ASB

We rate ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP (ASB) as a Reduce with a composite score of 46.9/100 at a current price of $27.25. The quantitative profile shows weakness across multiple dimensions, suggesting limited upside potential and elevated risk of underperformance relative to peers over the next 12 months.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in momentum (60th percentile) and stability (47th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in quality (28th percentile) and investment (37th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (52/100), Medium uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation.

Key items to watch: sustainability of the current growth rate. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 46.9/100 places it at rank #2497 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $4.3B in market capitalization, ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP is a mid-cap player in the Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

The near-term outlook is constructive, with revenue growing at 73% and momentum in the 60th percentile confirming positive market sentiment and institutional accumulation. The combination of strong top-line growth and favorable price dynamics suggests the company is executing well on its growth strategy. Investment factor at the 37th percentile indicates reinvestment patterns that investors should monitor for sustainability.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 0% (-76.5pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 27% (+10.3pp vs sector) and net margins of 22.2%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of N/A%. The significant margin erosion from gross to net suggests elevated operating expenses, high interest costs, or other structural drags that warrant monitoring.

At a current price of $27.25, ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 42/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 11.1x (roughly in line with the sector median of 11.9x), EV/EBITDA of 11.0x (at a premium), P/B of 0.9x, P/S of 2.4x. The below-sector P/E suggests possible undervaluation or the market pricing in near-term headwinds.

We assign a Medium uncertainty rating to ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP. The stock presents a balanced risk profile: weak quality scores (28th percentile). While not risk-free, the core business fundamentals are adequate to withstand moderate economic stress, and the range of potential outcomes around our fair value estimate is manageable.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: weak quality scores (28th percentile). Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 47th percentile and quality factor at the 28th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: conservative leverage (20% D/E) limits balance sheet risk; a 3.58% dividend yield anchors total return. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP's capital allocation as Standard. Management has shown adequate — though not exceptional — stewardship of shareholder capital. Returns on equity stand at 8.6%, and the balance sheet is managed within acceptable parameters (D/E: 20%). Exemplary allocators typically sustain ROE above 20% and D/E below 50%; ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP falls short on at least one dimension.

There is room for improvement in optimizing the capital structure or enhancing shareholder returns. The 3.58% dividend yield provides some income return, but the overall capital allocation framework would benefit from either higher reinvestment returns, improved balance sheet efficiency, or increased shareholder distributions. We will monitor for signs of strategic improvement that could warrant an upgrade.

In summary, ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 46.9/100 (rank #2497 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (52/100, trend: stable), Medium uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 43/100.

Our analysis does not support a constructive view on ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP at this time. The combination of the current quantitative profile, medium uncertainty, and standard capital allocation suggests unfavorable risk-reward at current levels. We recommend investors avoid new positions and existing holders consider reducing exposure.