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STBAS&T Bancorp, Inc.Hold5.7·$51.79+1.59%
STBA · Why this verdict

Why S&T Bancorp (STBA) is rated HOLD

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictHOLD
Overall score5.7/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL
TrendMatrix Research · core thesis

Engine thesis — one sentence

S&T Bancorp has beaten consensus EPS estimates in all 4 of the past 4 quarters with a consistent 4 to 8% positive surprise margin, maintaining a Piotroski F-Score of 8/9, but the stock has surpassed analyst price targets and trades at negative indicated upside, leaving limited room for near-term appreciation.

Falsifiable statement — pillar-level invalidators below. Engine-derived; not personalized advice.

Thesis pillars

S&T Bancorp has beaten consensus EPS estimates in all 4 of the last 4 quarters with an average positive surprise of 4.8%, demonstrating reliable execution above analyst expectations in a challenging regional banking environment.

Improving
Earnings
Expectation
The bank continues to beat consensus EPS by at least 3% in at least 3 of the next 4 quarters as net interest income and credit quality remain stable.

CounterThe beat margins have been narrow at 1 to 8%, and rising credit costs from any deterioration in the commercial or consumer loan book could turn the beat streak into a miss.

S&T earns a Piotroski F-Score of 8/9, reflecting strong profitability, balance sheet improvement, and liquidity across eight of nine quality criteria.

Stable
Quality breakdown
Expectation
The Piotroski F-Score remains above 7 for the next 4 consecutive quarters, confirming sustained fundamental quality.

CounterPiotroski F-Score is backward-looking; a regional bank with two medium-concentration risks noted in its annual report filings could see score deterioration if credit costs rise or capital ratios tighten.

Revenue growth of only 3.5% and earnings growth of 3.6% year-over-year are below the regional banking peer median, constraining the case for multiple expansion beyond current levels.

Deteriorating
Bear case
Expectation
Revenue growth accelerates to at least 6% year-over-year over the next 12 months as loan growth or rate tailwinds expand net interest income.

CounterSmall regional banks in mature markets often grow slower than larger peers due to limited geographic expansion options and competitive pressure from larger institutions on deposit pricing.

The stock has moved well above analyst consensus price targets, with indicated upside of approximately negative 16% and a reward-to-risk ratio of 0.22, making the near-term return case highly asymmetric to the downside.

Stable
Targets
Expectation
Analyst consensus price target is revised up to above $54, more than 14% above current price, following positive earnings revisions over the next 12 months.

CounterWithout guidance upgrades or a transformational catalyst, the stock is likely to retrace toward analyst targets or the stop-loss level, eroding recent gains.

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

6.3/10data confidence 83%
ComponentSub-score
P/E8.1
P/S7.2
Fwd P/E8.5
PEG4.8
Analyst target3.0
  • Forward P/E: 13.5x
  • PEG: 1.67

Quality

5.3/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE3.3
ROA0.9
Gross margin0.0
Op margin10.0
Net margin10.0
Moat4.8
Piotroski F7.8
  • Strong margins: 35%
  • No competitive moat
  • Strong Piotroski F-Score: 7/9

Growth

5.2/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth4.0
EPS growth6.5

Momentum

7.3/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI5.0
MACD8.2
OBV10.0
MA position9.0
Volume4.1
  • Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
  • Above 200-day MA

Sentiment

4.9/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
LLM sentiment5.4
Analyst rating5.0
Price target4.3

Insider

7.3/10data confidence 75%
ComponentSub-score
materiality5.0
holder change10.0
notable moves7.0
  • No net insider activity — $0 (0.000% of mkt cap)
  • Institutions accumulating

Peer rank

3.8/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank3.0
quality rank5.3
growth rank1.9

Technical

3.6/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger0.0
support resistance0.8
52w position9.9

Risk (lower is worse)

6.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest6.7
days to cover3.4
volatility7.7
implied vol6.1
beta8.0
news risk5.5
  • Concentration risks: 2 MED (10-K Item 1A)

Catalyst

6.6/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history10.0
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg5.9
dividend safety5.5
news activity8.0
  • Perfect beat streak: 4Q

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Maintain position. Not compelling to add more.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L4:PATH_F_HOLD
Passed (5)
  • MOMENTUM:7.3>=5.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:88d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
  • ASYMMETRY:-2.2=NEGATIVE
Warning (1)
  • 8K_CSUITE_CHANGE:5.02 (officer departure/appointment)
Reward-to-Risk
-2.24
Upside
-16.8%
Downside
7.5%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupBreakout Golden cross, above all MAs, RSI 66, MACD bullish

EdgeNo clear edge No clear edge identified

SuitabilityAggressive MCap $1.9B<$5B

Investment implication

None of the engine's positive-conviction paths (C-quality, D-momentum) triggered — the F-path HOLD reflects balanced signals. Strongest-cleared gate: MOMENTUM:7.3>=5.5. Top dim: Momentum at 7.3; weakest: Technical at 3.6. No conviction either direction.

The strongest dimensions are Momentum at 7.3, Insider at 7.3, and Catalyst at 6.6; the weakest are Technical at 3.6, Peer rank at 3.8, and Sentiment at 4.9. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of -2.24 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

What would invalidate the thesis

Falsifying conditions — when triggered, the corresponding pillar's thesis is invalidated.

  • P1Perfect Earnings Beat Record

    Trip ifEPS surprise falls below 0% in at least 2 of the next 4 quarters, breaking the 4-quarter streak of positive beats.

  • P2Strong Piotroski Quality Score

    Trip ifPiotroski F-Score falls below 6 in any reported quarter over the next 12 months, signaling meaningful quality deterioration.

  • P3Weak Growth Limits Re Rating

    Trip ifRevenue growth falls below 2% year-over-year in any reported quarter over the next 12 months, confirming the growth constraint is worsening.

  • P4Analyst Target Surpassed No Upside

    Trip ifStock price drops below $43, more than 9% below the current $47.26, without analyst price target upgrades above $50 within 45 days.

Engine reasoning is mechanically derived from pipeline gate outputs. See decision view.

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