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Exclusive Article
3 European Bank Stocks Nearing New 52-Week HighsAuthor: Dan Schmidt. Article Posted: 4/27/2026. 
Key Points
- The outbreak of the Iran war caused a swift re-rating in some sectors, especially in Europe and Asia.
- UBS, Banco Santander, and Erste Group are three international banks recovering from war-driven drawdowns of 20% or more that are now approaching new 52-week highs.
- All three banks report Q1 2026 earnings on April 29, providing a near-term catalyst that could drive further price appreciation.
- Special Report: Elon Musk: This Could Turn $100 into $100,000
Markets appear to be looking past the initial oil shock from the Iran war, and risk appetite has firmed even as crude remains volatile. While many companies listed on U.S. exchanges have already made new highs, international stocks suffered deeper drawdowns and therefore have more ground to recover. Foreign bank stocks, especially those in Europe, were attractive investments in 2025, and many remained near the top of analysts’ recommendation lists for 2026. Now that geopolitical shocks are (hopefully) behind us, these stocks once again have a chance to lead, and the three companies we’ll discuss today are quickly resuming their bullish march.
Despite a very shaky ceasefire, these three international bank stocks are once again moving toward new 52-week highs. The Iran war pushed many of these names down 20% or more, giving investors a chance to buy quality companies on sale, even though their long-term outlooks have not changed. UBS Group: Pair of Upgrades and Easing Capital Requirements Provide Tailwinds Ahead of Q1 EarningsAfter soaring nearly 40% in 2025, UBS Group AG (NYSE: UBS) was a top analyst pick to start 2026. The integration of Credit Suisse was completed ahead of schedule, and the company now has a wealth management operation that rivals even the largest U.S. investment banks. UBS started the year strong with its Q4 2025 results, delivered on Feb. 3, which included revenue growth of more than 10% year over year (YOY) and plans for another 3 billion Swiss Francs (CHF), or approximately $3.8 billion, in share buybacks in 2026. UBS slashed its annual dividend by nearly 40% this year, but its 14% Common Equity Tier One (CET1) ratio shows the bank remains well capitalized. A downgrade from Goldman Sachs, followed by the outbreak of the Iran war, led to a swift re-rating of UBS shares. The stock dropped more than 20% before bottoming at the end of March, but the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator signaled slowing downside momentum long before the price began to rebound. 
As the MACD turned bullish, UBS shares surged back above the 50-day and 200-day moving averages on heavy volume. The stock is once again testing the 50-day MA, but UBS also recently received upgrades from Barclays and Weiss, good news from the Swiss government on its capital requirements, and an upcoming earnings catalyst on April 29. Banco Santander: Bold Management Plans Present Growth OpportunityBanco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN) was another big 2025 winner, more than doubling over the year as the European banking sector took off. This rally continued into 2026 until the Iran war began, and SAN shares quickly fell 20%. However, now that markets are shaking off the oil shock, investors have another chance to buy one of the most diversified European banks at 10 times forward earnings and 1.39 times book value. Management has laid out an impressive framework for its 2028 goals, targeting Return on Tangible Equity (ROTE) above 20%, 20 billion euros (approximately $23.4 billion) in profits, and a doubling of the cash dividend. Banco Santander has the lowest CET1 ratio among major Eurozone banks at 13.5%, but this remains well above the compliance level, giving the bank plenty of room to sustainably return capital to shareholders. The current dividend yield is about 1.6%, and the payout ratio is just 18.8%. SAN shares quickly rebounded from the Iran oil shock, nearly reaching a new 52-week high in early April. But renewed tensions have pushed the stock back to the 50-day moving average, which had previously served as support. If this level once again acts as support, investors have a good opportunity to open new positions before the next bounce. 
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) will tell the story: if it remains above the bullish threshold of 50, SAN shares will likely bounce off the 50-day MA and continue to climb. The company’s next catalyst comes on April 29 when it reports Q1 2026 earnings. Erste Group: Acquisitions Boosting Key Banking MetricsErste Group Bank AG (OTCMKTS: EBKDY) is a $45 billion Austrian banking powerhouse that recently completed an acquisition of a 49% stake in Santander Bank Polska. This move makes Erste one of the largest asset holders in Poland and continues the expansion of its presence in Eastern Europe. Most importantly, management expects the acquisition to lift EPS by 20% and boost 2026 ROTE to 19%. If Erste can meet these goals, the stock’s current valuation looks exceedingly cheap at just 10 times forward earnings and 1.16 times book value. The company reports Q1 2026 earnings on April 29, and investors will be looking for any changes to the outlook following the acquisition's finalization. The stock peaked after the acquisition closed, which is a typical “sell the news” profit-taking reaction. But the move may have been an overreaction, pushing the stock down toward the 200-day moving average. The 200-day MA turned into a reversal zone, however, supported by a bullish MACD crossover. 
EBKDY shares have also pulled back to the 50-day MA ahead of earnings as investors digest the geopolitical environment, but there is still plenty of upside potential in the company’s upcoming Q1 2026 earnings report. |
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