** Shares of Kearny Financial Corp up ~4% at $7.15 premarket
** Brokerage Piper Sandler upgrades stock to "overweight" from "neutral", raises PT to $9 from $8.50
** Says risk-to-reward ratio has become attractive; expects higher profitability on improved net interest margin, modest balance sheet growth and controlled operating costs
** Says dividend is "attractive and sustainable", based on the Q3's "best in industry" payout of 11 cents; expects the higher profitability to normalize the current high dividend-to-profit ratio
** Also says co's balance sheet is conservative, and sees co as an attractive takeover candidate eventually, based on its desirable and sizeable franchise in central and northern New Jersey marketplace
** KRNY stock fell 21% in 2024
(Reporting by Neil J Kanatt in Bengaluru)
((Neil.JKanatt@thomsonreuters.com;))
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