Bank OZK upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Raymond James

Raymond James upgraded Bank OZK (OZK) to Outperform from Market Perform with a $58 price target The positive stance heading into Q2 earnings reflects the firm’s increased confidence in Bank OZK’s ability to meet or exceed its mid- to upper-digit loan growth outlook, the positive impact of maturing time deposits repricing lower in Q2, ongoing share repurchases, as well as the recently increased dividend, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Raymond James now sees a favorable risk-reward dynamic where the operating backdrop has improved since “Liberation Day” in early April and where recent regulatory efforts to accelerate bank deregulation and regulatory relief bode positively for the shares, the firm says.