Citi Goes Big on Regional Banks

Citigroup analyst Benjamin Gerlinger upgraded three US banks in a single session, making it the standout call of the day.

Citizens Financial Group jumped to Buy with a new $84 price target. That's up from $78. Regions Financial Corporation also got a Buy upgrade. Citi lifted its target on RF to $36 from $32 — a 12.5% increase.

Both are mid-cap regionals. CFG carries a market cap of $30.6 billion. RF sits at $27 billion.

Meanwhile, fellow Citi analyst Keith Horowitz raised his target on JPMorgan Chase to $360 from $325. That's a $35 jump. He kept his Hold rating, but the new target implies meaningful upside from current levels.

UnitedHealth Group saw the broadest consensus move of the day. The average analyst target rose to $473 from $472. Short interest in UNH remains low at just 2% of free float — shorts aren't pressing the healthcare giant.

Pfizer was the lone notable downgrade. The consensus target slipped to $28.75. With 10 sell ratings versus 10 buys, the street remains evenly split on the pharma name.

Domino's Pizza and Travelers Companies both saw quiet target upgrades, reflecting steady earnings momentum in consumer and insurance names.