BankUnited rises after Jefferies upgrades to 'buy'

Regional lender BankUnited's BKU.N shares rise 2.8% to $44.43

Jefferies upgrades BKU to "buy" from "hold"; raises PT to $55 from $42, a 27.3% upside to stock's last close

Brokerage says BKU stands out as an attractive acquisition candidate thanks to its high proportion of non-interest bearing deposits and a strong presence in South Florida markets

Jefferies believes growth is poised to inflect at BKU even as a standalone company coupled with margin expansion, which should support a higher valuation

Four of 11 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher, six "hold" and one "sell"; median PT $42.50 — data compiled by LSEG

As of last close, BKU stock up 13.2% YTD