On Monday, BofA Securities adjusted its outlook on Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C), increasing the price target to $90.00 from the previous $78.00, while retaining a Buy rating on the shares.
With Citigroup currently trading at $70.87 and a market capitalization of $135.2 billion, the adjustment reflects Citigroup's performance compared to its peers and anticipates future earnings potential.
"Citigroup-C shares have been notable laggards QTD, +12% vs. +21% for GSIB peers," analysts at BofA said.
The amended consent order from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in July has cast a shadow over Citigroup's self-help narrative, which is linked to capital returns and positive operating leverage. As a result, share buybacks were paused in the second quarter of 2024, and expenses are trending toward the higher end of the guidance range.
Citigroup's management has also been reticent about detailing the pace of share buybacks for the fourth quarter of 2024. Market consensus estimates point to $920 million for Q4 2024 and $5.4 billion for the full year 2025. This lack of clarity, along with ongoing discussions about the possibility of an asset cap, has kept Citigroup's unique regulatory risks in the spotlight.
In other recent news, Citigroup Inc. has reported a net income of $3.2 billion and a 3% year-over-year revenue growth, driven by strong results across all business segments, especially in services and investment banking. The bank's full-year revenue expectations are estimated between $80 billion to $81 billion. Additionally, Citigroup has announced dividends for both its common and various series of preferred stock, with payment dates set for November and December 2024.
In analyst updates, Oppenheimer has adjusted its price target for Citigroup shares to $91, while JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) maintained a neutral rating on Citi, setting a price target of $71.50. Evercore ISI slightly raised its price target to $64.00.
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