NEW YORK, March 12, 2026, 12:09 EDT
Shares of Huntington Bancshares hovered Thursday, following the bank’s update to investors that first-quarter numbers remain in line with its 2026 targets. HBAN slipped roughly 0.4% to $15.58 midday in New York, after closing at $15.64 on Wednesday, marking a 2.2% decline.
The timing of the update is tricky for the stock. Huntington remains about 20% below the Feb. 6 peak of $19.46. Wednesday’s drop saw higher-than-usual volume, surpassing the 50-day average. Inside the RBC Capital Markets Global Financial Institutions Conference, management circled back to its growth strategy and ongoing work with Cadence and Veritex.
Huntington kept its 2026 goals steady in slides submitted to the SEC for Wednesday’s meeting. The bank reiterated expectations for loan growth between 11% and 12%, with deposits seen climbing 8% to 9%. Net interest income, which tracks lending profitability, is still projected to increase 10% to 13%.
“Q1 looks really good,” CFO Zach Wasserman told the conference, noting first-quarter business is matching up with Huntington’s full-year targets and credit quality is holding steady. Back in January, CEO Steve Steinour called the setup “excellent momentum” as the bank rolled out its 2026 outlook. Investing
Capital return figures in, too. Huntington’s presentation laid out plans for approximately $550 million in buybacks in 2026, then ramping up to somewhere between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion in 2027. Wasserman pointed out that the bank has already taken out just shy of half a percent of its shares over the past month.
Management put integration front and center. Huntington is targeting $435 million in annualized cost saves by 2027—$365 million tied to Cadence by Q4 2026, and another $70 million from Veritex by Q2 2026. The bank also expects to pull in more than $300 million in annualized revenue gains by 2028. Brant Standridge, president of consumer and regional banking, described the acquisitions as a “springboard for growth, not a substitute for it.” SEC
HBAN managed to hold up somewhat better than other regional banks Thursday, but the whole sector struggled. Fifth Third slid roughly 1.8%, while Regions gave up 2.1%. The SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF slipped 0.8%. Huntington’s loss was smaller by comparison.
Even with reassurances, if the fight for deposits remains heated or if market swings begin to affect customers, problems could mount. Standridge described deposit competition as “intense.” Wasserman noted Huntington is keeping a close eye on volatility. A slip on retention, credit, or the timing of Cadence and Veritex savings—and the shares could stay stuck near their recent lows. Investing
