Fifth Third Bancorp: Wait For A Cooldown To Buy Stock

Fifth Third Bancorp delivered strong first post-Comerica-acquisition results, with net interest income up 15% and pretax income reaching $1.04B. FITB's net profit attributable to common shareholders was $763M, with EPS at $0.84 and a reduced payout ratio below 50%, supporting continued buybacks. Tangible book value per share stands at $23.15, but FITB trades at over twice this, making valuation less compelling despite accelerating earnings. I view FITB as a "soft buy" or "buy on weakness," with the lower $50 range offering a more attractive entry point. Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) has seen its share price increase by about a quarter since my previous article was published on the Ohio-based bank. I was quite positive on the anticipated Comerica acquisition, and as that transaction has now