US Bancorp (NYSE:USB)

While this may fluctuate in the near term this is a solid bank with excellent service and conservative management. Buy at a discount and in the meantime enjoy the dividend.

Consistent dividends and great lending practices have allowed USB to miss most of the financial meltdown. It is being dragged down due to the other companies problems. USB should rise quickly once people realize its value.

This financial is very conservative in its approach to lending practices, note how it has not had very much if any exposure to the subprime lending fiasco. The write downs that are occuring now with this bank are not very much higher than a 'regular' banks write offs for bad debt, from auto / credit loans (while Wachovia, Wamu, Countrywide and BOA are wallowing in red). The financial market is out of favor due to the ongoing housing crisis, so this is a good time to snap up shares in a good bank if you are going long. This is also a great dividend stock.

I think it should recover faster than many other banks & div is 5.0+ %

it pays a good div. its at $28.00 to go to $40

Dividend Play, a little safer than the other regional banks with a nice dividend.

One of the best managed regional banks whose share price is down in sympathy with many of the worst run banks. They can grow at the expense of their competitors.

Hard to say anything that hasn't been said already. Great blue chip at a great price. I really like the management style.

This is as close to a "rock" as you'll find, and I do mean that in a good way. Outstanding fundamentals. The stock has taken a beating simply because it is in the financial sector, even though it has outperformed the sector in every way. These guys didn't get caught up in the mortgage mess and they are still very profitable. Once the other financial stocks start issuing more shares or allowing direct investment from foreign Sovereign Wealth Funds, USB will emerge as a stable leader in performance, stock price, and dividend yield.

As compared to other financial stocks, this may be one of the few that can still actually afford to pay its dividend, and there appears to be nothing that will reverse that trend.

At $30 where it is now, this is a great long play.

Oh yes, and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is the largest investor in USB. A smart play for Warren is a smart play for me.

Fortune 40 Growth and Income

Great dividend. Minimal exposure to subprime lending. US Bank can continue to execute while the other nationals clean up their messes.

Limited subprime exposure. Solid financials.

I am buying bank shares. Buy when others are panicking, where have I heard that? I find in-depth analysis of banks very difficult. I have bought 2 Canadian banks (considered conservative), one Irish bank (Motley fool purchased and Global Gain Recommendation) and now 1 Americain. Why this one? Buffet + dividend. He has added to his stake since everyone started freaking about subprime. I may find it difficult to do in-depth analysis of banks, but I think Buffet might be OK :) Next one on my list is Wells Fargo, Buffets favorite bank stock. I am putting together a nice group of dividend paying stocks. I hope Kraft goes down to $30!

I'm an investment beginner. I'm picking stocks based on MSN columnist Jim Jubak's stock picks to see for myself in real-time how these stocks are performing.

Financials have been beaten down and are near low tide. Rising interest rate environments are generally good for banks and this eventuality should be realized in the 4th Q. Look for financials to rebound some by early 2009 but it will be the patient investor who gains the greatest reward in this sector.

Multi dimensional, sounds OK

nico

Survived the credit crunch, and div is now up over 5%

highly efficient, well run regional bank. Well positioned to
grow through acquisition