First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:FNFG)

I wanted a bank stock and felt First Niagara has more potential than AINV so I sold one to buy the other.

In the short term they will undoubtedly benefit from the integration of the former HSBC branches. They are also likely to derive short-term competitive advantage from paper statement fees ($4), check-scanning fees ($5), account maintenance fees ($ various) and similar charges, as well as financing the souls of customers who have foolishly tried to close their accounts ($ soul forfeiture). However, in the long-term the top line will suffer as the sulphurous flames coming from doors and windows of all branch locations, not to mention the plaintive cries of tortured souls imprisoned within, deter mortals from entering and thereby incurring the branch entering fee ($8). It need hardly be pointed out that this will hurt their mortgage business. FNFG can also expect fewer customers passing through through the regional Hellmouth (Stygian ferry fee, $15, payable in ancient Greek obols, subject to a 35% currency exchange commission), undergoing the Judgment of Rhadamanthus ($3.50, limited time promotional rate) and plunging into the lake of fire (unspecified service charges). I also have concerns about their ability to maintain the regional customer base as Western New York becomes a blighted wasteland in which no plant will grow, wandered by a few gaunt and pitiful figures clutching their $4 paper statements and wailing wordlessly to a deaf heaven.

Great stock for the long-term. Its many acquisitions will give it a lot of room to grow earnings in the future.

Nice dividend. Good bank stock.

A four star bank yielding 7.45%

Solid numbers, solid dividend. I'd say put 2% in here.

FNFG will get untwisted in the next quarter or two. Price drop mostly short term uncertainty about their recent buy out of HBC bank branches.

Large dividend on a conservative financial company, this is a safe way to make a contrarian bet on the banks right now while watching for capitulation selling in the more risky banks.

Great long term buy, but don't expect huge profits in the short term.

bank - for the div
div 7%
Total Debt / Equity    1.90
Price Earnings    12.70
Price/Sales    2.43
Price/Book    0.68 <<<<
Price/Cash Flow    18.00

Solid management & has been actively acquiring competitors and growing their business at a time when not many banks are able to.

Long term winner. Buying assets of other banks that didn't fair so well coming through the recession. Nice yield

Solid banking franchise: 1) Well-managed, 2) Did not take TARP $, and 3) Opportunistically acquiring beaten-down banks for pennies on the dollar.

They are well capitalized and conservative. A good safe pick among the different financial sector stocks and it pays a good dividend.

The states that First Niagara is in have mostly lower than the national unemployment rates with reported, increased economic activities. These factors should added to First Niagara top and bottom lines through increased deposits and loan activities, which were reflected in q1 2011.

financials bottom or the market is forever doomed..

Nice dividend, steady grower, get back to even!

Great potential smaller bank with room to grow

Could capture significant market share in commercial lending market.
May be considered as a "flight to saftey" stock within financial sector
Strong management
Good reputation