Bendigo & Adelaide Bank (BEN) $12.42

Year-to-date BEN has rallied +28%, keeping pace with its larger competition. Following its impressive trading update in May, we turned bullish on BEN and again see no reason to alter our stance, although we are conscious of the sector’s strong performance over recent months. At this stage, we’re not chasers of strength, believing an opportunity to enter BEN could easily present itself back towards its August lows over the coming months.

• BEN is trading on the higher end of its average valuation over the last 5-years, but nothing too scary in a market testing its all-time high.

NB BEN reports on Monday, the 26^th of August.

• Again, we prefer the “Big Four” over BEN, but this regional bank has at least grown its dividend over recent years.