Amerant Bancorp falls after Q4 credit quality update

Amerant Bancorp's AMTB.N shares fall 1.1% to $19.56 after regional lender previews Q4 asset quality trends

AMTB anticipates downgrading $112.6 million of loans to non-accrual status in Q4, partly offset by paydowns, charge-offs and loan sales

Wall Street brokerage Stephens says Q4 credit update is disappointing, but benign in comparison to prior updates

There was some expectation 3Q marked the peak in negative credit migration" - Stephens analyst Russell Gunther, adding that reduced asset quality volatility is critical to re-rating of AMTB stock

Persistent credit quality woes at AMTB have been a key concern for investors, with the stock trading at a discount to tangible book value

Three of four brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher and one "hold"; median PT $21.50 - data compiled by LSEG

As of last close, AMTB stock down 11.7% YTD