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Fulton Financial Corp (FULT)
NASDAQ:FULT

Fulton Financial (FULT) AI Stock Analysis

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FULT

Fulton Financial

(NASDAQ:FULT)

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Outperform 75 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
$22.50
▲(4.21% Upside)
The score is driven primarily by solid financial fundamentals (good margins and cash flow despite weaker revenue growth) and attractive valuation (low P/E with a strong dividend). Technicals are supportive with price above key moving averages and positive MACD, while the earnings call was broadly constructive with clear guidance but notable execution and rate/acquisition assumptions.
Positive Factors
Strong free cash flow generation
Sustained free cash flow growth enhances the bank’s ability to fund dividends, buybacks, and organic investments without relying on external financing. This improves financial flexibility and supports capital return policies and strategic initiatives over the next several quarters.
Deposit momentum and product traction
Healthy deposit inflows and strong DDA openings underpin stable low-cost funding, reducing reliance on wholesale funding. Durable deposit growth supports lending capacity, NIM stability, and funding cost advantages over multiple interest-rate cycles.
Strategic M&A to expand footprint
A planned, accretive acquisition that broadens geographic reach and customer base strengthens scale and cross-sell opportunities. If integrated well, the deal can increase revenue diversification and long-term market share in adjacent markets.
Negative Factors
Slowing revenue growth trend
A persistent slowdown in top-line growth constrains the bank’s ability to leverage operating expenses and lift returns on equity. Over several quarters, weaker revenue trends can limit earnings upside even with margin or cost improvements.
Derisking actions weighed on loan growth
Substantial portfolio runoffs and resolved adversely rated loans reduce interest-earning assets and organic loan growth. This deliberate derisking can meaningfully depress long-term loan growth and recurring net interest income for multiple quarters.
Guidance hinges on Fed cuts and deal timing
Forward guidance dependent on macro moves and transaction timing creates execution risk. If rate cuts are delayed or the acquisition is postponed, projected NII, expense synergies and capital planning could be materially affected over the next several quarters.

Fulton Financial (FULT) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Fulton Financial Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionFulton Financial Corporation operates as a financial holding company that provides consumer and commercial banking products and services. It accepts various checking accounts and savings deposit products, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. The company also offers secured consumer loans, including home equity loans and lines of credit, automobile loans, personal lines of credit, and checking account overdraft protection; construction and jumbo residential mortgage loans; and commercial lending products comprising commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, and construction loans, as well as equipment lease financing loans. In addition, it provides letters of credit, cash management services, and traditional deposit products; and wealth management services, including investment management, trust, brokerage, insurance, and investment advisory services. Further, the company owns passive investments, as well as trust preferred securities; and sells various life insurance products. It provides its products and services through traditional financial center banking, as well as through a network of automated teller machines, telephone banking, mobile banking, and online banking. The company operated branches in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Virginia. Fulton Financial Corporation was incorporated in 1882 and is headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
How the Company Makes MoneyFulton Financial generates revenue primarily through interest income, which comes from loans made to individuals and businesses, as well as from investment securities. The bank earns interest on various loan products, including commercial loans, residential mortgages, and consumer loans. Additionally, Fulton Financial generates non-interest income through fees for services such as ATM transactions, account maintenance, investment management, and financial advisory services. The company also benefits from wealth management services, which include trust services and investment products. Strategic partnerships with other financial institutions and service providers further enhance their service offerings and contribute to their overall revenue. Overall, Fulton Financial's diverse revenue streams enable it to maintain a stable financial performance in varying economic conditions.

Fulton Financial Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 21, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 21, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call emphasized strong operating performance in 2025 with record operating EPS, improved margins, diversified fee growth, deposit momentum, improved capital and credit metrics, and clear guidance for 2026. Challenges were disclosed including $800M of strategic derisking actions that weighed on loan growth, some quarter-specific expense volatility, declines in certain deposit categories, modest declines in allowance coverage and localized yield pressure. Management framed most headwinds as deliberate, temporary or manageable and provided guidance and hiring plans to support mid-single-digit loan growth in 2026.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Operating Earnings Per Share
Operating earnings per diluted share for FY2025 were $2.16, a new company record, driven by improved margins, disciplined expense management and diversified revenue growth.
Deposit Growth and Deposit Product Momentum
Customer deposits grew $449 million year-over-year; linked-quarter deposits grew $257 million (3.9%). Consumer demand deposit account openings increased 25% year-over-year and business banking efforts raised over $133 million in lower-cost operating deposits.
Net Interest Margin Expansion
Net interest margin increased 9 basis points year-over-year to 3.51% and finished Q4 at 3.59%, with linked-quarter NIM up 2 basis points despite 75 basis points of Fed rate cuts.
Noninterest Income Growth and Diversification
Adjusted noninterest income (ex-bargain purchase and securities items) was $277 million, up almost 7% year-over-year and represented more than 20% of total revenue. Commercial fees rose 8% with cash management up 17%.
Wealth Management Contribution
Fulton Financial Advisors AUM/A surpassed $17 billion in 2025; referrals from financial centers to advisers increased 17% (approximately $50 million year-over-year), supporting fee income growth.
Controlled Operating Expense Trajectory
Operating expenses grew a modest 1.9% in 2025; when normalizing for a full year of Republic First expenses in 2024, operating expenses would have declined 2.7% year-over-year, contributing to positive operating leverage.
Improved Profitability and Capital Metrics
Operating return on assets improved 17 basis points to 1.28%; tangible book value per share grew 15%; CET1 rose to 11.8% and tangible common equity to tangible assets increased to 8.5%. Internal capital generation was $77 million in the quarter.
Strong Credit Metrics
Nonperforming assets to total assets declined 11 basis points during the year to 0.58%; net charge-offs for FY2025 were low at 21 basis points of average loans; ACL ended the year at 1.51% of loans with ACL-to-NPL coverage of 198%.
Active Capital Management and Buybacks
Repurchased $59 million of common stock during the year and repurchased 1.1 million shares in the quarter at an average cost of $18.34. Board approved a new $150 million repurchase authorization through Jan 2027.
2026 Operating Guidance Provided
Management provided forward guidance assuming a March Fed cut and Blue Foundry acquisition: Net interest income $1.120B-$1.140B; loan loss provision $55M-$75M; noninterest income $285M-$300M; operating expense $800M-$835M; effective tax rate 18.5%-19.5%.
Negative Updates
Significant Strategic Actions Reduced Loan Growth
Strategic credit actions and portfolio derisking represented more than $800 million of headwinds in 2025 (including $211 million of resolved adversely rated loans and ~$30 million indirect auto runoff), suppressing organic loan growth during the year.
Decline in Certain Deposit Categories
Municipal deposits decreased $254 million and other wholesale funding including broker deposits declined $29 million, partially offsetting retail and commercial deposit gains.
Quarterly Expense Volatility
Operating noninterest expense increased $12.7 million linked quarter (to $204 million), driven primarily by $7.5 million higher variable compensation accruals, plus $2.5 million of unusual items (snow removal, elevated health care claims); nonoperating/one-time costs for 2026 guidance ~ $60 million (including $36 million merger-related).
Allowance and Net Charge-Off Trends
Allowance for credit losses decreased from 1.57% to 1.51% of loans year-over-year; net charge-offs increased slightly to 24 basis points in the quarter (FY2025 net charge-offs were 21 basis points).
Loan Yield Pressure and Accretion Decline
Loan yields declined 11 basis points linked quarter to 5.82% and accretion interest declined $2.2 million linked quarter to $10.5 million, reflecting some pressure on yield components.
Securities and Investment Portfolio Movements
Securities decreased $212 million during the quarter as prepayments accelerated; investments comprised 15% of assets, reducing available investment ballast and introducing balance-sheet repositioning considerations.
Volatility in Certain Fee Income Components
Quarterly volatility in swap-related income and equity-method investment income (a decline of ~$1.7 million in Q4) contributed to uneven other fee income; swap income correlates to large originations and can fluctuate.
Guidance and Execution Risks
2026 guidance assumes a 125 basis point Fed cut in March and timely close of the Blue Foundry acquisition early 2Q '26; outcomes remain subject to timing and macro execution risk which could impact guidance realization.
Company Guidance
Fulton’s 2026 operating guidance calls for net interest income of $1.120–$1.140 billion (with an annual FTE adjustment of $16–$18 million), loan loss provision expense of $55–$75 million, noninterest income of $285–$300 million, and operating expenses of $800–$835 million, with an effective tax rate of 18.5%–19.5%; management also expects approximately $60 million of non‑operating expenses (including $22 million of core deposit intangible and $36 million of merger‑related costs). The company expects loan growth to revert to mid‑single digits as 2025 strategic runoffs (over $800 million of headwinds) moderate, notes roughly $5.7 billion of earning assets repricing over the next 12 months at a blended yield of 5.01%, and frames guidance on the assumptions of a 125 bps Fed cut in March and the Blue Foundry Bancorp acquisition closing early in 2Q‑2026.

Fulton Financial Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financial statements indicate solid overall health: healthy profitability margins and strong free cash flow growth support the score, while declining revenue growth and relatively low return on equity temper it.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Fulton Financial's income statement shows mixed results. The TTM data indicates a decline in revenue growth rate, which is concerning. However, the company maintains a solid gross profit margin and a stable net profit margin, indicating operational efficiency. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are healthy, reflecting good profitability despite revenue challenges.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet reveals a moderate debt-to-equity ratio, which has improved over the years, indicating better leverage management. Return on equity is relatively low, suggesting limited profitability from shareholders' investments. The equity ratio is stable, showing a balanced financial structure.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
Cash flow analysis shows strong free cash flow growth in the TTM period, which is a positive indicator of financial health. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is low, suggesting potential issues in converting income into cash. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio is robust, highlighting effective cash management.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.90B1.80B1.50B1.09B997.16M972.27M
Gross Profit1.25B1.13B1.03B988.70M952.08M781.67M
EBITDA512.73M401.62M381.72M378.95M363.64M231.57M
Net Income361.26M288.74M284.28M286.98M275.50M178.04M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets32.00B32.07B27.57B26.93B25.80B25.91B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments3.33B3.37B2.93B3.31B4.83B4.91B
Total Debt1.47B1.78B2.49B2.87B1.45B1.93B
Total Liabilities28.58B28.87B24.81B24.35B23.08B23.29B
Stockholders Equity3.41B3.20B2.76B2.58B2.71B2.62B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow280.97M374.11M330.03M573.54M320.71M137.13M
Operating Cash Flow336.40M416.56M362.98M594.79M338.39M157.37M
Investing Cash Flow-402.99M1.63B-809.22M-1.54B-210.09M-2.50B
Financing Cash Flow-559.90M-1.53B314.02M-15.90M-337.52M3.67B

Fulton Financial Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price21.59
Price Trends
50DMA
19.75
Positive
100DMA
18.88
Positive
200DMA
18.39
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.48
Negative
RSI
70.30
Negative
STOCH
90.50
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FULT, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 21.59 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 20.32, above the 50-day MA of 19.75, and above the 200-day MA of 18.39, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.48 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 70.30 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 90.50 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FULT.

Fulton Financial Risk Analysis

Fulton Financial disclosed 29 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Fulton Financial reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Fulton Financial Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
79
Outperform
$4.06B18.496.25%3.05%11.05%-10.78%
77
Outperform
$3.55B10.4618.97%3.38%2.35%13.72%
75
Outperform
$3.78B10.1110.92%3.52%9.60%20.38%
74
Outperform
$3.58B11.5810.63%2.72%-1.59%9.34%
73
Outperform
$3.79B12.528.95%5.24%-5.43%4.19%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
65
Neutral
$2.76B12.3230.85%29.24%21.49%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
FULT
Fulton Financial
21.59
1.60
8.03%
CATY
Cathay General Bancorp
52.47
6.66
14.55%
FBP
First Bancorp Puerto Rico
22.83
2.75
13.72%
FIBK
First Interstate Bancsystem
37.60
6.58
21.21%
INDB
Independent Bank
84.52
17.86
26.79%
TBBK
Bancorp
60.63
-2.12
-3.38%

Fulton Financial Corporate Events

Stock BuybackDividends
Fulton Financial Announces Dividend Increase and Buyback
Positive
Dec 16, 2025

On December 16, 2025, Fulton Financial Corporation announced an increase in its quarterly cash dividend to nineteen cents per share on its common stock, payable on January 15, 2026. The Board also declared a quarterly dividend on its Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, and approved a $150 million share repurchase program commencing January 1, 2026. This strategic move reflects Fulton’s confidence in its financial strength and commitment to shareholder value, potentially impacting its market positioning and stakeholder interests.

The most recent analyst rating on (FULT) stock is a Buy with a $21.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Fulton Financial stock, see the FULT Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
Fulton Financial Announces Merger with Blue Foundry
Positive
Nov 25, 2025

On November 24, 2025, Fulton Financial Corporation announced a merger agreement with Blue Foundry Bancorp, where Blue Foundry will merge into Fulton, and Blue Foundry Bank will merge into Fulton Bank, N.A. This strategic move, unanimously approved by both companies’ boards, aims to enhance Fulton’s market position and operational capabilities. The agreement outlines the conversion of Blue Foundry’s common stock into Fulton’s stock and cash, with specific conditions for stock options and restricted stock awards. The merger is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, with a termination fee applicable under certain circumstances.

The most recent analyst rating on (FULT) stock is a Hold with a $22.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Fulton Financial stock, see the FULT Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
Fulton Financial Announces Merger with Blue Foundry Bancorp
Positive
Nov 24, 2025

On November 24, 2025, Fulton Financial Corporation announced a merger agreement to acquire Blue Foundry Bancorp in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $243 million. This strategic move aims to expand Fulton’s presence in northern New Jersey, with the merger expected to be accretive to earnings and neutral to regulatory capital ratios. The merger, approved by both companies’ boards, is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to customary conditions. The merger will enhance Fulton’s banking services and community support, aligning with its growth strategy and benefiting stakeholders by providing greater resources and convenience.

The most recent analyst rating on (FULT) stock is a Hold with a $22.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Fulton Financial stock, see the FULT Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 26, 2026