems somewhat balanced for
BOK Financial and we reiterate our Neutral
recommendation.
BOK Financial shares are
maintaining a Zacks #2 Rank, which translates into a short-term Buy
recommendation.
BOK FINL CORP (BOKF): Free Stock Analysis Report
CULLEN FROST BK (CFR): Free Stock Analysis Report
FIRST FIN BK-TX (FFIN): Free Stock Analysis Report
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