Equities research analysts expect SunTrust (NYSE:STI) to post earnings per share (EPS) of $0.79 for the current quarter, according to Zacks Investment Research. Thirteen analysts have provided estimates for SunTrust’s earnings. The lowest EPS estimate is $0.72 and the highest is $0.87. SunTrust posted earnings of $0.78 per share in the same quarter last year, which would suggest a positive year-over-year growth rate of 1.3%. The business is expected to report its next quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 22nd.

On average, analysts expect that SunTrust will report full-year earnings of $3.48 per share for the current fiscal year, with EPS estimates ranging from $3.25 to $3.63. For the next fiscal year, analysts forecast that the firm will post earnings of $3.77 per share, with EPS estimates ranging from $3.55 to $4.00. Zacks’ EPS calculations are a mean average based on a survey of sell-side research analysts that cover SunTrust.

SunTrust (NYSE:STI) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $0.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.87 by $0.04. The company earned $2.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.04 billion. The company’s revenue was up .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.72 EPS.

In other news, CFO Aleem Gillani acquired 2,770 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, January 25th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $34.69 per share, with a total value of $96,091.30. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Raymond D. Fortin sold 22,182 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.39, for a total transaction of $962,476.98. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 49,348 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,141,209.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.

Other hedge funds recently bought and sold shares of the company. EJF Capital increased its stake in SunTrust by 523.5% in the third quarter. EJF Capital now owns 935,208 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $35,762,000 after buying an additional 785,208 shares in the last quarter. Janus Capital Management increased its stake in SunTrust by 1,173.8% in the third quarter. Janus Capital Management now owns 424,359 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $16,228,000 after buying an additional 391,045 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank increased its stake in SunTrust by 1,379.1% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank now owns 104,806 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $4,490,000 after buying an additional 97,720 shares in the last quarter. Morgens Waterfall Vintiadis & Co. Inc. bought a new stake in SunTrust during the fourth quarter valued at $3,856,000. Finally, Meeder Asset Management increased its stake in SunTrust by 660.7% in the fourth quarter. Meeder Asset Management now owns 98,270 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $4,210,000 after buying an additional 85,352 shares in the last quarter.

STI has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Nomura decreased their target price on SunTrust from $43.00 to $40.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 2nd. Deutsche Bank reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $50.00 target price on shares of SunTrust in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Zacks Investment Research cut SunTrust from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 7th. Barclays decreased their target price on SunTrust from $49.00 to $47.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 19th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised their target price on SunTrust from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a “market-perform” rating in a report on Monday, October 19th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. The company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $46.05.

Shares of SunTrust (NYSE:STI) opened at 35.30 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $17.95 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.86. SunTrust has a 1-year low of $34.05 and a 1-year high of $45.84. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $40.34 and a 200-day moving average price of $41.41.

Suntrust Banks, Inc. is a bank holding company and a financial holding company. Through its principal subsidiary, SunTrust Bank, the Company offers a line of financial services for consumers and businesses, including deposit, credit, mortgage banking, and trust and investment services. The Company’s other subsidiaries provide asset and wealth management, securities brokerage, and capital market services. SunTrust operates the following business segments: Consumer Banking and Private Wealth Management, Wholesale Banking, and Mortgage Banking. It also operates a Corporate Other segment, which includes the management of the Company’s investment securities portfolio, long-term debt, end-user derivative instruments, short-term liquidity and funding activities, balance sheet risk management, and most real estate assets. SunTrust operates primarily within Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

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