Morgan Stanley Lifts Bank OZK Target to $61 While Keeping Equal Weight Rating

Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) is included among the 15 Best High Dividend Stocks to Invest in Under $100.

On March 2, Morgan Stanley raised its price recommendation on Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) to $61 from $57. The firm maintained an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm said it is lifting price targets by a median 8% across the midcap banks group. Analysts acknowledged that the group has already posted strong performance, noting that recent gains mean “the bar is higher from here.” Even so, Morgan Stanley said it still sees support for the sector, pointing to loan growth, net interest margin expansion, and capital return as key drivers.

Earlier in January, Bank OZK released its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2025. Net income available to common stockholders for the fourth quarter totaled $171.9 million. That was down 3.5% from the $178.1 million reported in the same quarter of 2024. For the full year, net income available to common stockholders reached $699.3 million. The result was nearly unchanged from $700.3 million in 2024, reflecting a slight 0.1% decline.

Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter came in at $1.53, compared with $1.56 a year earlier. For the full year, diluted EPS reached a record $6.18. That edged past the previous year’s $6.14 and represented a 0.7% increase. Chairman and CEO George Gleason commented on the results. He said the company’s 2025 net income of $699.3 million nearly matched the record $700.3 million reported in 2024.

These gains helped drive record annual net interest income of $1.59 billion. He also pointed out that the bank has grown its assets by a cumulative 47% over the past three years. During that period, the company delivered record earnings per share each year. Looking ahead, Gleason said the bank is aiming to achieve another year of record earnings per share in 2026.

Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) is a regional bank that provides a range of financial services. Its offerings include mobile and online banking, personal checking and savings accounts, debit cards, credit card account access, business checking, a business aviation group, trust services, and wealth management solutions.

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