Regional bank exchange traded funds, including the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (NYSEArca: KRE), have been on a torrid pace in recent months.
KRE, the largest regional bank ETF, is higher by nearly 30% over the past quarter and while a run like that may prompt some investors to be cautious, there are reasons to believe to regional banks can keep their momentum.
Predictably, much of the bull case for regional banks depends on the Federal Reserve and interest rates. With a steepening yield curve or wider spread between short- and long-term Treasuries, banks could experience improved net interest margins or improved profitability as the firms borrow short and lend long. Additionally, the Fed is hoping to raise interest rates as many as three times this year, an effort that could further support KRE and friends.
Higher interest rates would help widen the difference between what banks charge on loans and pay on deposits, which would boost earnings for the financial sector. Regional banks are among the stocks most positively correlated to rising interest rates because higher rates improve net interest margins.
Few industry ETFs are as positively correlated to rising Treasury yields as is KRE, the dominant name among regional bank ETFs.