Sterling Bancorp's (STL) earnings are expected to continue to grow in 2020, mostly on the back of management's cost-cutting efforts. The recent acquisition of an equipment finance portfolio is also expected to contribute to the bottom-line growth. On the other hand, a compression in net interest margin is expected to somewhat constrain earnings growth. As implied by my valuation analysis, the stock is currently undervalued in the market; hence, I'm adopting a bullish rating on STL.
Cost-Saving Measures to Drive the Bottom Line
The biggest support for STL's net income is expected to