Sumitomo Mitsui FinancialNYSE: SMFG

Investors with an interest in Banks - Foreign stocks have likely encountered both Sumitomo Mitsui (SMFG) and HDFC Bank (HDB). But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors?

Sumitomo Mitsui (SMFG) might move higher on growing optimism about its earnings prospects, which is reflected by its upgrade to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Investors with an interest in Banks - Foreign stocks have likely encountered both Sumitomo Mitsui (SMFG) and HDFC Bank (HDB). But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now?

Investors interested in Banks - Foreign stocks are likely familiar with Sumitomo Mitsui (SMFG) and ICICI Bank Limited (IBN). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?

Sumitomo Mitsui (SMFG) could be a solid choice for shorter-term investors looking to capitalize on the recent price trend in fundamentally sound stocks. It is one of the many stocks that passed through our shorter-term trading strategy-based screen.

Does Sumitomo Mitsui (SMFG) have what it takes to be a top stock pick for momentum investors? Let's find out.

Sumitomo Mitsui (SMFG) considers further widening its alliance with Jefferies into Asia to compete with its rivals. Also, the bank aims for three successive years of record net profit.

Japan's asset management industry has favorable growth prospects, and this puts a leading financial services player like Sumitomo Mitsui Financial in a good position to increase its future fee income. SMFG's net interest income growth outlook is positive, considering the reasonably high probability of Japan initiating a rate hike in the near term. My investment rating for SMFG is upgraded to a Buy, as I think that the stock doesn't deserve to trade at a significant discount to book value.

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, a Japanese bank with over $2 trillion in assets, offers potential diversification due to its high exposure to Japan, but its lower than average dividend yield and fair valuation make it less attractive for investment. The bank has a conservative lending approach and a low-risk balance sheet, with a sizable equity portfolio of Japanese equities that it plans to reduce to decrease earnings volatility. Despite its stable profile and conservative risk culture, Sumitomo's financial performance has been relatively stable over the past few years due to low growth prospects. Its return on equity ratio is only 6.5%, a relatively low level of profitability.