Everything You Should Know About ING's Rating Upgrade to Buy
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 09 2025
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Should l Buy ING?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
ING Groep Upgrade: ING Groep has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which are crucial for stock price movements.
Earnings Estimate Revisions: The Zacks rating system effectively tracks earnings estimate revisions, showing a strong correlation with near-term stock price movements, making it a valuable tool for investors.
Institutional Investor Influence: Changes in earnings estimates impact institutional investors' valuation models, leading to significant stock price movements based on their buying or selling actions.
Quantum Computing Potential: The article highlights the rapid advancement of quantum computing, with major tech companies integrating it into their infrastructure, suggesting it could surpass AI in significance.
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Analyst Views on ING
About ING
ING Groep N.V. (ING) is a financial institution. The Company offers banking services. The Company's segments include Retail Netherlands, which offers current and savings accounts, business lending, mortgages and other consumer lending in the Netherlands; Retail Belgium, which offers products that are similar to those in the Netherlands; Retail Germany, which offers current and savings accounts, mortgages and other customer lending; Retail Other, which offers products that are similar to those in the Netherlands, and Wholesale Banking, which offers wholesale banking activities (a full range of products from cash management to corporate finance), real estate and lease. The Company's Retail Banking business lines provide products and services to individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-corporates. ING's banking activities in Australia are undertaken by ING Bank (Australia) Limited (trading as ING Direct) and ING Bank NV Sydney Branch.
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.
ING Group Progress on Share Buyback Program
- Share Repurchase Volume: As of February 20, 2026, ING Group repurchased 2,592,238 shares under its €1.1 billion buyback program at an average price of €24.59, totaling €63,749,138.94, reflecting the company's proactive capital management strategy.
- Buyback Program Overview: To date, ING has repurchased 31,528,913 shares at an average price of €23.56, with total expenditures reaching €742,737,404.04, indicating the company's ongoing commitment to reducing share circulation.
- Progress on Buyback: Currently, approximately 67.52% of the maximum total value of the buyback program has been completed, which not only aids in enhancing earnings per share but may also bolster investor confidence in the company's future growth prospects.
- Transparency and Disclosure: ING provides detailed daily repurchase information and transaction reports on its website, ensuring that investors have timely access to relevant data, thereby enhancing the company's transparency and trustworthiness in the market.
See More
OCI Energy and ING Close Financing for Solar Project SunRoper
- Successful Financing: OCI Energy, Arava Power, and ING Capital have successfully closed construction financing for Project SunRoper, totaling approximately $394 million, marking the first collaboration among the three companies to advance renewable energy projects in the U.S.
- Long-Term Power Purchase Agreement: The project is backed by a 20-year power purchase agreement with a Fortune 100 company, ensuring long-term revenue stability and enhancing investor confidence while promoting sustainable project development.
- Strategic Partnership: The collaboration between OCI Energy and Arava Power is further solidified, with both companies committed to building over 1 GW of solar capacity in the U.S. within the next two years, reflecting their focus on the U.S. market and long-term strategic planning.
- Contribution to Clean Energy: Project SunRoper is expected to begin commercial operations in Q3 2027, delivering critical clean energy capacity to one of the highest electricity-demand regions in Texas and the U.S., thereby supporting grid reliability and emission reduction goals.
See More
ING Group Progress on Share Buyback Programme
- Share Repurchase Volume: As of January 30, 2026, ING Group has repurchased a total of 2,606,377 shares under its €1.1 billion buyback program, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to optimizing its capital structure.
- Average Price and Total Expenditure: The shares repurchased this week were acquired at an average price of €24.76, totaling €64,545,806.61, indicating the company's proactive management of shareholder value amidst market fluctuations.
- Progress of Buyback Program: To date, ING has repurchased 25,520,672 shares at an average price of €23.23, with total expenditures reaching €592,900,930.89, completing approximately 53.90% of the maximum total value of the buyback program, showcasing effective capital management.
- Market Reaction and Strategic Implications: By executing this buyback program, ING not only boosts shareholder confidence but also potentially enhances stock performance, reflecting the company's robust strategy and confidence in future growth amidst the current economic landscape.
See More
Deutsche Bank Upgrades ING to Buy Amid Strong Growth Outlook
- Earnings Growth Outlook: Deutsche Bank upgraded ING Group's rating from Hold to Buy in a Monday note, citing strong volume growth and structurally higher margins, with a projected 5% volume growth for FY26, indicating robust future growth potential for the bank.
- Stock Performance: ING shares gained 3% in U.S. trading, up 8.1% year-to-date and 86% year-over-year, reflecting optimistic market expectations for its future performance and investor confidence in its growth prospects.
- Market Competitive Advantage: Analyst Benjamin Goy noted that ING's stock discount to European banks has widened to a new six-month high at -8%, suggesting a re-evaluation of its valuation by the market, which may present a favorable buying opportunity for investors.
- Loan Growth Potential: Goy believes that ING's strong loan growth track record and above-average growth in the Dutch and Belgian markets will drive its performance to exceed expectations, further solidifying its competitive position in the global market.
See More
ING Group Q4 2025 Earnings Highlights
- Earnings Growth: ING Group reported a Q4 2025 GAAP EPS of €0.48 with total income reaching €5.8 billion, reflecting a 7.2% year-over-year increase, indicating strong performance and profitability across all markets.
- Customer Expansion: The addition of 352,000 mobile primary customers in Q4 demonstrates the company's successful customer base expansion across all markets, enhancing its competitive edge and customer loyalty.
- Deposit Increase: Net core deposits grew by €9.5 billion in Q4 2025, showcasing customer trust and ING's success in attracting deposits, which further strengthens its funding base.
- Future Outlook: The company anticipates total income of around €24 billion in 2026 and over €25 billion in 2027, indicating robust growth potential and confidence in future performance.
See More
Changpeng Zhao: Crypto Will Be Default Currency for AI Agents
- AI and Blockchain Convergence: Changpeng Zhao predicted at the Davos Forum that cryptocurrency will become the default currency for AI agents, emphasizing that blockchain will serve as the most natural technical interface for AI agents, signaling a significant transformation in the financial sector.
- Asset Tokenization Strategy: He revealed active discussions with over a dozen governments on asset tokenization strategies, where governments can generate early financial returns and catalyze upgrades across mining and trading sectors, showcasing the potential of cryptocurrency in global finance.
- Trading Volume and User Base: Binance currently serves 300 million users, with trading volumes surpassing both the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, indicating the mainstreaming of cryptocurrency, and the platform's resilience is highlighted by processing $7 billion in withdrawals in a single day during market stress.
- Regulatory Recommendations: Zhao noted the dramatic differences in global cryptocurrency regulations and advocated for a
See More
ING Group Progress on Share Buyback Program
- Share Repurchase Volume: As of February 20, 2026, ING Group repurchased 2,592,238 shares under its €1.1 billion buyback program at an average price of €24.59, totaling €63,749,138.94, reflecting the company's proactive capital management strategy.
- Buyback Program Overview: To date, ING has repurchased 31,528,913 shares at an average price of €23.56, with total expenditures reaching €742,737,404.04, indicating the company's ongoing commitment to reducing share circulation.
- Progress on Buyback: Currently, approximately 67.52% of the maximum total value of the buyback program has been completed, which not only aids in enhancing earnings per share but may also bolster investor confidence in the company's future growth prospects.
- Transparency and Disclosure: ING provides detailed daily repurchase information and transaction reports on its website, ensuring that investors have timely access to relevant data, thereby enhancing the company's transparency and trustworthiness in the market.
See More
OCI Energy and ING Close Financing for Solar Project SunRoper
- Successful Financing: OCI Energy, Arava Power, and ING Capital have successfully closed construction financing for Project SunRoper, totaling approximately $394 million, marking the first collaboration among the three companies to advance renewable energy projects in the U.S.
- Long-Term Power Purchase Agreement: The project is backed by a 20-year power purchase agreement with a Fortune 100 company, ensuring long-term revenue stability and enhancing investor confidence while promoting sustainable project development.
- Strategic Partnership: The collaboration between OCI Energy and Arava Power is further solidified, with both companies committed to building over 1 GW of solar capacity in the U.S. within the next two years, reflecting their focus on the U.S. market and long-term strategic planning.
- Contribution to Clean Energy: Project SunRoper is expected to begin commercial operations in Q3 2027, delivering critical clean energy capacity to one of the highest electricity-demand regions in Texas and the U.S., thereby supporting grid reliability and emission reduction goals.
See More
ING Group Progress on Share Buyback Programme
- Share Repurchase Volume: As of January 30, 2026, ING Group has repurchased a total of 2,606,377 shares under its €1.1 billion buyback program, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to optimizing its capital structure.
- Average Price and Total Expenditure: The shares repurchased this week were acquired at an average price of €24.76, totaling €64,545,806.61, indicating the company's proactive management of shareholder value amidst market fluctuations.
- Progress of Buyback Program: To date, ING has repurchased 25,520,672 shares at an average price of €23.23, with total expenditures reaching €592,900,930.89, completing approximately 53.90% of the maximum total value of the buyback program, showcasing effective capital management.
- Market Reaction and Strategic Implications: By executing this buyback program, ING not only boosts shareholder confidence but also potentially enhances stock performance, reflecting the company's robust strategy and confidence in future growth amidst the current economic landscape.
See More
Deutsche Bank Upgrades ING to Buy Amid Strong Growth Outlook
- Earnings Growth Outlook: Deutsche Bank upgraded ING Group's rating from Hold to Buy in a Monday note, citing strong volume growth and structurally higher margins, with a projected 5% volume growth for FY26, indicating robust future growth potential for the bank.
- Stock Performance: ING shares gained 3% in U.S. trading, up 8.1% year-to-date and 86% year-over-year, reflecting optimistic market expectations for its future performance and investor confidence in its growth prospects.
- Market Competitive Advantage: Analyst Benjamin Goy noted that ING's stock discount to European banks has widened to a new six-month high at -8%, suggesting a re-evaluation of its valuation by the market, which may present a favorable buying opportunity for investors.
- Loan Growth Potential: Goy believes that ING's strong loan growth track record and above-average growth in the Dutch and Belgian markets will drive its performance to exceed expectations, further solidifying its competitive position in the global market.
See More
ING Group Q4 2025 Earnings Highlights
- Earnings Growth: ING Group reported a Q4 2025 GAAP EPS of €0.48 with total income reaching €5.8 billion, reflecting a 7.2% year-over-year increase, indicating strong performance and profitability across all markets.
- Customer Expansion: The addition of 352,000 mobile primary customers in Q4 demonstrates the company's successful customer base expansion across all markets, enhancing its competitive edge and customer loyalty.
- Deposit Increase: Net core deposits grew by €9.5 billion in Q4 2025, showcasing customer trust and ING's success in attracting deposits, which further strengthens its funding base.
- Future Outlook: The company anticipates total income of around €24 billion in 2026 and over €25 billion in 2027, indicating robust growth potential and confidence in future performance.
See More
Changpeng Zhao: Crypto Will Be Default Currency for AI Agents
- AI and Blockchain Convergence: Changpeng Zhao predicted at the Davos Forum that cryptocurrency will become the default currency for AI agents, emphasizing that blockchain will serve as the most natural technical interface for AI agents, signaling a significant transformation in the financial sector.
- Asset Tokenization Strategy: He revealed active discussions with over a dozen governments on asset tokenization strategies, where governments can generate early financial returns and catalyze upgrades across mining and trading sectors, showcasing the potential of cryptocurrency in global finance.
- Trading Volume and User Base: Binance currently serves 300 million users, with trading volumes surpassing both the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, indicating the mainstreaming of cryptocurrency, and the platform's resilience is highlighted by processing $7 billion in withdrawals in a single day during market stress.
- Regulatory Recommendations: Zhao noted the dramatic differences in global cryptocurrency regulations and advocated for a
See More
