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ASB vs KEY
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Associated Banc-Corp (ASB) vs. KeyCorp (KEY) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both ASB and KEY operate as regional banks with comparable exposure to interest rate environments and lending cycles.
- ASB has pursued growth through the pending acquisition of American National Corporation, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, expanding its Midwest footprint.
- KEY has emphasized capital return via share buybacks and maintained a focus on organic performance without active M&A (mergers and acquisitions) pursuits.
- Recent market activity shows both stocks influenced by sector-wide factors including net interest income (NII) trends and regulatory developments in the banking industry.
- ASB reports total assets of approximately $50 billion, while KEY maintains a larger scale with broader national operations.
- Relative performance reflects trade-offs between acquisition-driven expansion for ASB and capital management strategies for KEY.
Introduction
Associated Banc-Corp (ASB) and KeyCorp (KEY) are two regional banking institutions that offer investors exposure to the U.S. financial sector. This comparison examines their business models, recent performance, and market positioning to assist traders and investors evaluating relative value within the regional bank space. The analysis focuses on observable factors such as growth initiatives, capital allocation, and sector dynamics, providing context for those monitoring banking stocks amid evolving interest rate and economic conditions.
ASB Overview and Recent Performance
Associated Banc-Corp (ASB) is a bank holding company headquartered in Wisconsin with approximately $50 billion in total assets, serving customers primarily across the Midwest. In recent weeks, the stock has reflected broader regional banking sector movements tied to net interest margin trends and lending activity. Key developments include the announced acquisition of American National Corporation, which aims to accelerate growth through expanded geographic reach and is pending regulatory approvals with an expected close in the second quarter of 2026. Additional recent market activity encompasses community-focused recognitions and lending transactions, contributing to steady sentiment amid sector volatility.
KEY Overview and Recent Performance
KeyCorp (KEY) operates as a larger regional bank with a national presence, offering commercial and consumer banking services. In recent market activity, the stock has been shaped by expectations around quarterly earnings, dividend declarations, and capital return programs. The company has highlighted share buybacks as a primary use of excess capital, while steering clear of acquisitions. Community initiatives, such as financial education investments, have also featured in recent updates, aligning with efforts to maintain stable positioning within the competitive banking landscape.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
In business model terms, both entities function as regional banks with significant overlap in commercial lending and deposit gathering, though ASB maintains a more concentrated Midwest focus while KEY benefits from wider geographic diversification. Growth drivers diverge with ASB advancing via the American National acquisition for scale expansion, contrasted against KEY’s emphasis on organic efficiency and shareholder returns through buybacks. Recent momentum reflects these paths, with acquisition-related catalysts supporting ASB visibility and capital discipline underpinning KEY stability. Risk factors include shared exposure to interest rate fluctuations and credit quality, alongside ASB facing integration execution risks from M&A and KEY navigating earnings variability. Sector sentiment remains balanced, with both stocks sensitive to macroeconomic indicators affecting regional banking performance.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency around acquisition catalysts for ASB and capital return stability for KEY, Tickeron’s AI models currently assign a modest probabilistic edge to ASB due to its defined expansion catalyst and recent positioning within the regional bank group. This assessment remains subject to evolving market conditions and earnings outcomes.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is ASB is a Buy and KEY is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ASB’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileKEY’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- ASB’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- KEY’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
ASB’s TA Score shows that 2 TA indicator(s) are bullish while KEY’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ASB’s TA Score: 2 bullish, 6 bearish.
- KEY’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
ASB (@Regional Banks) experienced а -4.75% price change this week, while KEY (@Regional Banks) price change was -5.29% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Regional Banks industry was -1.00%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +1.99%, and the average quarterly price growth was +13.52%.
Reported Earning Dates
ASB is expected to report earnings on Oct 22, 2026.
KEY is expected to report earnings on Oct 20, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Regional Banks (-1.00% weekly)Regional banks have a smaller reach than major banks, and cater mostly to one region of a country, such as a state or within a group of states. They offer services often similar – albeit with some limitations/smaller scale – compared to major banks. Taking deposits, making loans, mortgages, leases, credit cards , fund management, insurance and investment banking. SunTrust Banks, State Street Corp., M&T Bank Corp. are some examples of U.S. regional banks.
| ASB | KEY | ASB / KEY | |
| Capitalization | 5.8B | 24.4B | 24% |
| EBITDA | N/A | N/A | - |
| Gain YTD | 19.578 | 12.269 | 160% |
| P/E Ratio | 10.51 | 13.29 | 79% |
| Revenue | 1.52B | 7.47B | 20% |
| Total Cash | 465M | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 4.01B | 17B | 24% |
ASB | KEY | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 74 | 72 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 26 Undervalued | 35 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 36 | 73 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 22 | 10 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 44 | 32 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 98 | 86 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
ASB's Valuation (26) in the Regional Banks industry is in the same range as KEY (35) in the Major Banks industry. This means that ASB’s stock grew similarly to KEY’s over the last 12 months.
ASB's Profit vs Risk Rating (36) in the Regional Banks industry is somewhat better than the same rating for KEY (73) in the Major Banks industry. This means that ASB’s stock grew somewhat faster than KEY’s over the last 12 months.
KEY's SMR Rating (10) in the Major Banks industry is in the same range as ASB (22) in the Regional Banks industry. This means that KEY’s stock grew similarly to ASB’s over the last 12 months.
KEY's Price Growth Rating (32) in the Major Banks industry is in the same range as ASB (44) in the Regional Banks industry. This means that KEY’s stock grew similarly to ASB’s over the last 12 months.
KEY's P/E Growth Rating (86) in the Major Banks industry is in the same range as ASB (98) in the Regional Banks industry. This means that KEY’s stock grew similarly to ASB’s over the last 12 months.
| ASB | KEY | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 70% | 1 day ago 63% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 67% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 61% | 1 day ago 65% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 67% | 1 day ago 64% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 59% | 1 day ago 66% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 58% | 1 day ago 65% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 61% | 9 days ago 64% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 60% | 4 days ago 68% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 60% | 1 day ago 63% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 54% | 1 day ago 59% |
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