NEW YORK, Feb 2, 2026, 07:20 EST — Premarket
- HBAN slipped roughly 0.3% in early trades, retreating from some of the ground it made on Friday.
- The bank’s Cadence merger is scheduled for around Feb. 1, putting merger-arb and index funds squarely in the spotlight.
- Despite recent guidance, investors continue to focus on Huntington’s 2026 net interest income forecast.
Huntington Bancshares shares edged down 0.3% to $17.42 in premarket Monday, following a 1.1% rise to $17.48 on Friday. (Nasdaq)
The modest move adds to the bigger question hanging over the stock: when exactly will the Cadence Bank acquisition close? A December filing noted that all necessary regulatory approvals were in hand, with the deal expected to close “on or about” Feb. 1, pending some final conditions.
Index mechanics are drawing attention as well. FTSE Russell announced that adjustments linked to the merger will kick in from the opening of trading on Feb. 2 across multiple Russell equal-weight index series, pending the deal’s completion. The notice cited merger terms of 2.475 Huntington shares for every Cadence share held.
Huntington’s trading has been volatile. Its investor relations page reported nearly 212 million shares changing hands during Friday’s regular session. (Huntington Bancshares Incorporated)
Huntington is signaling a stronger interest-income outlook for 2026. Last month, it projected net interest income—the gap between earnings on loans and deposit costs—to rise 10% to 13% on a standalone basis. The bank also expects a record year overall, boosted by the Cadence acquisition, which should add between $1.85 billion and $1.90 billion once finalized. CEO Steve Steinour emphasized, “Our focus for 2026 remains on driving strong organic growth.” (Reuters)
The stage is set as the bank signals stronger core earnings ahead, yet the stock continues to trade at levels more typical of a takeover target during parts of the session.
Investors are clear on what they need next: confirmation that the deal is closing, along with new details on costs, balance sheet adjustments, and how quickly integration will proceed once the two banks merge.
There’s a risk factor as well. If the closing drags out—or if the deal terms spark unexpected hedging or forced repositioning—the stock could take a hit, and any “deal premium” baked into the price might vanish quickly.
Huntington’s performance moves in step with the wider regional bank sector, where even slight shifts in rate forecasts can shift earnings projections. Investors are watching peers like KeyCorp, PNC Financial Services, and U.S. Bancorp closely for clues on market sentiment.
Traders will be watching closely at 9:30 a.m. EST, when the regular session kicks off, looking for any closing updates and signs of index-related flows hitting the tape.
