South State price target lowered to $84 from $89 at Truist

Truist lowered the firm’s price target on South State to $84 from $89 and keeps a Hold rating on the shares as part of a broader research note recapping Q1 earnings among Community and Regional Banks. The firm’s updated model for Fed funds rate forecast calls for zero cuts in 2024 and four 25bps cuts in 2025 from three in 2023 and 2024 previously, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Truist is also revising its FY24 and FY25 EPS on the bank to $6.17 and $6.63 from $6.45 and $7.10, with estimate revisions reflecting lower net interest margins and lower fees offset partially by lower provisioning. The firm adds that South State should see some benefit from fixed rate loan repricing, and its net interest margin expansion should accelerate once the Fed begins cutting interest rates.