Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) Stock Forecast & Price Target

Huntington Bancshares is viewed favorably because its franchise is generating peer-leading loan and deposit growth, expanding in the Carolinas, and scaling specialty commercial verticals while investing in faster-growing fee businesses such as capital markets, payments, and wealth management. Even after lowered guidance, it still points to top-quartile profitability, a 4Q26 efficiency ratio of 55.5% to 56%, ROTCE of 17% to 18% in 2027, and more than 20% EPS growth to $1.75 to $1.83 versus $1.45 in 2025. Its valuation discount, strong capital generation, about 5% cumulative buybacks, and completed integrations for VBTX and CADE with $70 million and $365 million in cost saves support the bullish outlook.

Huntington Bancshares is facing a negative outlook because its earnings power is being squeezed by persistent net interest margin compression, deposit pricing pressure, and a more competitive lending environment that is lowering loan growth expectations and net interest income guidance. Credit risk, regulatory constraints, and capital and liquidity requirements add downside if the economy weakens or if borrowers default, while recent acquisition integration risk from VBTX and CADE could further pressure expenses, distract management, and delay profitability improvements. The company’s revised 2026 and 2027 EPS estimates of $1.53 and $1.75, along with reduced 2026 net interest income expectations to about 35%, underscore that management is struggling to offset margin pressure, tighter spreads in CRE and indirect auto, and weaker investor confidence.