Getty Images Wells Fargo has had the highest return on common equity among the big six U.S. banks over the past five years.The biggest U.S. banks have reported impressive numbers this earnings season. There’s buzz about their stocks because rising interest rates are improving profits and there’s no sign of a sector-killing recession. But Wells Fargo WFC, -0.36% takes the prize if you are looking among the largest U.S. banks for a long-term play on the good times for the financial sector. The San Francisco-based bank’s shares have slumped 16% this year after regulators levied fines and constrained expansion plans. Still, the bank has tended to be a strong, consistent performer, and its stock has an attractive dividend yield. It’s Warren Buffett’s favorite bank stock. Investor and newsletter writer Nigam Arora shared six reasons for investors to consider buying bank stocks. If you’re looking to invest in individual banks and wondering which ones to consider, a combination of consistently high returns on common equity and a relatively low stock valuation may help point the way. The S&P 500 banking sector trades for 12 times weighted aggregate consensus earnings estimates for 2018 among analysts polled by FactSet. That compares to a price-to-earnings ratio of 17 for the entire S&P 500 SPX, +0.08% So the banks trade for 71% of the P/E valuation for the index, which is a typical discount for the group. Five of the big six U.S. banks trade for less than 12 times 2018 EPS estimates.via