Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB)

Sector: Financial Services Industry: Banks - Regional CIK: 0000007789
Market Cap 4.85 Bn
P/B 1.04
P/E 29.47
P/S 4.42
ROIC (Qtr) 2.26
Div Yield % 4.47
Rev 1y % (Qtr) 20.00
Total Debt (Qtr) 4.21 Bn
Debt/Equity (Qtr) 0.90

About

Associated Banc-Corp (ASB) is a prominent bank holding company that operates primarily in the upper Midwest region of the United States, with a strong presence in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. Through its subsidiary, Associated Bank, the company offers a wide range of banking and nonbanking products and services to individuals and businesses. Associated Bank's revenue is generated through several business segments, including Corporate and Commercial Specialty, Community, Consumer, and Business, and Risk Management and Shared Services. The...

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Price action

Investment thesis

Bull case

  • Strong tangible asset base of 43.33B provides 10.28x coverage of total debt 4.21B, indicating robust asset backing and low credit risk.
  • Robust free cash flow of 562.86M exceeds capital expenditure of 41.88M by 13.44x, indicating strong organic growth funding capability.
  • Operating cash flow of 604.74M provides strong 6.27x coverage of operating expenses 96.48M, showing operational efficiency.
  • Retained earnings of 3.13B represent substantial 0.67x of equity 4.67B, indicating strong internal capital generation.
  • Operating cash flow of 604.74M provides strong 14.44x coverage of capital expenditure 41.88M, enabling organic growth.

Bear case

  • Operating cash flow of 604.74M barely covers its investment activities of (2.30B), with a coverage ratio of -0.26, indicating heavy reliance on external financing for growth which may not be sustainable in a tighter credit environment.
  • Operating cash flow of 604.74M provides thin coverage of dividend payments of (154.13M) with a -3.92 ratio, suggesting potential dividend sustainability issues if operational performance deteriorates.
  • Retained earnings of 3.13B provide limited buffer against comprehensive income items of (15.98M), which is -196.08x, indicating elevated exposure to market risks.
  • R&D investment of 0 represents just 0x of SG&A expenses of 749.74M, indicating potential underinvestment in innovation relative to administrative overhead.
  • Fixed assets of 384.14M showing 7.62x ratio to depreciation of 50.39M indicates aging infrastructure requiring significant near-term capital investment.

Peer comparison

Companies in the Banks - Regional
S.No. Ticker Company Market Cap P/E P/S Total Debt (Qtr)
1 USB Us Bancorp \De\ 84.44 Bn 12.40 3.25 77.98 Bn
2 PNC Pnc Financial Services Group, Inc. 84.36 Bn 13.61 3.73 62.34 Bn
3 NU Nu Holdings Ltd. 81.47 Bn 32.21 5.79 4.49 Bn
4 NWG NatWest Group plc 66.53 Bn 9.88 3.05 169.04 Bn
5 TFC Truist Financial Corp 64.60 Bn 13.18 3.53 71.11 Bn
6 MTB M&T Bank Corp 32.73 Bn 12.47 3.60 14.99 Bn
7 FITB Fifth Third Bancorp 31.96 Bn 14.15 3.93 18.94 Bn
8 FCNCA First Citizens Bancshares Inc /De/ 28.98 Bn 12.78 3.26 40.00 Bn

Industry comparisons

Current Valuation Value Ind Avg Percentile
EV to Assets EV to Assets 0.18 0.14
EV to Cash from Ops. EV/CFO 13.45 7.21
EV to Debt EV to Debt 1.93 5.20
EV to EBIT EV/EBIT 34.29 14.98
EV to EBITDA EV/EBITDA 26.95 8.92
EV to Free Cash Flow [EV/FCF] EV/FCF 14.46 8.87
EV to Market Cap EV to Market Cap 1.68 1.04
EV to Revenue EV/Rev 7.41 -3.76
Price to Book Value [P/B] P/B 1.04 1.17
Price to Earnings [P/E] P/E 29.47 15.63
Dividend Metrics Value Ind Avg Percentile
Dividend Coverage Ratio Div Coverage (Qtr) 0.99 271.44
Dividend Payout Ratio % Div Payout % (Qtr) 104.50 35.28
Dividend per Basic Share Div per Share (Qtr) 0.92 0.89
FCF Dividend Payout Ratio % FCF Div Payout % (Qtr) 26.97 34.52
Interest Coverage Interest Coverage 0.00 -0.05
Growth Metrics Value Ind Avg Percentile
Capex Growth (1y) % Capex 1y % (Qtr) 16.20 -73.15
Cash and Equivalents Growth (1y) % Cash & Equiv 1y % (Qtr) 33.68 15.78
Dividend Growth (1y) % Div 1y % (Qtr) 4.55 5.32
EBIAT Growth (1y) % EBIAT 1y % (Qtr) -9.24 110.93
EBITDA Growth (1y) % EBITDA 1y % (Qtr) 35.44 38.80
EBIT Growth (1y) % EBIT 1y % (Qtr) 36.20 61.46
EBT Growth (1y) % EBT 1y % (Qtr) 36.20 61.37
EPS Growth (1y) % EPS 1y % (Qtr) -27.27 76.34
FCF Growth (1y) % FCF 1y % (Qtr) 45.15 161.72
Gross Profit Growth (1y) % Gross Profit 1y % (Qtr) 8.93 14.15
Liquidity Ratios Value Ind Avg Percentile
Asset Utilization Ratio Asset Util Ratio (Qtr) 0.02 0.04
Cash Payout Ratio Cash Payout (Qtr) 0.24 0.26
Cash Ratio Cash Ratio 0.00 0.00
Current Ratio Current Ratio 0.00 0.01
Debt to Equity Ratio Debt/Equity (Qtr) 0.90 0.53
Interest Cover Ratio Interest Cover Ratio 0.00 -0.05
Times Interest Earned Times Interest Earned 0.00 -0.05
Profitability Value Ind Avg Percentile
EBITDA Margin % EBITDA Margin % (Qtr) 26.20 147.97
EBIT Margin % EBIT Margin % (Qtr) 21.61 155.41
EBT Margin % EBT Margin % (Qtr) 21.61 154.66
Gross Margin % Gross Margin % (Qtr) 100.00 97.82
Net Profit Margin % Net Margin % (Qtr) 15.00 115.63