Paul Harris, CFA Suntrust Banks STI-N PAST TOP PICK Jul 04, 2014

In southeast US, which is growing from a manufacturing point of view. Likes the regional banks because they are not involved in the investment banking business as much. This one is really a retail and commercial bank. Going forward it has a chance to increase dividends and will have growth from the recovery of the US housing market. Trading at slightly below BV. Expect dividends will increase over the next little while.

This is a bank in the southeast US. Cheap, trading at .6X BV and around 12X earnings. A lot of companies and population in the US have moved to their area so they should have good growth. The housing market is turning around, which he thinks will continue over the next little while. Yield curve is steepening, which really helps banks. 1.26% yield.

(A Top Pick March 28/13. Up 7.62%.) Held this for the dividend and expected it to execute a little bit better. Didn’t see that happening so he sold the stock. This is really going to give you the dividend without upside on the stock price.

He owns BBT-N. The company is involved in a merger with Suntrust. It is a franchised bank on the east coast where there is good economic and demographic growth. Even during the financial crisis, they managed affairs well. The US banks have been stuttering as the yield curve has become flat. He would still be a buyer here.