Regional bank stocks, as represented by the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:KRE), have experienced a noticeable rebound after recently hitting the 200-day moving average support. This positive movement follows a series of strong earnings aQ1 2024 reports from sector players. Despite this uptick, the gauge still remains nearly 20% below its pre-March 2023 crisis level, a stark reminder of last year’s turmoil in the regional banking sector. Chart: Regional Banks Rebound Off 200-Day Support Line Analyst Insights And Key Stock Valuation “Regional banks with strong deposit franchises are well-positioned in a structurally higher rate environment,” said Ebrahim H. Poonawala, a noted analyst from Bank of America. This sentiment reflects a broader industry expectation that Net Interest Income (NII) could recover this year, with credit losses remaining manageable. This forecast suggests a shifting investor attitude towards a “higher for longer” economic scenario. Stock valuations among regional players are trading between hopes for a soft economic landing and pressures from sustained higher rates. Notably, large-cap regional banks are trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 9x for 2025, compared to a 5-year pre-pandemic median of 13.1x. This represents a 47% ...