Equity Bancshares price target raised to $45 from $39 at Stephens

Stephens analyst Terry McEvoy raised the firm’s price target on Equity Bancshares to $45 from $39 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares after the company reported operating EPS of 99c, or 7c ahead of the firm’s estimate, and the company’s Q3 PPNR outlook aligned with consensus. Equity has a proven track record regarding bank M&A, notes the analyst, who feels the company will remain opportunistic with future acquisitions.