UPDATE: Compass Point Initiates Coverage on Beneficial Mutual Bancorp with Buy Rating, $15 PT on Unique Investment Opportunity

In a report published Thursday, Compass Point analyst Laurie Havener Hunsicker initiated coverage on Beneficial Mutual Bancorp (NASDAQ: BNCL) with a Buy rating and $15.00 price target.In the report, Compass Point noted, “We initiate with a Buy rating and a $15.00 price target, representing 1.1x market-adjusted fully-converted TB (FCTB). BNCL offers investors a unique opportunity to invest in a well-capitalized, 160+ year old, $5 billion-asset sized, Philadelphia-based bank, at a discount to fully-converted tangible book value. The key to the investment thesis sits in understanding the MHC (Mutual Holding Company) structure and the potential implications for existing shareholders in the event of a second-step IPO. We base our valuation on a blended five-pronged approach: 1) Franchise footprint (including acquisition track record and sensitivity to TB dilution); 2) Current pricing relative to peers (with added emphasis on the P/TB metric for the over-capitalized banks); 3) Credit; 4) Capital (including use of capital management tools); and 5) Management expertise (including inside ownership).”Beneficial Mutual Bancorp closed on Wednesday at $13.64.