Sterling CEO: Small Businesses Fueling Loan Growth

Sterling Bancorp's shares closed at $9.45 Thursday, returning 10% year-to-date, following a 14% decline during 2011.

Based on a quarterly payout of nine cents, the shares have a dividend yield of 3.81%.

Sterling's shares trade 1.3 times their reported March 31 book value of $7.29, and for 13 times the consensus 2013 EPS estimate of 74 cents, among analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. The consensus 2012 EPS estimate is 64 cents.

Interested in more on Sterling Bancorp? See TheStreet Ratings' report card for this stock.

-- Written by Philip van Doorn in Jupiter, Fla.

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