Associated Banc (NYSE:ASB) Upgraded by Wall Street Zen to “Buy” Rating

Associated Banc (NYSE:ASB) was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report issued on Saturday.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on Associated Banc from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. UBS Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $28.00 price target on shares of Associated Banc in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Associated Banc from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on shares of Associated Banc from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Associated Banc from $32.00 to $30.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $29.20.

Associated Banc Price Performance

Shares of ASB stock opened at $27.85 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.90. The company has a market capitalization of $4.62 billion, a PE ratio of 10.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.81. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $26.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $26.04. Associated Banc has a 12 month low of $18.32 and a 12 month high of $29.51.

Associated Banc (NYSE:ASB) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The bank reported $0.80 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $393.52 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $382.06 million. Associated Banc had a net margin of 19.31% and a return on equity of 10.25%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.72 EPS. Analysts predict that Associated Banc will post 2.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Associated Banc announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Tuesday, January 27th that allows the company to buyback $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the bank to repurchase up to 2.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP John A. Utz sold 2,135 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.41, for a total value of $56,385.35. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 109,842 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,900,927.22. This trade represents a 1.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director John B. Williams sold 2,325 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.05, for a total transaction of $65,216.25. Following the sale, the director directly owned 70,959 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,990,399.95. The trade was a 3.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 53,007 shares of company stock valued at $1,418,613. 1.45% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Associated Banc

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ASB. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its holdings in Associated Banc by 6.0% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 97,570 shares of the bank’s stock worth $2,198,000 after purchasing an additional 5,531 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC raised its holdings in Associated Banc by 90.4% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 287,890 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $6,486,000 after acquiring an additional 136,648 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in Associated Banc by 139.1% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,748,667 shares of the bank’s stock worth $61,927,000 after acquiring an additional 1,598,951 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its stake in Associated Banc by 13.9% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 496,392 shares of the bank’s stock worth $11,184,000 after acquiring an additional 60,758 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sivia Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Associated Banc in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $328,000. 82.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Associated Banc News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Associated Banc this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised several near‑term and FY EPS forecasts for ASB (including FY2026, FY2027 and FY2028), signaling improving analyst expectations for earnings growth — a likely driver of buying interest.
• Positive Sentiment: Associated Banc recently beat consensus on Q4 results (reported Jan. 22) with $0.80 EPS vs. ~$0.69 expected and revenue above estimates, which supports the higher estimate revisions.
• Positive Sentiment: The board authorized a $100 million share repurchase program and declared a $0.24 quarterly dividend (3.4% yield), both shareholder‑friendly moves that typically support share prices.
• Positive Sentiment: Recent commentary and coverage (e.g., Seeking Alpha piece highlighting progress and strategy) add to positive sentiment around the stock. Associated Banc‑Corp Keeps Pushing Forward
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains mixed — several firms maintain Hold/Neutral ratings and consensus price target (~$29.20) implies limited upside from current levels; this tempers the impact of positive news.
• Neutral Sentiment: Institutional activity shows modest position changes (some buys, some new stakes), indicating steady institutional ownership but no clear directional change.
• Negative Sentiment: An Associated Bank EVP, Patrick Ahern, sold 14,731 shares at an average ~$29.03 (filed with the SEC) — insider selling can raise short‑term caution among investors. Insider Sale: Patrick Edward Ahern
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks also trimmed its Q2‑2027 EPS view slightly (from $0.74 to $0.70), a small downgrade that could be cited by skeptics as a sign of near‑term variability.

Associated Banc Company Profile

Associated Banc-Corp, through its primary subsidiary Associated Bank, N.A., is a regional financial services company headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The bank operates more than 200 branches across the Midwest, offering community-focused banking solutions for individuals, small businesses and commercial clients. Its emphasis on personalized service and regional decision-making supports long-standing customer relationships.

On the consumer side, Associated Bank provides checking and savings accounts, residential mortgages, home equity lines of credit, auto financing and credit card products.