U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB) is becoming increasingly attractive to income-focused investors as its lending activity grows and fee revenue picks up. The key question is whether this earnings growth can support the current stock price, especially as government bonds provide a compelling alternative for those seeking steady income. The search for reliable payouts extends beyond the banking sector, with our list of Top 10 Unstoppable Dividend Stocks to Buy highlighting other companies competing for a place in income-focused portfolios.
On October 15, the bank announced a record third-quarter 2026 revenue of $7.97 billion, which is an 8.7% increase from a year ago. Net income grew by 10% to $2.20 billion, and diluted earnings per share were up 9.8% to $1.34. Net interest income rose 5.6%, while fee revenue jumped 14.9%. The bank’s net interest margin improved to 2.84%, and its efficiency ratio dropped to 55.9%, showing more effective cost control.
Credit quality also got better, with net charge-offs falling to 0.51% of loans compared to 0.56% a year earlier. That said, the bank’s 10.8% Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio means that capital allocation and potential credit losses are still important to watch if the economy takes a turn for the worse.
Find USB among 14 Best Blue Chip Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds
The Valuation Looks Friendly. The Risks Aren’t
U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB) trades at a 10.87 forward P/E and a 12.46 trailing P/E. This forward multiple suggests an earnings yield of about 9.2%. The difference between the two P/E ratios shows that investors are expecting higher future earnings, though there’s no guarantee that this growth will actually happen.
USB’s forward earnings multiple is only slightly lower than PNC Financial Services’ 10.68, while JPMorgan Chase trades at a much higher 13.50 times. So, while the stock’s valuation does leave some room for upside, investors shouldn’t automatically expect this discount to go away. For the stock to get a higher valuation, USB will need to deliver earnings growth that goes beyond what’s already expected.
It’s also important to put the earnings yield in perspective. The 10-year Treasury yield is somewhere around 5.28%, which means USB’s implied forward earnings yield is about four percentage points higher. That extra yield compensates investors for the risks that come with owning bank stocks, like stock price swings, credit losses, and unpredictable earnings. It doesn’t mean you can ignore those risks. Unlike Treasury interest, a bank’s earnings can drop significantly in a downturn. Across the broader dividend market, our coverage of unstoppable dividend stocks explores more income opportunities beyond the banking industry, where payout potential and business risks can look quite different.