Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) Stock Forecast & Price Target

Huntington Bancshares is experiencing robust organic loan and deposit growth, with end-of-period loans increasing by $1.2 billion (0.8%) and deposits by $1.3 billion (0.7%) as of February 28. Management anticipates margin expansion of approximately 10 basis points per year through 2026 and 2027, fueled by fixed asset repricing and lower deposit costs, which are expected to enhance overall net interest income growth. The bank's successful execution in legacy markets and recent acquisitions, notably Cadence and Veritex, is expected to contribute to peer-leading growth and earnings momentum, particularly in high-growth southeastern markets and through enhanced consumer banking capabilities.

Huntington Bancshares has experienced a year-to-date decline of 12.3%, the worst performance among its peers, driven by a deteriorating economic outlook and sluggish loan growth that threatens to impact lending margins and increase credit costs. Analysts have revised their earnings per share (EPS) estimates downward for 2026 and 2027, citing a significant reduction in purchase accounting accretion, which is projected to negatively affect financial performance. Additionally, the company's challenges with integrating recent acquisitions and a more difficult deposit-gathering environment further contribute to the negative sentiment surrounding its stock.