** Regional lender BankUnited's BKU.N shares rise 2.8% to $44.43
** Jefferies upgrades BKU to "buy" from "hold"; raises PT to $55 from $42, a 27.3% upside to stock's last close
** Brokerage says BKU stands out as an attractive acquisition candidate thanks to its high proportion of non-interest bearing deposits and a strong presence in South Florida markets
** Jefferies believes growth is poised to inflect at BKU even as a standalone company coupled with margin expansion, which should support a higher valuation
** Four of 11 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher, six "hold" and one "sell"; median PT $42.50 — data compiled by LSEG
** As of last close, BKU stock up 13.2% YTD
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)
((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com))
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