Zions jumps as analyst raises to "outperform"

April 24 (Reuters) - The shares of Zions Bancorp (ZION.O: Quote, Profile, Research), which operates banks throughout the western United States, shot up more than 9 percent on Thursday, after an analyst report rating the stock "outperform."

"We find the risk/reward of the stock to be attractive at current prices," said David George, an analyst with Robert W. Baird & Co, who previously had a "neutral" rating on the stock.

Zions was trading up 9.2 percent, or $3.96 higher, at $47.02 on Nasdaq.

Based on Wednesday's closing price, Zions shares are trading at nearly half what they were a year ago, compared with a decline of more than 30 percent in the KBW banks index .BKX. (Reporting by by Lilla Zuill; Editing by Andre Grenon)