Stock price when the opinion was issued
Banks tend to move on the same macro variables. It's too painful on your taxes to sell this one only to buy another similar one. You're better off just holding on.
Not a compelling barn-burner buy today, at best it's a hold. European banks are tactically more attractive than the US and, especially, the Canadian banks.
After the global financial crisis, all banks under-earned because interest rates came down so far. As interest rates come back up, financials are starting to approach their historical earnings range. Banks in the US and Canada are leaders in this pack. European banks are a bit behind. 40% of HSBC’s business is in Europe, which has yet to see higher interest rates. 40% is in Hong Kong, which is the booking point for Asian business. Because the Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar, this part of HSBC’s business is pegged to the US interest rate cycle. Higher interest rates in the US are good for HSBC in Asia. He thinks the global banks are undervalued, and are good buys, especially for people with a multi-year horizon. This is not a good trade for 3-to-6 months but he thinks it will do well for someone willing to hold it for 3-to-5 years.