** Raymond James downgrades community lender HomeTrust Bancshares to "market perform" from "outperform"

** Brokerage says with rate cuts pressuring loan yields and a lack of meaningful offset to net interest income headwinds, revenue headwinds will be apparent for the next several quarters

** Says growth expectations are muted, with loan balances expected to remain mostly stable in the near-term

** Raymond James remains bullish long-term due to improving profitability relative to historical levels, but says current headwinds limit near-term upside for shares

** Three of four brokerages rate stock "buy" or higher and one "hold"; median PT is $42 - LSEG data

** As of last close, HTBI shares up 22.8% YTD

(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)

((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))