** Shares of consumer lender LendingClub slide as much as 8.6%; last down 5.5% at $15.73
** J.P. Morgan downgrades LC to "neutral" from "overweight," citing preference for other names with more immediate growth and monetization opportunities
** Brokerage says LC shares have caught up to peers, nearly tripling over the last year and now seem fairly priced in its view
** JPM likes LC's roadmap to grow the balance sheet profitably with high-yielding personal loans and higher loan sales, but thinks it could take several quarters to play out
** Still, brokerage raises LC PT to $17 from $14 — a 2.2% upside to stock's last close — on improving credit trends and demand in the loan funding market
** Eight of 10 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher and two "hold"; median PT is $16 — LSEG
** As of last close, LC shares up 90.4% YTD
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)
((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com))
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