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KEY vs PNC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? KeyCorp (KEY) vs. PNC Financial Services Group (PNC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- KeyCorp (KEY) is a regional bank with recent positive momentum driven by fraud-protection product launches and expectations for strong Q2 earnings growth.
- PNC Financial Services Group (PNC) is a larger diversified bank that has delivered stronger year-to-date returns and raised its net interest income (NII) outlook following acquisitions and loan growth.
- Over recent market activity, PNC has outperformed KEY on a relative basis, with notable dividend increases supporting investor sentiment.
- Both companies operate in the banking sector and face similar macroeconomic influences, including interest rate trends and lending demand.
- Analyst attention has favored KEY with recent price target upgrades ahead of earnings, while PNC benefits from scale and strategic expansion.
- Relative positioning shows trade-offs between KEY’s nimbler regional focus and PNC’s broader diversification and growth catalysts.
Introduction
KeyCorp (KEY) and PNC Financial Services Group (PNC) represent two prominent players in the U.S. banking sector, making their stock comparison relevant for investors seeking exposure to regional and diversified financial institutions. Traders and portfolio managers often evaluate these names when assessing relative performance within the financials space, particularly amid shifting interest rate environments and lending trends. This analysis examines recent stock behavior, business contexts, and key differentiators to provide a factual basis for understanding how the two compare in the current market environment.
KEY Overview and Recent Performance
KeyCorp (KEY) operates as a regional bank holding company primarily through its KeyBank subsidiary, offering commercial and retail banking, investment banking, and asset management services across the United States. In recent market activity, the stock has shown upward movement, approaching its 52-week high amid analyst optimism ahead of the second-quarter earnings report. Key developments include the full availability of its Check Control for Business tool, aimed at enhancing fraud protection for commercial clients. First-quarter 2026 results demonstrated solid year-over-year growth in net income, supported by lending activity and fee income. Sentiment has been influenced by expectations for continued earnings expansion and recent upward revisions to price targets by major research firms.
PNC Overview and Recent Performance
PNC Financial Services Group (PNC) is a diversified financial services company providing retail and commercial banking, asset management, and capital markets services on a national scale. In recent market activity, the stock has posted stronger relative gains, with year-to-date returns outpacing broader market benchmarks. Notable catalysts include an 18% increase in the quarterly dividend and positive first-quarter results that prompted an upward revision to the full-year net interest income (NII) forecast. The integration of the FirstBank acquisition has contributed to loan growth and revenue expansion. Performance has been supported by steady client activity and favorable positioning within the large-cap banking group.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
In terms of business model, KeyCorp (KEY) emphasizes regional commercial and retail banking with targeted investment banking capabilities, whereas PNC Financial Services Group (PNC) maintains a broader national footprint across multiple financial services lines. Growth drivers for KEY include product innovation such as digital fraud tools and anticipated earnings momentum, while PNC benefits from acquisition-driven scale, dividend enhancements, and expanded lending. Recent momentum has favored PNC on a total return basis over the past several months. Risk factors for both include interest rate sensitivity and credit quality, though PNC’s larger balance sheet may offer greater diversification. Sector exposure remains similar within banking, yet market sentiment appears more constructive toward PNC’s stability and capital return policies in recent activity.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency, earnings visibility, and relative positioning in recent market activity, Tickeron’s AI would currently assign a higher probabilistic preference to PNC Financial Services Group (PNC). The company’s scale, dividend growth, and raised net interest income (NII) outlook provide a more stable foundation amid sector dynamics, though outcomes remain subject to broader economic variables and earnings execution.
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 KEY is a StrongBuy and PNC is a Buy.
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).
KEY’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whilePNC’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- KEY’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- PNC’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.
KEY’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while PNC’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- KEY’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 6 bearish.
- PNC’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
KEY (@Regional Banks) experienced а +1.22% price change this week, while PNC (@Regional Banks) price change was +0.97% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Regional Banks industry was -0.43%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +4.04%, and the average quarterly price growth was +15.22%.
Reported Earning Dates
KEY is expected to report earnings on Jul 21, 2026.
PNC is expected to report earnings on Jul 15, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Regional Banks (-0.43% 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.
| KEY | PNC | KEY / PNC | |
| Capitalization | 25.1B | 101B | 25% |
| EBITDA | N/A | N/A | - |
| Gain YTD | 15.135 | 22.548 | 67% |
| P/E Ratio | 14.29 | 14.64 | 98% |
| Revenue | 7.47B | 23.8B | 31% |
| Total Cash | N/A | 6.78B | - |
| Total Debt | 17B | 66.7B | 25% |
KEY | PNC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 74 | 31 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 38 Fair valued | 65 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 74 | 47 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 10 | 6 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 27 | 20 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 84 | 46 | |
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.
KEY's Valuation (38) in the Major Banks industry is in the same range as PNC (65). This means that KEY’s stock grew similarly to PNC’s over the last 12 months.
PNC's Profit vs Risk Rating (47) in the Major Banks industry is in the same range as KEY (74). This means that PNC’s stock grew similarly to KEY’s over the last 12 months.
PNC's SMR Rating (6) in the Major Banks industry is in the same range as KEY (10). This means that PNC’s stock grew similarly to KEY’s over the last 12 months.
PNC's Price Growth Rating (20) in the Major Banks industry is in the same range as KEY (27). This means that PNC’s stock grew similarly to KEY’s over the last 12 months.
PNC's P/E Growth Rating (46) in the Major Banks industry is somewhat better than the same rating for KEY (84). This means that PNC’s stock grew somewhat faster than KEY’s over the last 12 months.
| KEY | PNC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 73% | 1 day ago 59% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 71% | 1 day ago 66% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 63% | N/A |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 63% | N/A |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 67% | 1 day ago 58% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 60% | 1 day ago 52% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 64% | 1 day ago 57% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 68% | 23 days ago 60% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 69% | 1 day ago 67% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 62% | 1 day ago 45% |
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KEY and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, KEY has been closely correlated with CFG. These tickers have moved in lockstep 90% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if KEY jumps, then CFG could also see price increases.
PNC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, PNC has been closely correlated with USB. These tickers have moved in lockstep 87% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if PNC jumps, then USB could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To PNC | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNC | 100% | +0.40% | ||
| USB - PNC | 87% Closely correlated | +0.82% | ||
| KEY - PNC | 85% Closely correlated | +0.87% | ||
| MTB - PNC | 85% Closely correlated | +1.85% | ||
| HBAN - PNC | 85% Closely correlated | +0.62% | ||
| FITB - PNC | 85% Closely correlated | +0.94% | ||
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