KEY

Regional Bank Performance: In 2024, major US banks reported a 20% increase in net profits, with regional banks showing strong earnings growth despite lagging behind the broader market. KeyCorp ranks ninth among the best regional bank dividend stocks, offering a reliable dividend and demonstrating positive financial metrics.

Investment Opportunities: The article highlights the potential of undervalued dividend stocks within the regional banking sector, suggesting that some may offer better returns than KeyCorp, which has maintained consistent dividend payments since 1985.

Fastest News Alerts: Benzinga Pro offers real-time intelligence and alerts for traders to stay updated on stock market movements.

Exclusive Community: Joining Benzinga Pro connects users with over 10,000 serious traders and provides access to exclusive stories from Benzinga reporters.

Homeownership Perception: Many Americans believe that homeownership is unattainable, with 46% of non-homeowners expressing this sentiment, despite the availability of financial tools and education that can aid in the homebuying process.

Financial Support and Education: KeyBank emphasizes the importance of building relationships with banks and utilizing resources like mortgage loan officers and financial wellness reviews to enhance confidence and make homeownership more accessible.

KeyCorp Stock Analysis: KeyCorp's shares recently entered oversold territory with an RSI of 28.9, indicating potential buying opportunities for investors as the stock price has dropped to $14.46 per share.

Dividend Yield Opportunity: The current annualized dividend of $0.82 per share offers a yield of 5.10%, making it attractive for dividend investors despite the recent decline in stock price.

Company Overview and Earnings Expectations: KeyCorp, a regional bank based in Cleveland, is set to announce its fiscal Q1 2025 earnings on April 17, with analysts predicting a profit of $0.33 per share, reflecting a significant increase from the previous year.

Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings: Despite a bullish consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" among analysts, KEY stock has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 and Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund over the past year, with an average price target suggesting a potential upside of 34.3%.

Stock Performance: KeyCorp's preferred stock (KEY.PRL) is down 1.4% while its common shares (KEY) have increased by 0.1% in Monday trading.

Dividend History: A chart detailing the historical dividend payments for KeyCorp's 6.200% Fixed Rate Reset Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series H is provided.

Analyst Ratings Overview: 13 analysts have provided mixed evaluations on KeyCorp, with recent ratings showing a shift towards bearish sentiments and an average price target of $19.81, which is lower than previous estimates.

Company Performance Insights: KeyCorp faces significant challenges, including declining revenue growth, below-average net margins, and return metrics, indicating difficulties in profitability and efficient asset utilization.

KeyCorp Overview: KeyCorp, a major regional banking company based in Cleveland, Ohio, has a market cap of $18.1 billion and offers various banking services. However, its stock has declined significantly, dropping 19.3% from its two-year high and underperforming compared to peers like Truist Financial Corporation.

Recent Financial Performance: Following mixed Q4 results, where revenues fell short of expectations but adjusted net income rose, KeyCorp's stock price dropped 3.6%. Despite recent struggles, analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" rating with a price target suggesting a potential upside of 19%.

Analyst Ratings: Truist Financial analyst Brian Foran maintained a Hold rating on KeyCorp with a price target of $18.00, while the average analyst consensus suggests a Moderate Buy with a higher price target of $19.86.

Insider Activity and Price Changes: Recent insider activity shows neutral sentiment towards KeyCorp, with notable share sales by executives; additionally, various analysts have recently lowered their price targets for the stock.

KeyBank's Recognition: KeyBank has received twelve 2025 Best Bank Awards from Coalition Greenwich for its exceptional service to middle market and small business clients, highlighting its commitment to building trusted relationships and providing quality advice.

Award Details: The awards include nine for middle market banking and three for small business banking, reflecting high satisfaction levels with relationship managers and advisory capabilities across various regions in the U.S.

Liquidity's New Credit Facility: Liquidity, a global asset manager, has closed a structured credit facility of up to $450 million, primarily supported by KeyBank, to enhance its lending capabilities for growth-stage technology companies in the US market.

AI-Driven Investment Strategy: The firm utilizes an AI-enabled investing platform to originate credit deals and aims to provide flexible capital solutions with a focus on late-stage tech companies, marking its first partnership with a US bank after significant growth in other regions.

AGNC Investment's Dividend Yield: AGNC Investment offers a high dividend yield of 14%, but its history of declining dividends and stock prices suggests it may not provide a reliable income stream for long-term investors.

Alternatives for Income Investors: Bank of Nova Scotia and Brookfield Renewable are presented as better options for income investors, with Bank of Nova Scotia showing potential for future dividend increases and Brookfield Renewable offering a steadily rising dividend from a diversified clean energy portfolio.

Analyst Ratings: RBC Capital analyst Gerard Cassidy maintains a Buy rating on KeyCorp with a price target of $18.00, while Citi also issued a Buy rating; however, Morgan Stanley has a Hold rating on the stock.

Insider Activity and Stock Performance: KeyCorp's shares have fluctuated between a one-year high of $20.04 and a low of $13.11, with neutral insider sentiment observed following recent share sales by executives.

Bread Financial Holdings (BFH): Analysts maintain a neutral stance with a Hold rating and a price target of $70.00, indicating potential upside from current share prices, while the consensus suggests a Moderate Buy with a target of $71.11.

KeyCorp (KEY): Morgan Stanley also holds a neutral position on KeyCorp with a Hold rating and a price target of $20.00, reflecting a Moderate Buy consensus with a slightly higher target of $20.15.

Share Repurchase Program: KeyCorp has authorized a $1.0 billion share repurchase program, set to begin in the second half of 2025, allowing for purchases in the open market or through private transactions.

Analyst Ratings Update: KeyCorp's price targets have been adjusted by various analysts, with Morgan Stanley lowering it to $20 and BofA to $18, while Citi upgraded the stock to Buy from Neutral; call volume is bullish while put volume is bearish.

Share Repurchase Program: KeyCorp has authorized a share repurchase program allowing the purchase of up to $1 billion of its common shares, set to begin in the second half of 2025.

Market Reaction: Following the announcement, KeyCorp shares rose by 0.73% in after-hours trading.

Share Repurchase Program Announcement: KeyCorp's Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program allowing the company to buy back up to $1 billion of its common shares, with purchases expected to begin in the second half of 2025.

Company Overview: Celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2025, KeyCorp is one of the largest bank-based financial services companies in the U.S., providing various financial services through approximately 1,000 branches and 1,200 ATMs across 15 states.

Morgan Stanley's Price Target Adjustment: Analyst Manan Gosalia has lowered KeyCorp's price target from $22 to $20 while maintaining an Equal Weight 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 heightened policy uncertainty, are negatively impacting the banking sector, resulting in multiple price target reductions across the group.

Financial Sector Performance: Financial sector stocks fell due to recession fears, with universal and regional banks experiencing significant declines, while property & casualty insurance stocks showed resilience.

Market Reactions to Tariffs: President Trump's tariffs have raised concerns among investors about inflation and growth, leading to a mixed performance in various financial sub-sectors, including a notable drop in private equity and consumer finance stocks.

Analyst Upgrades: Top Wall Street analysts have upgraded several companies, including Airbnb (from Hold to Buy), DocuSign (from Underweight to Neutral), KeyCorp (from Neutral to Buy), Fastenal, and W.W. Grainger (both from Market Perform to Outperform).

Price Target Adjustments: Analysts have also adjusted price targets for these stocks, with notable increases for Airbnb ($185), DocuSign ($75), and KeyCorp ($20).