Shares of large banking companies have taken a beating in the last three months, but a rally of sorts has lifted those of smaller ones high enough to trigger worries that prices will outpace returns.
For the most part, these smaller companies have avoided the credit quality issues and slowdown in profit growth that have plagued the larger banks. Their share prices have risen as investors have fled risk in search of value. 
But the rise may have reached a limit. On Wednesday, Jeffrey A. Miller, an analyst and portfolio manager at Acadia Research Group in West Conshohocken, Pa., downgraded five of the 13 banks he covers because they have hit his price targets.
He cut Texas Regional Bancshares, Zions Bancorp, Banknorth Group Inc., Charter One Financial Inc., and Dime Bancorp to hold from buy. All five have delivered high returns to investors, Mr. Miller said, but the risk/reward on a fundamental basis is not as appealing as it was at the beginning to 2000 or even two weeks ago.
Banknorth stock fell 5.96% on Wednesday, to $18.75; Dime 1.2%, to $25.8125; Texas Regional 1.96%, to $31, and Zions 0.94%, to $59.50. Charter One was unchanged, at $26.375.
Financial stocks made a good start in early trading on Wednesday, but the sector turned negative in the afternoon as the presidential election battle moved into its final stage and economic data showed an unexpected slowdown in retail sales.
American Bankers index of the 50 largest banks ended down 0.37%. Its index of 225 banks was down 0.87%.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.24%, but the financial companies in it rose more: Citigroup Inc. 0.71%, to $53; J.P. Morgan & Co. 3.67%, to $164.25; and American Express 0.56%, to $56.50.
Investment banks, on the other hand, continued their slide, with Merrill Lynch & Co. leading the way, closing down 4.71%, at $67.0625.
The market had to digest economic news of slower retail sales and rising import prices. The Commerce Department announced that advance estimates of retail sales for November show a 0.4% decrease from October. The department said the sales were up 5.2 percent from November 1999, but came well short of its expected increase of 0.2%.
Analysts said investors continue to turn away from the formerly high-flying tech sector in search of bargains.
Bryce W. Rowe, an analyst at Anderson & Studwick Inc. in Richmond, Va., said he remained bullish on community banks that have been able to find a niche and differentiate themselves. In a report late Tuesday, he predicted the further rise of the group as investors turn their back on technology stocks and search for value.
Warrenton, Va.-based Southern Financial Bancorp, for example, has found a niche with a cash management product for small businesses, he said. The bank had increased assets by 31% from the third quarter of 1999 to the third quarter of 2000. Mr. Rowe rates the stock a strong buy. Shares of Southern Financial remained unchanged at $12.75.
