What Is Driving the Rise in Zions Bancorporation (ZION) Shares Today

Zions Bancorporation Surpasses Expectations in Q4

Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ:ZION), a regional banking institution, saw its stock rise by 2.7% during the afternoon after releasing fourth-quarter results that exceeded analyst forecasts.

The bank reported $891 million in revenue for the quarter, marking an 8.5% increase compared to the previous year and outperforming analyst projections by 2.4%. Earnings per share reached $1.76, outpacing consensus estimates by 12.4%. This strong performance was further supported by a 20.5% annual growth in Tangible Book Value per Share, an important indicator for banks. However, not all metrics were positive: Net Interest Income came in at $683 million, slightly below expectations, and the efficiency ratio climbed to 62.3%, suggesting higher operating costs relative to revenue.

After the initial surge, Zions shares settled at $60.94, representing a 3.1% gain from the previous closing price.

Market Reaction and Recent Developments

Historically, Zions Bancorporation’s stock has shown limited volatility, with only nine instances of price swings greater than 5% over the past year. Today’s movement suggests investors view the latest results as significant, though not transformative for the company’s overall outlook.

One of the most notable events in the past year occurred three months ago, when the stock fell 8.3% following the announcement that Zions would write off $50 million due to problems with two commercial loans from its California Bank & Trust division. The losses resulted from what the bank described as "apparent misrepresentations and contractual defaults" by two related borrowers, with the total loan amount reaching about $60 million. Zions responded by reserving funds to cover the full $60 million and recording the $50 million charge-off in its third-quarter 2025 financials. The company also stated it is pursuing legal action to recover the losses.

Since the start of the year, Zions Bancorporation shares have gained 2.9%. At $60.94 per share, the stock is trading near its 52-week high of $60.96, set in January 2026. An investor who purchased $1,000 worth of Zions shares five years ago would now have an investment valued at $1,286.

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