Morgan Stanley Cuts Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) Price Target to $61.00

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) had its price objective decreased by Morgan Stanley from $67.00 to $61.00 in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning,MarketScreener reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an overweight rating on the financial services provider’s stock.

BAC has been the subject of several other research reports. Oppenheimer dropped their price target on shares of Bank of America from $63.00 to $58.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 27th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Bank of America in a report on Thursday, March 26th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $60.00 price objective on the stock. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on Bank of America from $62.00 to $60.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Argus raised their target price on Bank of America from $58.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group decreased their price target on Bank of America from $66.00 to $62.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Twenty-three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Bank of America has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $59.54.

Bank of America Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of BAC stock opened at $49.37 on Tuesday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $50.73 and its 200-day moving average price is $52.21. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. The stock has a market cap of $352.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.89, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.23. Bank of America has a twelve month low of $33.06 and a twelve month high of $57.55.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $0.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.96 by $0.02. Bank of America had a net margin of 16.23% and a return on equity of 11.07%. The firm had revenue of $4.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $27.73 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.82 earnings per share. Bank of America’s revenue was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Bank of America will post 3.7 earnings per share for the current year.

Bank of America Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th were given a dividend of $0.28 per share. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 6th. Bank of America’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.24%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Bernard A. Mensah sold 94,000 shares of Bank of America stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.94, for a total value of $4,412,360.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 170,184 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,988,436.96. The trade was a 35.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Thomas M. Scrivener sold 50,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.82, for a total value of $2,491,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 227,973 shares in the company, valued at $11,357,614.86. This represents a 17.99% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 227,832 shares of company stock valued at $11,094,960. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Bank of America

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in BAC. DecisionMap Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 4.7% in the fourth quarter. DecisionMap Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,061 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $223,000 after purchasing an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp boosted its position in Bank of America by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 4,964 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $273,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the period. Holistic Financial Partners boosted its position in Bank of America by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Holistic Financial Partners now owns 7,896 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $434,000 after buying an additional 183 shares during the period. Operose Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Bank of America by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Operose Advisors LLC now owns 20,409 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,123,000 after acquiring an additional 185 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD. increased its position in shares of Bank of America by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD. now owns 19,847 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,092,000 after acquiring an additional 187 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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

About Bank of America

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.