2 Regional Bank Stocks for Dividend Growth

When I was a much younger man and first starting out in the financial industry, bank stocks were thought of in the same classification as utility stocks. They were considered nice, safe widow-and-orphan dividend stocks. As the industry has changed over the years that definition has changed several times. Bank stocks were actually viewed as growth stocks for much of the 1990s as the changes in interstate banking laws opened up all sorts of opportunities for expansion-minded financial institutions.

Now that we have been through the financial crisis and banks are de-risking their balance sheets, income investors can once again look to select bank stocks as serious candidates for a growth and income portfolio. During the crisis many banks reduced or even laminated their payouts, but as credit conditions have improved they have been reinstated and we should see strong dividend growth from this sector over the next several years. Two regional bank Stocks for Dividend Growth: People’s United Financial, Inc. (PBCT) and Oritani Financial Corp. (ORIT).

Source: InvestorPlace

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