** Metropolitan Bank's shares MCB.N rise as much as 3.4%; last up 1.7% at $53.61
** The community bank late on Wednesday announced a $50 million stock repurchase program
** Hovde Group says the move reinforces its "outperform" rating on MCB as potential repurchases make sense given solid capital levels and discounted valuation
** MCB has 11.2 million shares outstanding for $591.9 million market cap - data compiled by LSEG
** Stock down 8.4% YTD after rising 5.5% in 2024
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)
((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))