Bank of America Upgrades Popular Inc. with Strong Upside Potential
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 4d ago
0mins
Should l Buy BPOP?
Source: CNBC
- Rating Upgrade: Bank of America upgraded Popular Inc. from hold to buy, with analyst Brandon Berman raising the price target from $141 to $156, indicating a 14% upside from Monday's close, reflecting a positive outlook on the stock's future performance.
- Stock Performance: At the start of 2026, Popular Inc.'s shares have surged 13%, with over a 40% gain in the past 12 months; despite trading near a 52-week high, analysts believe there is still room for further appreciation, showcasing market confidence in its growth potential.
- Credit Quality Improvement: With a recovery in economic activity, management expects an improvement in net charge-offs in 2026, driven by better loan portfolio composition and tighter underwriting standards in consumer loans, which will further enhance the company's financial health.
- Earnings Forecast Increase: The analyst raised the 2026 EPS estimate by 3% to $14.53, driven by better-than-expected net interest margin expansion in Q4 2025, while Popular's 2.1% dividend yield and 4% annual percentage yield on CDs attract income-focused investors.
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Analyst Views on BPOP
Wall Street analysts forecast BPOP stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for BPOP is 143.00 USD with a low forecast of 135.00 USD and a high forecast of 160.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
8 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 142.840
Low
135.00
Averages
143.00
High
160.00
Current: 142.840
Low
135.00
Averages
143.00
High
160.00
About BPOP
Popular, Inc. (Popular) is a financial holding company. The Company operates in two segments: Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (BPPR), which includes its Puerto Rico business, and Banco Popular North America (BPNA), which includes its the United States mainland business. The Company has operations in Puerto Rico, the United States and the Caribbean. The Company's BPPR segment provides retail, mortgage and commercial banking services through its banking subsidiary, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, as well as auto and equipment leasing and financing, investment banking, broker-dealer and insurance services through specialized subsidiaries. The Company's BPNA segment consists of Popular North America, Inc. (PNA) functioning as the holding company for its operations in the United States. It also operates PNA's subsidiary, E-LOAN, Inc. The banking operations of BPNA in the United States mainland are based in New York, Florida and New Jersey, conducted under the name of Popular Community Bank.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Popular, Inc. Declares Monthly Cash Dividend
- Dividend Announcement: Popular, Inc. has declared a monthly cash dividend of $0.132813 per share on its 6.375% Non-Cumulative Monthly Income Preferred Stock, payable on March 2, 2026, reflecting the company's commitment to shareholder returns.
- Trust Preferred Securities Distribution: The company will also distribute $0.127604 per security on its 6.125% Cumulative Monthly Income Trust Preferred Securities, payable on the same date, enhancing its appeal in the capital markets.
- Market Position: As the leading financial institution in Puerto Rico by both assets and deposits, Popular, Inc. ranks among the top 50 U.S. bank holding companies, showcasing its strong competitive position in the market.
- Diverse Services: Through its principal subsidiary Banco Popular, the company offers retail, mortgage, and commercial banking services, while also providing a range of financial services in the mainland U.S. and British Virgin Islands, thereby expanding its market reach and customer base.
See More
Bank of America Upgrades Popular Inc. with Strong Upside Potential
- Rating Upgrade: Bank of America upgraded Popular Inc. from hold to buy, with analyst Brandon Berman raising the price target from $141 to $156, indicating a 14% upside from Monday's close, reflecting a positive outlook on the stock's future performance.
- Stock Performance: At the start of 2026, Popular Inc.'s shares have surged 13%, with over a 40% gain in the past 12 months; despite trading near a 52-week high, analysts believe there is still room for further appreciation, showcasing market confidence in its growth potential.
- Credit Quality Improvement: With a recovery in economic activity, management expects an improvement in net charge-offs in 2026, driven by better loan portfolio composition and tighter underwriting standards in consumer loans, which will further enhance the company's financial health.
- Earnings Forecast Increase: The analyst raised the 2026 EPS estimate by 3% to $14.53, driven by better-than-expected net interest margin expansion in Q4 2025, while Popular's 2.1% dividend yield and 4% annual percentage yield on CDs attract income-focused investors.
See More
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- Optimistic FedEx Outlook: Wells Fargo upgrades FedEx to overweight, anticipating that the upcoming investor day will showcase solid multi-year targets, particularly with expectations for a significant profit increase in fiscal year 2027.
- Palantir's Sustained Growth: Baird upgrades Palantir to outperform, citing strong Q4 results that mark the tenth consecutive quarter of revenue growth, demonstrating the company's robust performance in the U.S. commercial sector.
- SoFi's Customer Growth Momentum: JPMorgan upgrades SoFi to overweight, noting undeniable momentum in adding new members and deposits, with expectations for continued premium customer acquisition and engagement in the foreseeable future.
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- PennyMac Earnings Miss: PennyMac Financial Services (PFSI) saw a staggering 34% drop in stock price for the week ending January 30, 2026, after failing to meet Q4 earnings estimates, marking it as the largest loser among financial stocks with a market cap over $2 billion, indicating severe market concerns regarding its profitability.
- Affirm's Stock Fluctuation: Despite Needham upgrading Affirm Holdings (AFRM) to a Buy rating, the stock still fell 21% over the past five trading days, reflecting a lack of investor confidence in its future growth prospects, which could adversely affect its market performance.
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Polaris Capital Management Reduces Popular Holdings
- Transaction Overview: Polaris Capital Management sold 204,200 shares of Popular in Q4, valued at approximately $24.13 million, indicating a recalibration of confidence in the company.
- Holding Changes: After the sale, Polaris retains 682,330 shares of Popular worth $84.96 million, representing 7.05% of its reportable 13F assets under management, highlighting the stock's significance in its portfolio.
- Market Performance Analysis: As of January 28, Popular's share price stood at $131.54, reflecting a 31.9% increase over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 by 16.89 percentage points, showcasing its strong market position.
- Investor Confidence Interpretation: Despite the reduction, Popular remains Polaris's largest holding, suggesting that management still believes in the company's long-term prospects while also addressing concentration risk in their investment strategy.
See More
Popularpress Releases Q4 2025 Financial Results
- Earnings Beat: Popularpress reported a Q4 2025 GAAP EPS of $3.53, exceeding expectations by $0.49, indicating strong profitability despite revenue shortfalls.
- Revenue Growth Challenges: Total revenue reached $823.84 million, a 9.1% year-over-year increase, yet fell short of expectations by $1.73 million, reflecting challenges from increased market competition and changing customer demands.
- Improved Loan Quality: Non-performing loans (NPLs) decreased by $3.9 million, with the NPLs to loans ratio dropping to 1.27%, showcasing improved credit quality that may bolster investor confidence.
- Stable Capital Ratios: The Common Equity Tier 1 ratio stood at 15.72%, with Common Equity per share at $94.75, indicating a robust capital structure that supports future growth and risk management.
See More
Popular, Inc. Declares Monthly Cash Dividend
- Dividend Announcement: Popular, Inc. has declared a monthly cash dividend of $0.132813 per share on its 6.375% Non-Cumulative Monthly Income Preferred Stock, payable on March 2, 2026, reflecting the company's commitment to shareholder returns.
- Trust Preferred Securities Distribution: The company will also distribute $0.127604 per security on its 6.125% Cumulative Monthly Income Trust Preferred Securities, payable on the same date, enhancing its appeal in the capital markets.
- Market Position: As the leading financial institution in Puerto Rico by both assets and deposits, Popular, Inc. ranks among the top 50 U.S. bank holding companies, showcasing its strong competitive position in the market.
- Diverse Services: Through its principal subsidiary Banco Popular, the company offers retail, mortgage, and commercial banking services, while also providing a range of financial services in the mainland U.S. and British Virgin Islands, thereby expanding its market reach and customer base.
See More
Bank of America Upgrades Popular Inc. with Strong Upside Potential
- Rating Upgrade: Bank of America upgraded Popular Inc. from hold to buy, with analyst Brandon Berman raising the price target from $141 to $156, indicating a 14% upside from Monday's close, reflecting a positive outlook on the stock's future performance.
- Stock Performance: At the start of 2026, Popular Inc.'s shares have surged 13%, with over a 40% gain in the past 12 months; despite trading near a 52-week high, analysts believe there is still room for further appreciation, showcasing market confidence in its growth potential.
- Credit Quality Improvement: With a recovery in economic activity, management expects an improvement in net charge-offs in 2026, driven by better loan portfolio composition and tighter underwriting standards in consumer loans, which will further enhance the company's financial health.
- Earnings Forecast Increase: The analyst raised the 2026 EPS estimate by 3% to $14.53, driven by better-than-expected net interest margin expansion in Q4 2025, while Popular's 2.1% dividend yield and 4% annual percentage yield on CDs attract income-focused investors.
See More
Latest Rating Changes on Wall Street
- Microsoft's AI Investment Outlook: Piper Sandler names Microsoft a top investment idea, asserting that it is best positioned for AI adoption, highlighting the company's strong competitive edge in the rapidly growing AI market.
- Optimistic FedEx Outlook: Wells Fargo upgrades FedEx to overweight, anticipating that the upcoming investor day will showcase solid multi-year targets, particularly with expectations for a significant profit increase in fiscal year 2027.
- Palantir's Sustained Growth: Baird upgrades Palantir to outperform, citing strong Q4 results that mark the tenth consecutive quarter of revenue growth, demonstrating the company's robust performance in the U.S. commercial sector.
- SoFi's Customer Growth Momentum: JPMorgan upgrades SoFi to overweight, noting undeniable momentum in adding new members and deposits, with expectations for continued premium customer acquisition and engagement in the foreseeable future.
See More
Financial Stocks Weekly Performance: PennyMac Plummets 34%
- PennyMac Earnings Miss: PennyMac Financial Services (PFSI) saw a staggering 34% drop in stock price for the week ending January 30, 2026, after failing to meet Q4 earnings estimates, marking it as the largest loser among financial stocks with a market cap over $2 billion, indicating severe market concerns regarding its profitability.
- Affirm's Stock Fluctuation: Despite Needham upgrading Affirm Holdings (AFRM) to a Buy rating, the stock still fell 21% over the past five trading days, reflecting a lack of investor confidence in its future growth prospects, which could adversely affect its market performance.
- Other Financial Stocks Decline: UWM Holdings (UWMC) and Rocket Companies (RKT) experienced declines of 15% and 14.9%, respectively, while Patria Investments (PAX) rounded out the week with a 14.8% drop, illustrating a broader trend of weakness in the financial sector.
- Winners Stand Out: WSFS Financial (WSFS) surged 12% after posting better-than-expected Q4 earnings, while Credit Acceptance (CACC) and Virtu Financial (VIRT) rose 11.9% and 11.7%, respectively, due to earnings beats, showcasing strong performance among select companies in the market.
See More
Polaris Capital Management Reduces Popular Holdings
- Transaction Overview: Polaris Capital Management sold 204,200 shares of Popular in Q4, valued at approximately $24.13 million, indicating a recalibration of confidence in the company.
- Holding Changes: After the sale, Polaris retains 682,330 shares of Popular worth $84.96 million, representing 7.05% of its reportable 13F assets under management, highlighting the stock's significance in its portfolio.
- Market Performance Analysis: As of January 28, Popular's share price stood at $131.54, reflecting a 31.9% increase over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 by 16.89 percentage points, showcasing its strong market position.
- Investor Confidence Interpretation: Despite the reduction, Popular remains Polaris's largest holding, suggesting that management still believes in the company's long-term prospects while also addressing concentration risk in their investment strategy.
See More
Popularpress Releases Q4 2025 Financial Results
- Earnings Beat: Popularpress reported a Q4 2025 GAAP EPS of $3.53, exceeding expectations by $0.49, indicating strong profitability despite revenue shortfalls.
- Revenue Growth Challenges: Total revenue reached $823.84 million, a 9.1% year-over-year increase, yet fell short of expectations by $1.73 million, reflecting challenges from increased market competition and changing customer demands.
- Improved Loan Quality: Non-performing loans (NPLs) decreased by $3.9 million, with the NPLs to loans ratio dropping to 1.27%, showcasing improved credit quality that may bolster investor confidence.
- Stable Capital Ratios: The Common Equity Tier 1 ratio stood at 15.72%, with Common Equity per share at $94.75, indicating a robust capital structure that supports future growth and risk management.
See More
