Morgan Stanley Begins Coverage on Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA)

Research analysts at Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA) in a research note issued on Tuesday. The brokerage set an “equal weight” rating on the bank’s stock.

A number of other research firms have also weighed in on BBVA. Barclays raised Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 7th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy”.

Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of NYSE:BBVA opened at $19.65 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $114.69 billion, a PE ratio of 10.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 1.19. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria has a 1 year low of $9.23 and a 1 year high of $20.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 1.01. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $18.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $16.31.

Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The bank reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.47 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $10.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $10.24 billion. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria had a net margin of 29.17% and a return on equity of 17.61%. Analysts predict that Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria will post 1.59 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BBVA. Kathmere Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 7.4% in the third quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 59,164 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $1,139,000 after purchasing an additional 4,056 shares during the last quarter. Greenleaf Trust boosted its holdings in shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 82,078 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $1,580,000 after buying an additional 1,339 shares in the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 47.4% in the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 34,762 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $669,000 after buying an additional 11,175 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC raised its stake in Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 134,386 shares of the bank’s stock worth $2,587,000 after acquiring an additional 4,588 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PDS Planning Inc lifted its position in Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 4.5% in the third quarter. PDS Planning Inc now owns 33,315 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $641,000 after acquiring an additional 1,439 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 2.96% of the company’s stock.

About Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, SA provides retail banking, wholesale banking, and asset management services in the United States, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, South America, and internationally. The company offers savings account, demand deposits, and time deposits; and loan products, such as residential mortgages, other households, credit card loans, loans to enterprises and public sector, as well as consumer finance.