Here are five stocks added to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) List today: You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Kingstone Companies, Inc. (KINS) : This property and casualty insurance company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 22.6% over the last 60 days. ACNB Corporation (ACNB) : This financial holding company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 11.8% over the last 60 days. Forum ...

Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, March 31st: CION Investment Corporation (CION) : This business development company has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 8.2% over the last 60 days. This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 13.8%, compared with the industry average of 9.9%. This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 4.1%, compared with the industry average of 3%. This Zacks Ra ...

Company Overview - ACNB Corporation (ACNB) is positioned as an intriguing investment choice within the Banks - Southwest sector due to solid earnings estimate revision activity [1] - The company has seen a positive shift in earnings estimates, indicating a more bullish outlook from analysts [3] Industry Context - The Banks - Southwest industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 24 out of over 250 industries, suggesting a strong position relative to other segments [2] - A rising trend in this industry can positively impact multiple securities, indicating a favorable environment for ACNB [2] Earnings Estimates - Over the past month, the current quarter earnings estimates for ACNB have increased from 83 cents per share to 92 cents per share [4] - Current year earnings estimates have also risen from $3.83 per share to $4.28 per share, reflecting improved expectations for the company's performance [4] Investment Signal - ACNB carries a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), which is considered a favorable signal for potential investors [4] - The combination of a strong industry ranking and positive estimate revisions makes ACNB an interesting choice for investors seeking opportunities in this sector [5]

Regulatory Changes - Dodd-Frank permanently increased the maximum deposit insurance amount to $250 thousand per depositor [60]. - The FDIC is required to increase the reserve ratio of the Deposit Insurance Fund from 1.15% to 1.35% of insured deposits by 2020 [60]. - Dodd-Frank mandates a minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5% for financial institutions [77]. - The minimum Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio is set at 6.0% [77]. - The minimum total capital ratio to total risk-weighted assets is established at 8.0% [77]. - The minimum leverage ratio of Tier 1 capital to average total consolidated assets is required to be 4.0% [77]. - Dodd-Frank prohibits excessive compensation for executives of depository institutions with assets over $1.0 billion [61]. - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has authority over depository institutions with $10 billion or more in assets [66]. - The CFPB requires mortgage lenders to determine a consumer's ability to repay based on verified information [67]. - Dodd-Frank allows states to adopt more stringent consumer protection laws than federal standards [66]. Financial Performance - ACNB Corporation's net interest income for 2024 was $83.6 million, a decrease of $4.8 million, or 5.4%, compared to $88.3 million in 2023 [196]. - The FTE net interest margin for 2024 was 3.79%, down 28 basis points from 4.07% in 2023 [196]. - Total earning assets increased to $2.22 billion in 2024, with interest income rising by $10.8 million, or 11.1%, compared to 2023 [197]. - Average loans increased by $94.9 million, or 6.0%, with FTE interest income on loans rising by $10.9 million, or 13.4% [197]. - ACNB Corporation's total assets reached $2.44 billion as of December 31, 2024 [196]. - Noninterest income totaled $24.7 million in 2024, a $6.3 million, or 34.1% increase compared to 2023, driven by growth in insurance commissions and wealth management [201]. - Total noninterest expenses rose to $70.7 million in 2024, a $4.6 million, or 7.0% increase from 2023 [203]. - The provision for income taxes was $8.6 million in 2024, reflecting an effective tax rate (ETR) of 21.2% compared to 20.5% in 2023 [204]. Asset and Liability Management - The corporation's total interest-bearing liabilities amounted to $1.64 billion in 2024, with total interest expense increasing significantly [196]. - Total interest expense increased by $15.5 million, or 186.7%, in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to higher cost of funds and long-term borrowings [198]. - Average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits rose to 0.83%, an increase of 58 basis points in 2024, with time deposits and money markets increasing by 196 and 62 basis points, respectively [198]. - Total average borrowings increased by $162.5 million, or 127.2%, during 2024, primarily funding loan growth and deposit outflows [198]. - Long-term borrowings increased by $60.0 million, or 30.7%, to $255.3 million as of December 31, 2024, primarily to fund loan growth [239]. Loan Portfolio and Credit Quality - Total loans, net of unearned income, increased by $54.9 million, or 3.4%, in 2024, driven mainly by growth in commercial real estate and residential mortgage portfolios [213]. - The commercial real estate portfolio grew by $70.8 million, or 7.9%, with 56.0% of collateral in Pennsylvania and 42.1% in Maryland as of December 31, 2024 [214]. - Residential real estate mortgages totaled $402.0 million, an increase of $7.8 million, or 2.0%, in 2024, including $45.5 million in junior liens [216]. - Commercial and industrial loans decreased by $11.4 million, or 7.5%, totaling $140.9 million in 2024 [217]. - Total nonperforming assets increased to $7.25 million in 2024 from $4.64 million in 2023, with nonperforming loans to total loans ratio at 0.40% [224]. - The allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans ratio decreased to 253.67 in 2024 from 478.53 in 2023 [224]. - Total internally risk-rated loans were $1.36 billion as of December 31, 2024, with a related allowance for credit losses of $15.1 million [226]. - The allowance for credit losses (ACL) was $17.28 million as of December 31, 2024, down from $19.97 million in 2023, reflecting a reversal of $2.4 million in provisions for credit losses [232]. Capital and Equity - Total stockholders' equity rose to $303.3 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $277.5 million in 2023, primarily due to earnings retention [240]. - ACNB retained $21.1 million, or 66.4%, of its net income in 2024, slightly down from $22.0 million, or 69.4%, in 2023 [240]. - Quarterly cash dividends paid in 2024 totaled $10.7 million, or $1.26 per common share, representing a 10.5% increase from $9.7 million, or $1.14 per share in 2023 [240]. Deposits and Funding - Total deposits decreased by $69.3 million, or 3.7%, to $1.79 billion as of December 31, 2024, with total demand and savings deposits down by $110.2 million, or 6.8% [236]. - Time deposits increased by $40.9 million, or 17.6%, to $273.0 million, partially offsetting the decline in total deposits [235]. - The loan-to-deposit ratio was 93.89% at December 31, 2024, indicating a strong reliance on deposits for lending activities [236]. - Municipal deposits decreased to $111.0 million, or 6.2% of total deposits, from $176.6 million, or 9.5%, in 2023, due to public entities reinvesting excess funds elsewhere [237]. Capital Adequacy - The banking subsidiary's Tier 1 leverage ratio increased to 12.03% in 2024 from 11.12% in 2023, exceeding the minimum requirement of 5.00% [244]. - Common Tier 1 capital ratio rose to 16.03% in 2024, up from 14.86% in 2023, surpassing the minimum requirement of 6.50% [244]. - Total risk-based capital ratio improved to 17.02% in 2024 compared to 15.99% in 2023, well above the minimum requirement of 10.00% [244]. - The banking subsidiary is categorized as "well capitalized" for regulatory purposes as of December 31, 2024 [244]. Liquidity and Funding Sources - As of December 31, 2024, the banking subsidiary had borrowing capacity of $926.5 million from the FHLB, with $690.4 million available [247]. - The banking subsidiary maintained a Fed Funds line capacity of $192.0 million, with the full amount available as of December 31, 2024 [248]. - Unfunded outstanding commitments to extend credit amounted to $372.8 million as of December 31, 2024 [253]. - Securities sold under repurchase agreements totaled $15.8 million at December 31, 2024, down from $26.9 million in 2023 [250]. - The parent company has a $5.0 million unsecured line of credit available as of December 31, 2024 [249]. - ACNB believes it has sufficient funding sources to maintain liquidity under varying business conditions [252].

Group 1 - ACNB is currently outperforming the Finance sector with a year-to-date gain of 5.1%, compared to the sector's average return of 2.4% [4] - The Zacks Rank system indicates that ACNB has a rank of 2 (Buy), reflecting a positive earnings outlook with a 14.2% increase in the consensus estimate for full-year earnings over the past three months [3] - ACNB belongs to the Banks - Southwest industry, which is ranked 18 in the Zacks Industry Rank, while this industry has seen a decline of about 1.8% year-to-date [5] Group 2 - The Finance group, which includes ACNB, is currently ranked 1 within the Zacks Sector Rank, indicating strong performance relative to other sectors [2] - Green Brick Partners, another Finance stock, has also shown solid performance with a year-to-date return of 4.9% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [4][5] - The Real Estate - Development industry, to which Green Brick Partners belongs, is ranked 200 and has experienced a decline of 2.7% year-to-date [6]

Group 1: Company Overview - ACNB shares increased by 5.6% to close at $43.26, with trading volume significantly higher than usual, contrasting with a 0.3% loss over the past four weeks [1] - Piper Sandler upgraded ACNB to Overweight from Neutral, raising the price target from $37 to $50, citing the successful acquisition of Traditions Bancorp, Inc. as a key factor [2] - The bank is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.19 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 76.3%, while revenues are projected to be $31.3 million, an increase of 19.2% from the previous year [3] Group 2: Earnings and Estimates - The consensus EPS estimate for ACNB has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating that stock price movements may not sustain without earnings estimate revisions [4] - ACNB currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), while Red River Bancshares, a peer in the same industry, has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [4] - Red River Bancshares' consensus EPS estimate has increased by 9.2% over the past month to $1.30, representing a 12.1% change from the previous year [5]

Core Points - ACNB Corporation has completed the acquisition of Traditions Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiary Traditions Bank, effective February 1, 2025, correcting the deposit amount to $2.54 billion [1][3] - The merger will enhance ACNB Corporation's asset base to approximately $3.26 billion, with $2.54 billion in deposits and $2.36 billion in loans, expanding its community banking presence to 35 offices [3][4] - The acquisition will allow ACNB Bank to operate former Traditions Bank branches under the name "Traditions Bank, A Division of ACNB Bank," and enhance its mortgage operations [4] Management and Board Changes - Three former directors from Traditions, Eugene J. Draganosky, Elizabeth F. Carson, and John M. Polli, have joined the Boards of Directors of ACNB Corporation and ACNB Bank, bringing extensive banking experience [2][4] - Mr. Draganosky has nearly 40 years of banking experience and was the former CEO of Traditions, while Ms. Carson and Mr. Polli have significant leadership roles in the banking sector [2] Strategic Vision - ACNB Corporation's President & CEO, James P. Helt, emphasized the strategic nature of the acquisition, aiming to create a stronger community bank with a customer-centric approach [4] - The merger is expected to enhance value for shareholders and improve customer experience through expanded products and services [4]

Core Viewpoint - ACNB Corporation has successfully completed the acquisition of Traditions Bancorp, enhancing its market presence and operational capabilities in Pennsylvania and Maryland [1][4]. Company Overview - ACNB Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Gettysburg, PA, with approximately $3.26 billion in assets, $2.04 billion in deposits, and $2.36 billion in loans as of December 31, 2024 [3][5]. - The company operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, ACNB Bank, which has a network of 35 community banking offices [5]. Acquisition Details - The acquisition of Traditions Bancorp, effective February 1, 2025, involved merging Traditions into a subsidiary of ACNB Corporation and subsequently merging Traditions Bank into ACNB Bank [1]. - Traditions stockholders received 0.7300 shares of ACNB Corporation common stock for each share of Traditions common stock they owned at the closing date [1]. Leadership Changes - Three former directors from Traditions, Eugene J. Draganosky, Elizabeth F. Carson, and John M. Polli, have joined the Boards of Directors of ACNB Corporation and ACNB Bank, bringing extensive banking and business experience [2][4]. Strategic Goals - The merger aims to create a stronger community bank with a shared vision and customer-centric approach, expanding product offerings and enhancing mortgage operations under the name "Traditions Mortgage, A Division of ACNB Bank" [4]. - The acquisition positions ACNB Corporation for growth in the York and Lancaster County markets [4].

Core Viewpoint - ACNB reported quarterly earnings of $0.77 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.84 per share, but showing an increase from $0.48 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of -8.33% [1] Financial Performance - ACNB posted revenues of $26.92 million for the quarter ended December 2024, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.18%, compared to year-ago revenues of $22.46 million [2] - Over the last four quarters, the company has exceeded consensus revenue estimates three times [2] Stock Performance - ACNB shares have declined approximately 3.2% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 3.5% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market in the near future [6] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.18 on revenues of $31.8 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $3.22 on revenues of $147.5 million [7] - The trend of estimate revisions for ACNB is mixed, which may change following the recent earnings report [6] Industry Context - The Banks - Southwest industry, to which ACNB belongs, is currently ranked in the top 6% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to lower-ranked industries [8]

Financial Performance - ACNB Corporation reported net income of $6.6 million, or $0.77 diluted earnings per share, for Q4 2024, a 61.0% increase from $4.1 million, or $0.48 per share, in Q4 2023, but an 8.5% decrease from $7.2 million, or $0.84 per share, in Q3 2024 [1] - For the full year 2024, net income was $31.8 million, or $3.73 per diluted earnings per share, reflecting a slight increase of 0.5% compared to $31.6 million in 2023 [1] - The financial results were impacted by merger-related expenses of $885 thousand for Q4 2024 and $2.0 million for the full year due to the pending acquisition of Traditions Bancorp, Inc. [1] Net Interest Income and Margin - Net interest income for Q4 2024 was $21.1 million, a 0.8% increase from Q3 2024, driven by an increase in the FTE net interest margin to 3.81% [5] - For the full year 2024, net interest income totaled $83.6 million, a decrease of 5.3% from $88.3 million in 2023, primarily due to a decrease in the FTE net interest margin to 3.79% [6] Noninterest Income - Noninterest income for Q4 2024 was $5.8 million, a decrease of 15.1% from Q3 2024, mainly due to lower insurance commissions and wealth management income [7] - For the full year 2024, noninterest income, excluding net gains or losses on securities, increased by 4.1% to $24.7 million compared to 2023, driven by growth in wealth management and insurance commissions [8] Noninterest Expense - Noninterest expense for Q4 2024 was $18.4 million, a slight increase of 0.8% from Q3 2024, primarily due to higher equipment expenses related to the upcoming acquisition [9] - For the full year 2024, noninterest expense increased by 7.0% to $70.1 million, driven by merger-related expenses and higher salaries and employee benefits [10] Loans and Asset Quality - Total loans outstanding were $1.68 billion at December 31, 2024, a 3.4% increase from December 31, 2023, primarily due to growth in the commercial real estate portfolio [11] - Non-performing loans increased to $6.8 million, or 0.40% of total loans, at December 31, 2024, compared to 0.26% at the end of 2023, driven by a long-standing commercial relationship in the healthcare industry [13] Deposits and Borrowings - Total deposits were $1.79 billion at December 31, 2024, a slight increase of 0.1% from Q3 2024 but a decrease of 3.7% from December 31, 2023 [14] - Total borrowings decreased by 7.5% to $271.2 million at December 31, 2024, compared to Q3 2024, primarily due to a seasonal decrease in repurchase agreements [15] Stockholders' Equity - Total stockholders' equity was $303.3 million at December 31, 2024, a decrease from $306.8 million at September 30, 2024, but an increase from $277.5 million at December 31, 2023 [17] - Tangible book value per share was $29.51 at December 31, 2024, compared to $26.44 at the end of 2023 [17]