If your portfolio lacks banking sector exposure, then now could be the time to pounce on ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares.
With the banking giantâs shares down approximately 10% over the last three months, the team at Citi appear to believe a buying opportunity has opened up for investors.
Particularly given that ANZ shares are the brokerâs top pick in the banking sector right now.
What is Citi saying about ANZ shares?
According to a recent note, the broker has a buy rating and $26.50 price target on the bankâs shares.
Based on its current share price of $23.58, this implies potential upside of 12.4% for investors over the next 12 months.
And with Citi expecting ANZ shares to provide investors with 7% fully franked dividend yields through to at least FY 2025, the total 12-month potential return on offer here stretches to almost 20%.
Why is ANZ its top pick?
When reviewing the bankâs recent half-year results, Citi revealed why it thinks investors should choose ANZ above other big four banks. It said:
ANZ reported 1H23 cash earnings of $3,821m, in-line with market expectations. However, unlike its recent reported peers, this result was well-received, despite ANZ facing the same competitive pressures on both sides of its balance sheet. We see ANZ having two key advantages for the current environment: 1) a strong deposit franchise finally showing its strength; and 2) a large weighting to Institutional banking.
These advantages are inextricably linked. We have lowered our forward NIM estimates to reflect the industry competition pressure, but the profile shows a more modest decline. Cash EPS estimates are unchanged in FY23, down 7-8% in FY24/25, with our longer-term ROE of 10.5% thereafter remaining intact. This leaves a more modest 3% TP reduction to $26.50. We see ANZâs unique capabilities as set to deliver relative outperformance in the current market conditions. ANZ is our preferred Major Bank exposure.
All in all, this could make ANZ a top option to consider if you’re lacking banking sector exposure.
The post Why ANZ shares are Citi’s top banking pick appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
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More reading
- Investing in ANZ shares? Here’s what’s happening with the bank’s $3.5 billion Suncorp acquisition
- Citi says these ASX 200 dividend shares are buys for passive income
- Warren Buffett is dumping bank stocks. Should you?
- Why ANZ, Elders, Nanosonics, and Pointsbet shares are falling today
- Why is the ANZ share price sinking on Monday?
Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
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