HSBC Upgrades Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) to “Buy”

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) was upgraded by stock analysts at HSBC from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report issued on Wednesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has a $57.00 price target on the financial services provider’s stock. HSBC’s price target points to a potential upside of 15.47% from the company’s current price.

Several other research firms also recently weighed in on BAC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Bank of America from $58.00 to $61.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on shares of Bank of America from $64.00 to $63.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Erste Group Bank lowered shares of Bank of America from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Piper Sandler boosted their price target on shares of Bank of America from $56.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $62.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Twenty-three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $59.54.

Bank of America Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of BAC opened at $49.37 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $50.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $52.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.80. Bank of America has a one year low of $33.06 and a one year high of $57.55. The company has a market cap of $352.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.89, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.23.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $0.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.96 by $0.02. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.07% and a net margin of 16.23%.The firm had revenue of $4.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $27.73 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.82 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Bank of America will post 3.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Bank of America

In related news, insider James P. Demare sold 83,832 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total value of $4,191,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 307,240 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,362,000. This represents a 21.44% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Bernard A. Mensah sold 94,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.94, for a total transaction of $4,412,360.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 170,184 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,988,436.96. This trade represents a 35.58% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders sold 227,832 shares of company stock worth $11,094,960. Insiders own 0.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Bank of America in the 4th quarter worth $4,774,210,000. Capital International Investors purchased a new position in shares of Bank of America in the fourth quarter worth about $2,357,461,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its position in Bank of America by 640.5% in the third quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 46,516,728 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,399,798,000 after purchasing an additional 40,235,201 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Bank of America by 3.7% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 651,076,825 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $35,809,225,000 after acquiring an additional 23,351,183 shares during the period. Finally, Cardano Risk Management B.V. increased its holdings in Bank of America by 914.5% during the 4th quarter. Cardano Risk Management B.V. now owns 25,095,260 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,380,239,000 after purchasing an additional 22,621,546 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 70.71% of the company’s stock.

Bank of America News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Bank of America this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Barclays reiterated a Buy rating on BAC, endorsing the stock amid favorable fundamentals and helping support investor demand. Barclays Sticks to Its Buy Rating for Bank of America (BAC)
• Positive Sentiment: HSBC upgraded BAC from Hold to Buy and set a higher price target, another vote of confidence that can buoy sentiment among institutional buyers. Bank of America was upgraded by HSBC
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to point to rising net interest income and strong capital-return plans (including a $40B buyback program and steady dividend increases), which underpin earnings outlook and make BAC more attractive. Bank of America’s Robust Capital Return Strategy: What’s Fueling It?
• Neutral Sentiment: Morgan Stanley trimmed its price target on BAC but kept an Overweight (positive) rating — a mixed signal: still bullish institutional view, but slightly tempered upside expectations. Morgan Stanley Adjusts Price Target on Bank of America
• Neutral Sentiment: Bank of America disclosed a 3.01% voting stake in Qiagen — an incremental portfolio move by BAC’s investment arm that isn’t material to BAC’s core bank fundamentals. Bank of America Discloses 3.01% Voting Stake in Qiagen
• Neutral Sentiment: Data from BofA’s card-spending tracker shows shifting consumer patterns (furniture and department store spend down, gas station sales up) — useful macro signals for loan/fee trends but not an immediate company-level catalyst. Card spending at furniture, department stores fall as gas station sales surge: Bank of America
• Negative Sentiment: BAC reached a preliminary approval for a $72.5 million settlement tied to claims related to Jeffrey Epstein — a modest but negative legal/settlement headline that can weigh on sentiment. Bank of America’s $72.5 million settlement with Epstein accusers wins preliminary approval
• Negative Sentiment: French authorities have detained suspects in a foiled bombing plot against BofA’s Paris office; security and reputational concerns can create headline risk even if financial impact is limited. Four suspects in foiled BofA Paris bombing put in pre-trial detention
• Negative Sentiment: BofA strategists warned of a “mild stagflation” risk with oil near $100, flagging slower growth and higher inflation — a macro scenario that could pressure loan growth and credit costs across banks. BofA Warns of ‘Mild Stagflation’ as Oil May Remain at $100 Throughout the Year
• Negative Sentiment: Reports that Warren Buffett materially reduced his BAC holdings have circulated — a high‑profile sale that can create short‑term investor nervousness despite differing long-term interpretations. Warren Buffett Went Out With a Bang by Selling 50% of His Bank of America Stake

Bank of America Company Profile

Bank of America Corporation is a multinational financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It provides a broad array of banking, investment, asset management and related financial and risk management products and services to individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses, large corporations, governments and institutional investors. The firm operates through consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking and markets businesses, offering capabilities across lending, deposits, payments, advisory and capital markets.

Its consumer-facing offerings include checking and savings accounts, mortgages, home equity lending, auto loans, credit cards and small business banking, supported by a nationwide branch network and digital channels.