BB&T Corp (BBT): Today's Featured Banking Winner

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

BB&T (BBT) pushed the Banking industry higher today making it today's featured banking winner. The industry as a whole was unchanged today. By the end of trading, BB&T rose 37 cents (1.3%) to $28.23 on average volume. Throughout the day, 4.2 million shares of BB&T exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of five million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $27.76-$28.24 after having opened the day at $27.86 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $27.86. Other companies within the Banking industry that increased today were: Porter Bancorp (PBIB), up 17.2%, Community West (CWBC), up 16.9%, Jacksonville Bancorp Inc (FL (JAXB), up 10%, and Waterstone Financial (WSBF), up 8.7%.

• EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass.

BB&T Corporation operates as a financial holding company for Branch Banking and Trust Company that provides various banking and trust services for retail and commercial clients. BB&T has a market cap of $19.37 billion and is part of the financial sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 10.9, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 10% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are nine analysts that rate BB&T a buy, one analyst rates it a sell, and 18 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates BB&T as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income, revenue growth and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow.

• You can view the full BB&T Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Village Bank and Trust Financial Corporatio (VBFC), down 14.1%, Carolina Trust Bank (CART), down 9.8%, Central Federal (CFBK), down 8.7%, and Credit Suisse (UOIL), down 7.9%, were all laggards within the banking industry with Deutsche Bank (DB) being today's banking industry laggard.

• Use our banking section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the banking industry could consider KBW Bank ETF (KBE) while those bearish on the banking industry could consider ProShares Short KBW Regional Bankng (KRS).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

Holiday Special: Subscribe to Action Alerts PLUS to see how Jim Cramer trades his $2.5 Million+ portfolio for 51% off the list price. Your first 14-days are FREE: Sign up today to get e-mail alerts before every trade.

For more information on BB&T Corp click any of the following:

• BB&T Corp Stock Price

• BB&T Corp Analyst Ratings

• BB&T Corp Key Stats & Profile

• BB&T Corp Earnings

• BB&T Corp Ratio Comparison

• BB&T Corp Growth Rates

• BB&T Corp Balance Sheet

• BB&T Corp Cash Flow

• BB&T Corp Income Statement