REGIONS FINANCIAL EPS OUTPACES PROFIT GROWTH

Regions Financial's third-quarter net income rose 11% from a year earlier to $611 million, while diluted earnings per share climbed 16% to $0.71. The gap between the two growth rates shows the regional lender shrinking its share count through buybacks even as profit growth cools. $RF filed the results with the SEC on Friday, as regional banks move through the back half of earnings season.