Zions Bancorp's (ZION) Case for Regional Bank Upside

Zions Bancorporation, National Association (NASDAQ:ZION) ranks among the best financial stocks to buy according to billionaire Israel Englander. On December 22, JPMorgan analyst Anthony Elian maintained a Neutral rating on Zions Bancorporation, National Association (NASDAQ:ZION) and raised the price target to $67, up from $62. The analyst predicts “solid upside potential” for regional banks in 2026, citing favorable drivers such as additional Fed rate cuts, consistent rise in loans, and increased M&A activity.

Separately, Evercore ISI increased its price target for Zions Bancorporation, National Association (NASDAQ:ZION) to $65 from $61 on December 15, while keeping an Outperform rating on it. The boost came after an investor meeting in NYC with Zions Chairman and CEO Harris Simmons and FP&A and IR Director Shannon Drage.

The firm stated that Zions’ management is dedicated to creating significant operating leverage in 2026, with share buybacks possibly on the cards. At the same time, balance-sheet growth is projected to accelerate as commercial loan and SBA trends increase.

Zions Bancorporation, National Association (NASDAQ:ZION) is a Utah-based regional bank that offers commercial and small business banking, retail banking, investment banking, real estate financing, and wealth management.

While we acknowledge the potential of ZION as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 10 Best Magic Formula Stocks for 2025 and 10 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.