Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA) Hits New 52-Week High - Is It Time to Buy?

On Tuesday, shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (NYSE:BBVA) reached a remarkable 52-week high, trading at $12.20. This milestone represents a significant increase from its previous closing price of $11.88, with a trading volume of 861,376 shares.

Recent Analyst Ratings

A variety of analysts have recently updated their ratings for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria. For instance, HSBC Global Research elevated the stock from a 'hold' rating to a 'strong buy' in a report issued on January 31. Similarly, StockNews.com upgraded the stock from 'hold' to 'buy' on November 12. Overall, the consensus rating stands at 'Moderate Buy', with one analyst recommending to sell, another holding, one buying, and two giving it a 'strong buy' rating.

Latest Analysis on Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

Price Trends and Performance

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria maintains a 50-day simple moving average of $10.44 and a 200-day moving average of $10.23. The bank has a market capitalization of $71.24 billion, a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 6.74, and a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 0.76. Its beta stands at 1.27, indicating more volatility than the overall market. Additionally, the bank's debt-to-equity ratio is 1.16, with a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 0.27.

In its most recent quarterly earnings report released on February 4, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.44, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.40. The bank has shown a return on equity of 17.49% and a net margin of 28.10%. Analysts predict that the company will achieve an EPS of 1.59 for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investment Trends

Recent changes in institutional investments have been notable. FMR LLC increased its stake in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 5.7% during the third quarter, owning over 6.37 million shares now worth approximately $69 million. American Century Companies Inc. followed suit, raising its holdings by 7.5% in the fourth quarter, totaling 2.23 million shares valued around $21.6 million. Meanwhile, Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. added 5.8% more shares to their holdings in the same quarter, now owning about 1.27 million shares valued at $13.77 million.

Additionally, QRG Capital Management and US Bancorp DE also increased their stakes by 4.0% and 1.7%, respectively. Collectively, institutional investors hold about 2.96% of the company's stock.

Company Overview

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. provides various services, including retail and wholesale banking and asset management in several regions, such as the United States, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, and South America. Their offerings include savings accounts, demand deposits, and various loan products.

Conclusion: Should You Buy BBVA Stock?

Despite Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria's recent positive performance and bullish analyst ratings, potential investors should do thorough research before making investment decisions. Currently, the stock holds a 'Moderate Buy' rating, but numerous analysts recommend considering other options that might offer better potential returns.

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