CADE

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Dividend Declaration: Cadence Bank's board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.275 per share for common stock, payable on July 1, 2025, and a dividend of $0.34375 per share for Series A Preferred Stock, payable on May 20, 2025.

Company Overview: Cadence Bank is a regional financial services company with over 350 locations, recognized as one of the best employers and banks in the nation, serving customers for nearly 150 years.

Earnings Announcement: Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE) will announce its Q1 earnings on April 21st, with an EPS estimate of $0.64 and revenue estimate of $451.05M.

Performance Trends: Over the past two years, Cadence Bank has beaten EPS estimates 63% of the time but only 25% for revenue; recent revisions show mixed trends with more downward adjustments than upward.

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Stock Ratings Update: Validea's P/E/Growth Investor model, based on Peter Lynch's strategy, has upgraded Erie Indemnity Co. from 56% to 74% and Cadence Bank from 81% to 91%, indicating strong interest in both stocks due to their fundamentals and valuations.

Company Overviews: Erie Indemnity serves as an attorney-in-fact for the Erie Insurance Exchange, handling policy issuance and claims, while Cadence Bank operates a regional banking franchise offering a wide range of financial services across the South and Texas.

Earnings Reports Overview: Several companies, including Medpace Holdings, AGNC Investment Corp., and Wintrust Financial Corporation, are set to report their earnings for the quarter ending March 31, 2025, with most expected to show a decrease in earnings per share compared to the previous year.

Performance Highlights: Zions Bancorporation and BOK Financial Corporation are among the few companies expected to report an increase in earnings per share, while Flexsteel Industries and Cadence Bank also anticipate positive growth compared to last year's figures.

Analyst Ratings: Jon Arfstrom from RBC Capital maintains a Hold rating on Cadence Bank with a price target of $38.00, while the stock currently trades at $30.36 and has a consensus Moderate Buy rating with a higher price target of $41.00.

Market Performance: Cadence Bank has a market cap of $5.5 billion and a P/E ratio of 10.87, with recent reports indicating a merger approval with FCB Financial Corp and a price target adjustment by Morgan Stanley.

Special Meeting Adjournment: Cadence Bank has adjourned its special meeting of shareholders until April 25, 2025, to gather more proxies from preferred shareholders regarding a proposal for stock repurchases under Regulation H.

Dividend Declaration: The bank's board declared a special cash dividend of $0.34375 per share of Series A Preferred Stock, contingent on the approval of Proposal 2 by at least two-thirds of preferred shareholders at the upcoming meeting.

Earnings Release Announcement: Cadence Bank will announce its first quarter 2025 earnings on April 21, 2025, and hold a webcast for analysts on April 22, 2025, at 10 a.m. CT.

Company Overview: Cadence Bank is a regional financial services company with over $50 billion in assets, recognized as one of the best employers and banks in the U.S., operating more than 350 locations across the South and Texas.

Merger Announcement: Cadence Bank has received regulatory approvals to merge with FCB Financial Corp., the parent company of First Chatham Bank, effective May 1, 2025.

Company Overview: Cadence Bank is a regional financial services company with over $50 billion in assets and more than 350 locations, recognized for its commitment to customer service and community support.

Dividend-Increasing Companies: Evergy, Cadence Bank, and Tyson Foods have a strong history of increasing dividends, appealing to income-focused investors with yields around 3% to 4%.

Recent Financial Performance: Each company has reported solid revenues in their recent earnings releases, with Evergy and Tyson exceeding consensus estimates, while Cadence Bank's revenue fell slightly short.

Analyst Ratings Overview: In the last three months, five analysts have provided varied ratings on Cadence Bank, with a total of three somewhat bullish and two indifferent ratings. The average 12-month price target remains steady at $40.8, with a high estimate of $44.00 and a low of $38.00.

Financial Performance Insights: Cadence Bank has shown positive revenue growth of 11.02% over the past three months, but faces challenges with below-average net margin (29.97%), return on equity (2.55%), and return on assets (0.28%), indicating potential financial risks and inefficiencies.

Morgan Stanley's Price Target Adjustment: Morgan Stanley has lowered its price target for Cadence Bank from $46 to $42 while maintaining an Overweight rating, citing increased uncertainty and a slower economic growth outlook for Midcap Banks in North America.

Sector Challenges: The firm highlights that changes in trade and tariff policies, along with a higher level of policy uncertainty, are negatively impacting the banking sector, leading to multiple price target reductions across the group.

Special Meeting Adjournment: Cadence Bank has adjourned its special meeting of shareholders to March 26, 2025, to allow more time for soliciting proxies from preferred shareholders regarding a proposal for stock repurchases.

Voting and Participation Details: Preferred shareholders can vote on the proposal during the virtual reconvened meeting, and those who have not yet voted are encouraged to contact Okapi Partners for assistance.

Analyst Ratings Overview: Recent evaluations of Cadence Bank by four analysts show a mix of bullish and bearish sentiments, with the current average price target rising to $43.00 from $39.50, reflecting an 8.86% increase.

Financial Performance Insights: Cadence Bank exhibits notable revenue growth of 11.02%, but struggles with profitability indicators such as net margin (29.97%), return on equity (2.55%), and return on assets (0.28%), alongside a higher debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69 compared to industry averages.

Merger Announcement: Cadence Bank has signed a definitive merger agreement with FCB Financial Corp., the parent company of First Chatham Bank, to enhance its presence in the Savannah, Georgia market. The transaction is valued at approximately $103.6 million and involves issuing shares and cash for outstanding stock.

Leadership and Future Plans: Following the merger, First Chatham Bank's President & CEO will become Cadence Bank Division President for Southeast Georgia, with both companies' boards unanimously approving the deal, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals expected by Q3 2025.

Earnings Reports Overview: Several companies, including Kinder Morgan, Discover Financial Services, and Alcoa Corporation, are set to report earnings for the quarter ending December 31, 2024, with varying expectations of growth or decline in earnings per share compared to the previous year.

Industry Comparisons: The Price to Earnings ratios for these companies indicate differing levels of expected growth relative to their industry averages, with some companies like Alcoa and Knight Transportation projected to outperform their competitors.

Merger Announcement: Cadence Bank has signed a definitive merger agreement with FCB Financial Corp., agreeing to issue 2.3 million shares and $23.1 million in cash for all outstanding shares of FCB, valuing the transaction at approximately $103.6 million.

Leadership Transition: Following the merger, Ken Farrell, President & CEO of First Chatham Bank, will take on the role of Division President for Cadence Bank in Southeast Georgia.

Financial Performance Overview: Cadence Bank reported strong financial results for 2024, with net income of $514.1 million and adjusted net income from continuing operations increasing by 24.5% per share compared to 2023. The bank also achieved significant loan growth and improved efficiency ratios while maintaining stable credit quality.

Future Outlook and Strategic Goals: Looking ahead to 2025, Cadence Bank aims to leverage growth in loans, deposits, and fee revenues to enhance profitability, while emphasizing a commitment to community prosperity and effective risk management amidst various economic uncertainties.

New Board Appointments: Cadence Bank has appointed Fernando Araujo and Alice Rodriguez as independent directors to its board, effective January 17, 2025. Araujo brings over 30 years of experience in oil and gas operations, while Rodriguez has extensive leadership experience in banking and community impact.

Leadership Insights: Both new board members expressed enthusiasm about contributing to Cadence Bank's growth, with Araujo focusing on operational efficiency and stakeholder outcomes, and Rodriguez emphasizing her commitment to people and purpose in driving the bank's mission forward.