Zions Bancorporation (ZION)

Relief is on the way, and there's an inexpensive beneficiary out in California.

These four stocks are gearing up for a blow-out earnings season. Here is what you need to know before it happens.

Although equity index futures are lower, this whole thing has been taken in stride. For now.

The most recent short interest data has been released for the 11/15/2017 settlement date, and we here at Dividend Channel like to sift through this fresh data and order the underlying components of the S&P 500 by "days to cover." There are a number of ways to look at short data, for example the total number of shares short; but one metric that we find particularly useful is the "days to cover" metric because it considers both the total shares short and the average daily volume of shares typically traded. The number of shares short is then compared to the average daily volume, in order to calculate the total number of trading days it would take to close out all of the open short positions if every share traded represented a short position being closed.

Analyst Mike Mayo stays bullish on banks.

The most recent short interest data has been released for the 06/30/2017 settlement date, and we here at Dividend Channel like to sift through this fresh data and order the underlying components of the S&P 500 by "days to cover." There are a number of ways to look at short data, for example the total number of shares short; but one metric that we find particularly useful is the "days to cover" metric because it considers both the total shares short and the average daily volume of shares typically traded. The number of shares short is then compared to the average daily volume, in order to calculate the total number of trading days it would take to close out all of the open short positions if every share traded represented a short position being closed.

The banks are expected, in aggregate, to increase their distributions to nearly 100% of their net earnings over the next four quarters. However, some did better than others.

The second piece of the annual reviews determines how much banks can spend on dividends and stock buybacks.

The gulf between the Republican wish list on financial regulations and the legislative reality is large.

The possibility of legislative relief for regional banks came up at a hearing Thursday.

Banks that find themselves on the cusp of certain regulatory thresholds could be big winners under the Trump Treasury Department.

The Trump Administration released a 149-page report urging lawmakers to ease restrictions on big banks, though the recommendations aren't as sweeping as those in a House bill approved last week

The expected legislative and regulatory recommendations will be far less sweeping than a bill approved by the House of Representatives.

Jim Cramer says hold off before jumping into Freeport McMoRan, Wix.com and Zions Bancorporation.

Jim Cramer stresses discipline here because, he says, a frothy market can quickly turn on investors.