Leading Analyst Mayo Predicts Deregulation Will Ignite Bank M&A Surge: Here Are His Acquisition Picks
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 04 2025
0mins
Should l Buy BKU?
Source: CNBC
Deregulation and M&A Boom: Wells Fargo analyst Mike Mayo suggests that investors are overlooking a potential surge in bank mergers and acquisitions driven by a favorable regulatory environment, which he describes as the best in three decades.
Regulatory Changes: Mayo highlights that upcoming regulatory changes, including faster deal approvals and reduced scrutiny, could enhance banks' ability to merge and acquire, with expectations of continued deregulation through 2028.
Performance Trends: Historically, banks have outperformed during periods of deregulation, similar to trends observed in the late 1990s, indicating a potential for significant growth in the sector.
Top Takeover Candidates: Mayo identified several banks as likely takeover targets based on a comprehensive screening process, with top candidates including BankUnited, Banc of California, and First Horizon, among others.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy BKU?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on BKU
Wall Street analysts forecast BKU stock price to rise
8 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
3 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 44.510
Low
42.00
Averages
47.50
High
55.00
Current: 44.510
Low
42.00
Averages
47.50
High
55.00
About BKU
BankUnited, Inc. is a bank holding company of BankUnited (the Bank). The Bank provides a full range of commercial lending and both commercial and consumer deposit services through banking centers located in Florida, the New York metropolitan area and Dallas, Texas, and a comprehensive suite of wholesale products to customers through an Atlanta office focused on the Southeast region. The Bank’s lending products include commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, residential mortgages and other consumer loans. It offers traditional deposit products including commercial and consumer checking accounts, money market deposit accounts, savings accounts and certificates of deposit with a variety of terms and rates, as well as a robust suite of treasury, payments and cash management services. The Bank provides certain commercial lending and deposit products through national platforms and certain consumer deposit products through an online channel.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Utz Brands Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
- Utz Brands Dividend Announcement: Utz Brands has declared a quarterly cash dividend of approximately $0.063 per share, with payment expected on April 23, 2026, to shareholders of record as of April 13, 2026, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to shareholder returns.
- BankUnited Dividend Increase: BankUnited announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.33 per common share, reflecting a 6% increase from the previous dividend of $0.31, payable on April 30, 2026, indicating robust growth in the company's profitability.
- First Bancorp Dividend Declaration: First Bancorp declared a quarterly cash dividend of 37 cents per share, payable on April 17, 2026, and based on a closing price of $27.88 on March 25, 2026, the annualized dividend yield stands at 5.31%, highlighting the company's attractiveness to shareholders.
- Oxford Industries Dividend Increase: Oxford Industries declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.70 per share, a 1% increase from the previous payment, payable on May 1, 2026, showcasing the company's commitment to consistent shareholder returns since going public in 1960.
See More
BankUnited Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend Increase
- Dividend Increase: BankUnited has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.33 per share, reflecting a 6% increase from the previous $0.31, indicating sustained profitability and a commitment to shareholder returns.
- Payment Date: The dividend will be payable on April 30, 2026, to shareholders of record as of April 10, 2026, ensuring timely returns for eligible investors and strengthening the company's relationship with its shareholders.
- Asset Size: As of December 31, 2025, BankUnited's total assets reached $35 billion, underscoring its robust position in the financial market, which supports ongoing dividend policies and meets customer demands.
- Business Scope: BankUnited offers a full range of consumer and commercial banking products to individuals, small businesses, and large institutions, showcasing its competitive edge in diversified financial services and aiding its expansion across multiple markets.
See More
BANKUNITED INC ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND OF $0.33 PER SHARE
- Dividend Announcement: BankUnited has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.33 per share.
- Shareholder Benefit: This dividend is intended to provide a return to shareholders, reflecting the bank's financial performance.
See More
BANKUNITED, INC. DECLARES A 6% RISE IN QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
- Company Announcement: BankUnited, Inc. has announced a 6% increase in its quarterly dividend.
- Dividend Details: The increase reflects the company's commitment to returning value to its shareholders.
See More
BankUnited Stock Enters Oversold Territory
- Oversold Indicator Analysis: BankUnited Inc.'s Relative Strength Index (RSI) has dropped to 29.3, below the oversold threshold of 30, indicating that recent selling pressure may be nearing exhaustion, attracting investor interest.
- Price and Yield Relationship: With a current share price of $44.76, BankUnited's annualized dividend stands at $1.24, translating to an annual yield of 2.77%, providing a more attractive investment opportunity for dividend investors.
- Market Sentiment on Dividends: Compared to the average RSI of 40.7 for dividend stocks covered by Dividend Channel, BKU's low RSI may suggest a lack of market confidence in its dividends, yet it also opens a window for potential buying opportunities.
- Investor Strategy Recommendations: While dividend predictability is often low, investors should still examine BankUnited's dividend history to assess the likelihood of future dividend sustainability, enabling more informed investment decisions.
See More
The Small-Cap Comeback Could Be Beginning: Here Are Some Funds and Stocks to Consider.
- Small-company stocks gaining attention: Investors are increasingly focusing on small-company stocks as interest in artificial intelligence wanes.
- Market dynamics shifting: The shift in investor sentiment indicates a broader change in market dynamics, moving away from tech-heavy investments.
- Potential for growth: Small-company stocks are seen as having significant growth potential, attracting more capital as investors seek new opportunities.
- Economic implications: This trend may reflect changing economic conditions and investor strategies in response to market fluctuations.
See More
Utz Brands Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
- Utz Brands Dividend Announcement: Utz Brands has declared a quarterly cash dividend of approximately $0.063 per share, with payment expected on April 23, 2026, to shareholders of record as of April 13, 2026, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to shareholder returns.
- BankUnited Dividend Increase: BankUnited announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.33 per common share, reflecting a 6% increase from the previous dividend of $0.31, payable on April 30, 2026, indicating robust growth in the company's profitability.
- First Bancorp Dividend Declaration: First Bancorp declared a quarterly cash dividend of 37 cents per share, payable on April 17, 2026, and based on a closing price of $27.88 on March 25, 2026, the annualized dividend yield stands at 5.31%, highlighting the company's attractiveness to shareholders.
- Oxford Industries Dividend Increase: Oxford Industries declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.70 per share, a 1% increase from the previous payment, payable on May 1, 2026, showcasing the company's commitment to consistent shareholder returns since going public in 1960.
See More
BankUnited Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend Increase
- Dividend Increase: BankUnited has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.33 per share, reflecting a 6% increase from the previous $0.31, indicating sustained profitability and a commitment to shareholder returns.
- Payment Date: The dividend will be payable on April 30, 2026, to shareholders of record as of April 10, 2026, ensuring timely returns for eligible investors and strengthening the company's relationship with its shareholders.
- Asset Size: As of December 31, 2025, BankUnited's total assets reached $35 billion, underscoring its robust position in the financial market, which supports ongoing dividend policies and meets customer demands.
- Business Scope: BankUnited offers a full range of consumer and commercial banking products to individuals, small businesses, and large institutions, showcasing its competitive edge in diversified financial services and aiding its expansion across multiple markets.
See More
BANKUNITED INC ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND OF $0.33 PER SHARE
- Dividend Announcement: BankUnited has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.33 per share.
- Shareholder Benefit: This dividend is intended to provide a return to shareholders, reflecting the bank's financial performance.
See More
BANKUNITED, INC. DECLARES A 6% RISE IN QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
- Company Announcement: BankUnited, Inc. has announced a 6% increase in its quarterly dividend.
- Dividend Details: The increase reflects the company's commitment to returning value to its shareholders.
See More
BankUnited Stock Enters Oversold Territory
- Oversold Indicator Analysis: BankUnited Inc.'s Relative Strength Index (RSI) has dropped to 29.3, below the oversold threshold of 30, indicating that recent selling pressure may be nearing exhaustion, attracting investor interest.
- Price and Yield Relationship: With a current share price of $44.76, BankUnited's annualized dividend stands at $1.24, translating to an annual yield of 2.77%, providing a more attractive investment opportunity for dividend investors.
- Market Sentiment on Dividends: Compared to the average RSI of 40.7 for dividend stocks covered by Dividend Channel, BKU's low RSI may suggest a lack of market confidence in its dividends, yet it also opens a window for potential buying opportunities.
- Investor Strategy Recommendations: While dividend predictability is often low, investors should still examine BankUnited's dividend history to assess the likelihood of future dividend sustainability, enabling more informed investment decisions.
See More
The Small-Cap Comeback Could Be Beginning: Here Are Some Funds and Stocks to Consider.
- Small-company stocks gaining attention: Investors are increasingly focusing on small-company stocks as interest in artificial intelligence wanes.
- Market dynamics shifting: The shift in investor sentiment indicates a broader change in market dynamics, moving away from tech-heavy investments.
- Potential for growth: Small-company stocks are seen as having significant growth potential, attracting more capital as investors seek new opportunities.
- Economic implications: This trend may reflect changing economic conditions and investor strategies in response to market fluctuations.
See More
