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    Earnings Beat Could Be A Game Changer For Zions Bancorporation (ZION)

    Simply Wall St·10/20/2026 20:26:07
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    • Zions Bancorporation reported Q3 2026 net income of US$263 million on net interest income of US$684 million, with earnings per share of US$1.78 from continuing operations.
    • The bank combined higher profitability with sharply lower net charge offs of US$3 million and completed a US$150 million share repurchase program covering 2,300,000 shares.
    • The focus now turns to how this earnings performance and reduced credit losses may influence Zions Bancorporation's longer term investment narrative.

    Scan how Zions Bancorporation compares to other regional lenders by reviewing a curated list of solid balance sheet and fundamentals (25 results) that focuses on financial resilience and disciplined capital returns.

    Zions Bancorporation National Association Investment Narrative Recap

    To own Zions Bancorporation National Association, you need to be comfortable with a regional banking model that leans on Western US economies, a funding advantage from deposits and tight expense control. The recent Q3 print, with net income of US$263 million and net charge offs of US$3 million, supports that high level story but does not rewrite it.

    The near term swing factor is whether net interest income can hold up as competition for deposits stays intense, while technology, AI and fee businesses keep lifting efficiency. The key risk is still a regional slowdown that hits commercial borrowers and erodes this quarter’s clean credit performance and capital flexibility.

    The most relevant fresh data point is the sharp drop in net charge offs to US$3 million for the quarter compared with US$56 million a year earlier. For a lender that already highlights a disciplined risk culture and an allowance for credit losses that covers multiple years of gross charge offs, this update matters for how you think about capital deployment.

    Cleaner credit outcomes can support the existing narrative around Zions Bancorporation National Association using its 11.8% CET1 ratio and buyback capacity to support per share metrics. The completed US$150 million repurchase program, covering 2,300,000 shares, shows management is already executing on that playbook, although the durability of low losses and deposit funding costs will remain the items to watch.

    What The Current Forecasts Assume For Zions Bancorporation

    Analysts sketch a fairly specific path for Zions Bancorporation over the next few years, and it is worth pulling those assumptions apart before you lean on them. The revenue line is modeled to grow by 1.3% a year, which is modest for a regional lender that is still investing in technology, fee businesses and targeted deposit campaigns.

    Profitability is expected to compress even with that incremental revenue. Forecasts build in a shift in net profit margin from 31.2% today to 24.8% by 2029, so the earnings profile reflects both limited top line expansion and thinner spreads on that income. That is the context for why current clean credit metrics and cost control feel so important when you think about the next stage of the investment story.

    The consensus view has earnings at US$1.2b today and landing at US$949.6 million around 2029. That is a decline in absolute profit, even with buybacks expected to reduce the share count by about 1.14% per year over the next three years. Analysts see share repurchases as a partial offset for slower profit generation, because a smaller base of stock can still support earnings per share even if total earnings are under pressure.

    There is also a valuation twist. The current P/E multiple of 7.8x on today’s earnings would need to rise to 13.3x on those 2029 earnings to match the analyst framework. That future P/E is higher than the 11.4x level cited for the wider US banks group. The scenario effectively asks you to assume that Zions Bancorporation earns a premium rating based on its capital position, risk culture and mix of fee and interest income.

    Across these inputs, the Simply Wall St report references a discount rate of 7.24% for the detailed modeling, while the shorter valuation summary references 7.2%. Both figures sit in the same range and aim to translate those 2029 earnings and revenue assumptions back into what they might be worth in today’s dollars. For you as an investor, the key question is not whether that exact discount rate is perfect. The more practical issue is whether the building blocks around margins, credit costs and deposit competition feel realistic.

    Zions Bancorporation National Association's narrative projects US$3.8b revenue and US$949.6 million earnings by 2029. This rests on 1.3% yearly revenue growth and an earnings decline of about US$250 million from US$1.2b today.

    Those same forecasts sit behind the current set of price targets. The consensus target sits at US$72.73 per share, framed against a current share price of US$61.78, with the most optimistic analyst at US$80.00 and the most cautious at US$64.00. The spread between those views reflects different opinions on how much of the margin compression and slower earnings profile is already reflected in the price and how much weight to give the bank’s capital strength and fee income ambitions.

    Uncover why Zions Bancorporation National Association's fair value indicates a 15% potential upside to its current price that could narrow quickly.

    NasdaqGS:ZION 1-Year Stock Price Chart
    NasdaqGS:ZION 1-Year Stock Price Chart

    Exploring Other Perspectives

    Three fair value estimates from the Simply Wall St Community span from about US$72.73 to an extreme outlier near US$44,072.55, so private investors clearly disagree on what Zions Bancorporation is worth. Consider that wide spread alongside credit costs at US$3 million, recent buybacks and mixed revenue surprises, then explore these contrasting views before forming your own stance.

    Explore 2 other Zions Bancorporation National Association fair value estimates, including one that suggests it could be worth just $72.73.

    Decide For Yourself

    Don't just follow the ticker; dig into the data and build a conviction that's truly your own.

    Looking For More Investment Ideas Beyond Zions Bancorporation?

    If you want to pressure test your view on Zions Bancorporation National Association and broaden your watchlist, it can help to line it up against other companies with different balance sheet strength, income profiles and risk levels using the Simply Wall St screener.

    • For investors who like established businesses trading below what their fundamentals suggest, scan a curated pool of 35 high quality undervalued stocks that may offer a margin of safety.
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    • For a steadier ride through market swings, shortlist candidates screened as 32 resilient stocks with low risk scores and compare their profiles to the risk you are taking with any single bank stock.