Western Alliance Bancorp (NYSE:WAL) investors have been rejoicing with the stock up 3% since the company delivered an earnings beat.

The bank delivered a 3.61% surprise on EPS and a 4.56% surprise on revenue, as it reported Q1 numbers on April 18 after market close.

Also Read: Financial Stocks Fall After Earnings, Major Banks Notch 4-Day Losing Streak: Regional Banks Hit Lowest Level Since Late 2023

The Western Alliance Analyst

JPMorgan analyst Steven Alexopoulos, CFA has an Overweight rating on the stock with a price target of $80. "With the company having reached its financial targets, we see the strong growth continuing through 2024 and 2025," he said.

The stock trades at an attractive valuation of 7.0x 2024e EPS and an elevated implied cost of equity. Western Alliance presents an opportunity for investors to capitalize on its growth potential. Alexopoulos continues to "see above peer upside potential" with Western Alliance stock.

The Western Alliance Thesis

Alexopoulos suggests that Western Alliance is poised for continued growth. With its recent first-quarter results showcasing strong momentum and the bank achieving key financial targets, it is positioned to outpace its peers in the coming years.

Strategic Efficiency And Notable Achievements

In the aftermath of the challenges faced over the past year – including navigating through market volatility and economic uncertainty – Western Alliance has executed its strategy effectively. The bank focused on increasing its capital and liquidity levels, laying a solid foundation for future growth, the analyst notes.

The bank's Q1 earnings further demonstrate robust performance, with notable achievements such as:

• a decrease in the loan-to-deposit ratio to 82%
• a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio meeting the 11% target
• deposit growth surged, with period-end balances rising by 50% annualized, nearing $7 billion QoQ

With these financial targets met, Alexopoulos sees Western Alliance sustaining its strong growth trajectory throughout 2024 and 2025.

Despite projected modest loan and deposit growth ranges, the bank has the potential to exceed these targets, leveraging its diverse business verticals and enhanced risk profile.

Positioned To Benefit From Rate Cuts

Moreover, Western Alliance stands in a favorable position to benefit from future Federal Reserve rate cuts. As interest rates decline, the bank expects to see increased loan demand, further bolstering its loan growth outlook. Additionally, Western Alliance anticipates lower deposit costs on its ECR deposits, which will mitigate the impact of reduced earning asset yields, Alexopoulos notes.

Looking ahead, the analyst outlines optimistic projections for Western Alliance in 2024. He sees an increase in loans held for investment (HFI) by $4 billion annually and a surge in deposits by $11 billion annually. Net interest income and fee income are also expected to rise backed by "several tailwinds", while expenses, including ECR deposit costs, are projected to increase moderately.

Western Alliance Bancorp stands out as a "top pick" in the banking sector, primed to deliver above-peer growth and sustained value creation for shareholders.

WAL Price Action: Western Alliance stock was up 2.3% at $58.77 at the time of publication Monday.

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