** Citi analysts optimistic on Australia's Pepper Money PPM.AX acquiring Westpac's WBC.AX home loan portfolio, RAMS

** PPM said on Monday it was part of a consortium, which inked a deal to buy WBC's A$21.4 billion ($13.91 billion) RAMS portfolio

** Citi sees RAMS deal as positive for PPM, and says acquisition will boost PPM's servicing AUM by about 4 times to more than A$19 bln

** "We continue to see a period of stronger earnings growth," says Citi

** Three of 4 analysts rate the stock "buy" or higher, one "hold"; median PT is A$2.15 – data compiled by LSEG

** Shares up more than 80% this year so far

($1 = 1.5389 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee in Bengaluru)

((Rajasik.Mukherjee@thomsonreuters.com))