Zacks Research Lowers Earnings Estimates for Associated Banc

Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE:ASB) – Zacks Research lowered their Q1 2025 earnings per share estimates for Associated Banc in a research report issued on Wednesday, December 4th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the bank will post earnings of $0.51 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.53. The consensus estimate for Associated Banc’s current full-year earnings is $2.13 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Associated Banc’s Q4 2025 earnings at $0.59 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $2.17 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $0.56 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $0.58 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $0.61 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $2.35 EPS.

Associated Banc (NYSE:ASB) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The bank reported $0.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.50 by $0.06. Associated Banc had a return on equity of 8.18% and a net margin of 8.15%. The company had revenue of $607.54 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $336.52 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.53 EPS.

Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on ASB. StockNews.com raised shares of Associated Banc from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on Associated Banc from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Barclays increased their target price on Associated Banc from $24.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday. Piper Sandler upped their price target on Associated Banc from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating and set a $28.00 price objective on shares of Associated Banc in a report on Thursday. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Associated Banc has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $25.89.

Associated Banc Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ASB opened at $26.01 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $3.93 billion, a PE ratio of 21.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 0.93. Associated Banc has a 1 year low of $18.96 and a 1 year high of $28.18. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $24.38 and a 200-day moving average price of $22.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.88.

Associated Banc Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd will be given a $0.23 dividend. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 2nd. This is a boost from Associated Banc’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. Associated Banc’s payout ratio is currently 76.67%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP David L. Stein sold 29,536 shares of Associated Banc stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.43, for a total value of $810,172.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 81,021 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,222,406.03. This trade represents a 26.72 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Lith Karen Van sold 8,061 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.48, for a total value of $165,089.28. Following the sale, the director now owns 54,114 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,108,254.72. This trade represents a 12.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 56,641 shares of company stock worth $1,435,936. Insiders own 1.45% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Associated Banc

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in Associated Banc by 291.3% in the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,563,274 shares of the bank’s stock worth $33,063,000 after purchasing an additional 1,163,807 shares during the last quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Associated Banc by 11.2% in the third quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 3,036,239 shares of the bank’s stock worth $65,401,000 after buying an additional 305,133 shares during the period. Edgestream Partners L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Associated Banc during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $6,082,000. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Associated Banc by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,230,340 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $177,282,000 after acquiring an additional 261,877 shares during the period. Finally, NFJ Investment Group LLC bought a new position in Associated Banc in the 3rd quarter valued at $3,245,000. Institutional investors own 82.98% of the company’s stock.

Associated Banc Company Profile

Associated Banc-Corp, a bank holding company, provides various banking and nonbanking products to individuals and businesses in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. The company offers lending solutions, including commercial loans and lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, construction loans, letters of credit, leasing, asset based lending and equipment finance, loan syndications products, residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, personal and installment loans, auto finance and business loans, and business lines of credit.