Seeking Alpha: M&T Bank Is Plenty Bold, And The Street Already Likes It

With a 25-year record of doing an acquisition nearly every year, it was probably no surprise that M&T Bank (MTB) launched another deal in 2012, though the proposed acquisition of Hudson City (HCBK) is the biggest yet. This deal looks to be strongly accretive for M&T Bank over the long term, just as so many of its past deals have been. Given the bank's solid loan growth, good spread, strong expense control, and well-earned reputation for strong returns on capital, this is a top-notch bank. Sadly, it's also priced like one.

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M&T Bank Is Plenty Bold, And The Street Already Likes It

Investopedia: M&T Bank In A Rare Class

The meltdown in the banking sector has had some interesting consequences. Nimble banks with fairly clean balance sheets like Bank of the Ozarks (Nasdaq:OZRK) have taken advantage of FDIC assistance to significantly expand their footprint by acquiring failed banks. Once-respected giants like Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) and U.S. Bank (NYSE:USB) have seen investors apply major haircuts to their future earnings power, and former winners like Washington Mutual and Wachovia were basically gutted.

Curiously, M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB) has come through this mess relatively unscathed. While sound underwriting certainly helped limit the financial damage, a strong reputation with investors has buoyed the stock price as well. Consequently, it's one of the rare banks out there that does not look like a tremendous bargain at current prices. 


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M&T Bank In A Rare Class (MTB, PNC, FNFG, NYB, HBC, C, SBNY)