When one company buys another, particularly a troubled one, the acquiring business typically sees its share price fall. But when First Citizens bought Silicon Valley Bank out of government receivership, its stock soared by more than 50%.
Six months after the acquisition, Wall Street is no less upbeat about First Citizens’ prospects. Analysts at JPMorgan recently initiated coverage on the Raleigh, North Carolina-based lender with an overweight rating and a target of $1,850 for the price, which implies a gain of 34% from recent trading levels.