Huntington Ingalls's 15min chart shows a bullish KDJ Golden Cross with a Marubozu pattern.

Based on Huntington Ingalls's 15-minute chart, a bullish indicator has been triggered, as evidenced by the KDJ Golden Cross and Bullish Marubozu at 10/08/2025 15:30. This suggests a shift in momentum towards the upside, with potential for further price appreciation. The dominant presence of buyers in the market indicates control by the buying force, and it is likely that bullish momentum will continue.

Columbus, Ohio, and Dallas, Texas – October 3, 2025 – Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ: HBAN) and Veritex Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: VBTX) have officially received all necessary regulatory approvals for their proposed merger, marking a significant milestone in Huntington's strategic expansion into the burgeoning Texas market. The green light from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency paves the way for the all-stock transaction, valued at approximately $1.9 billion, to close on October 20, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. This move is set to create a more formidable regional banking entity, poised for growth and enhanced market presence.

The impending merger carries substantial implications for both entities, particularly concerning their operational footprint, market reach, and, crucially, their future dividend policies. While Huntington has a long-standing history of consistent dividend payments, the integration of Veritex raises questions about how the combined entity's capital allocation strategy will evolve, especially in the context of shareholder returns. Investors are keen to understand if the established dividend track record of Huntington will be maintained or adjusted as the new, larger bank navigates its expanded market and integrates its new assets.

The journey to this merger approval has been a carefully orchestrated process. The initial announcement of the all-stock transaction came in July 2025, setting the stage for a strategic alignment aimed at bolstering Huntington's presence in high-growth areas. Veritex shareholders formally approved the merger at a special meeting held on September 22, 2025, demonstrating strong internal support for the consolidation. With the final regulatory hurdles now cleared on October 3, 2025, the merger is on track to be completed on October 20, 2025, a critical date for both companies and their investors.

Upon completion, Veritex Holdings, and subsequently Veritex Community Bank, will merge into Huntington Bancshares and The Huntington National Bank, respectively, with Huntington emerging as the surviving corporation. This integration will see Huntington, a $208 billion asset regional bank headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, absorb Veritex's approximately $13 billion in assets, including $9 billion in loans and $11 billion in deposits as of March 31, 2025. This significant asset transfer will substantially expand Huntington's footprint in Texas, particularly in the vibrant Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston markets, where Veritex currently operates over 30 branches.

Huntington has publicly stated its intention to maintain and invest in Veritex's existing branch network, signaling a commitment to local market presence and continuity. Malcolm Holland, Veritex's Chairman, President, and CEO, is expected to transition into a non-executive role as Chairman of Texas for the combined entity, a strategic move designed to leverage his local expertise and preserve valuable customer relationships. The transaction is anticipated to be modestly accretive to Huntington's earnings per share, neutral to regulatory capital at closing, and slightly dilutive to tangible book value per share, with a projected payback period of approximately one year. In a gesture of community commitment, Huntington has also pledged an initial $10 million towards philanthropic investments in Texas.

Initial market reactions leading up to the approval have been generally positive, with Huntington's stock surging nearly 30% over the six months prior to the announcement of final regulatory approvals. This reflects investor confidence in the strategic rationale behind the merger and Huntington's ability to execute on its growth objectives. While specific market statements directly addressing the combined entity's dividend policy post-merger have not been explicitly detailed, Huntington's long-standing track record of 55 consecutive years of dividend payments provides a strong foundation for investor expectations. The all-stock nature of the transaction, where Veritex shareholders will receive 1.95 shares of Huntington stock for each Veritex share, further emphasizes the commitment to shareholder value through equity.

The merger between Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ: HBAN) and Veritex Holdings (NASDAQ: VBTX) is poised to create distinct winners and losers, primarily among the two merging entities, their shareholders, and potentially other regional banks operating in the Texas market. Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ: HBAN) stands as a clear winner. The acquisition significantly accelerates its strategic expansion into Texas, a high-growth market that offers substantial opportunities for loan and deposit growth. By integrating Veritex's established network of over 30 branches and its substantial customer base, Huntington gains immediate scale and market penetration that would otherwise take years to build organically. The projected modest accretion to earnings per share and relatively short tangible book value payback period suggest that this deal is financially sound and will contribute positively to Huntington's bottom line in the medium to long term. Furthermore, the diversification of its geographical footprint reduces reliance on its existing Midwest markets, enhancing overall risk management and growth potential.

Shareholders of Huntington are likely to benefit from the expanded scale, increased profitability, and potentially enhanced dividend capacity stemming from a larger, more diversified revenue stream, reinforcing the bank's reputation as a reliable dividend payer. Veritex Holdings (NASDAQ: VBTX) and its shareholders also emerge as beneficiaries. For Veritex shareholders, the all-stock transaction provides a clear exit strategy at a favorable valuation, offering them shares in a larger, more diversified regional bank with a strong dividend history. This transition provides immediate liquidity and the opportunity to participate in the future growth of a significantly larger entity. For Veritex as an institution, becoming part of Huntington offers access to greater capital, a broader product suite, and enhanced technological capabilities, which can benefit its existing customer base and employees. The commitment to maintaining Veritex's branch network and the retention of key leadership like Malcolm Holland ensure a degree of continuity and local focus, which is crucial for retaining customer loyalty. The integration into a larger bank could also provide career advancement opportunities for Veritex employees within the expanded organization.

However, the landscape for other regional banks operating in Texas could become more competitive. With Huntington's increased presence and resources, smaller, independent regional banks might face heightened pressure to compete for deposits and loans. Huntington's ability to offer a wider array of products and services, combined with its larger balance sheet, could draw customers away from local competitors. This increased competition might force other banks to re-evaluate their own growth strategies, potentially leading to further consolidation in the Texas banking sector as smaller players seek scale to compete effectively.

This merger between Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ: HBAN) and Veritex Holdings (NASDAQ: VBTX) is not an isolated event but rather a salient example of broader consolidation trends sweeping across the financial services industry, particularly within the regional banking sector. Driven by the pursuit of scale, efficiency, and expanded market reach, banks are increasingly looking to mergers and acquisitions as a strategic imperative to navigate a challenging economic and regulatory landscape. The event underscores several key industry trends. Firstly, it highlights the strategic importance of high-growth markets like Texas. As traditional banking markets mature, institutions are actively seeking opportunities in regions characterized by robust population growth, strong business development, and favorable demographic trends. Huntington's move into Texas is a clear manifestation of this strategy, aiming to capitalize on the state's economic dynamism. Secondly, the merger reflects the ongoing pressure on regional banks to achieve greater scale to absorb increasing compliance costs, invest in technology, and compete effectively against larger national institutions and agile fintech companies. By combining forces, Huntington and Veritex aim to achieve operational efficiencies and enhance their competitive positioning. Thirdly, the all-stock nature of the transaction, coupled with Huntington's strong dividend history, suggests a focus on long-term shareholder value and capital preservation, a common theme in current financial market strategies.

The ripple effects of this merger could extend to various stakeholders. Competitors in the Texas banking market, both regional and national, will undoubtedly feel increased pressure. Huntington's expanded footprint and enhanced capabilities could lead to intensified competition for deposits, loans, and talent. This might prompt other regional banks to explore their own M&A opportunities to achieve similar scale or to specialize further to carve out niche markets. For partners, such as financial technology providers and service vendors, the merger could lead to larger contracts and opportunities with the combined entity, but also potential consolidation of vendor relationships. Regulatory bodies, having approved this merger, continue to monitor the banking sector for signs of excessive concentration or potential systemic risks, ensuring that such consolidations do not impede healthy competition or consumer access to banking services.

Historically, periods of economic uncertainty or technological disruption often lead to waves of consolidation in the banking industry. This merger aligns with precedents seen in previous decades where larger, more diversified banks emerged from the integration of smaller, regionally focused institutions. The success of this merger will depend on Huntington's ability to seamlessly integrate Veritex's operations, maintain customer satisfaction, and deliver on the promised growth and efficiency gains.