Table of Contents UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549 FORM 10-Q ☑ Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2025 or ☐ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Commission File No. 0-15950 FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employe ...

Group 1 - First Busey reported quarterly earnings of $0.63 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.61 per share, and up from $0.50 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +3.28% [1] - The company posted revenues of $198.05 million for the quarter ended June 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.10%, compared to year-ago revenues of $116.24 million [2] - First Busey has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times over the last four quarters and topped consensus revenue estimates three times during the same period [2] Group 2 - The stock's immediate price movement will depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and the sustainability of earnings expectations [3][4] - First Busey shares have increased by approximately 2.4% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 7.2% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.62 on revenues of $195.9 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $2.49 on revenues of $728.85 million [7] Group 3 - The Zacks Industry Rank for Banks - Midwest is currently in the top 31% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5] - The estimate revisions trend for First Busey was unfavorable ahead of the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) for the stock, indicating expected underperformance in the near future [6]

[Financial Results](index=2&type=section&id=Financial%20Results) [Overall Performance Summary](index=2&type=section&id=Overall%20Performance%20Summary) First Busey Corporation reported a net income of **$47.4 million** ($0.52 per diluted share) for Q2 2025, a significant turnaround from a net loss of **$30.0 million** in Q1 2025 and an increase from **$27.4 million** in Q2 2024, reflecting the first full quarter contribution from the CrossFirst acquisition - The second quarter of 2025 was the first full quarter where financial results included the contribution from the acquisition of CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc[8](index=8&type=chunk) - Adjustments to GAAP earnings include **$16.6 million** in acquisition/restructuring expenses, a **$4.0 million** CECL model adjustment, and **$6.0 million** in net securities gains[8](index=8&type=chunk) Q2 2025 Key Performance Indicators | Metric | GAAP | Adjusted | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Net Income | $47.4 million | $57.4 million | | Diluted EPS | $0.52 | $0.63 | | Net Interest Margin | 3.49% | 3.33% | | ROAA | 1.00% | 1.21% | | ROATCE | 11.24% | 13.61% | Net Income (Loss) Comparison (in thousands) | Period | Net Income (Loss) | Diluted EPS | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Q2 2025 | $47,404 | $0.52 | | Q1 2025 | $(29,990) | $(0.44) | | Q2 2024 | $27,357 | $0.47 | [Pre-Provision Net Revenue](index=4&type=section&id=Pre-Provision%20Net%20Revenue) Pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) significantly increased to **$64.2 million** in Q2 2025 from **$28.7 million** in Q1 2025, with adjusted PPNR reaching **$80.8 million**, reflecting improved core operating profitability before credit loss provisions Pre-Provision Net Revenue (PPNR) Comparison (in millions) | Period | PPNR (GAAP) | PPNR to Avg Assets | Adjusted PPNR | Adjusted PPNR to Avg Assets | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Q2 2025 | $64.2 | 1.35% | $80.8 | 1.70% | | Q1 2025 | $28.7 | 0.78% | $54.7 | 1.50% | | Q2 2024 | $40.7 | 1.35% | $42.6 | 1.42% | [Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin](index=4&type=section&id=Net%20Interest%20Income%20and%20Net%20Interest%20Margin) Net interest income rose to **$153.2 million** in Q2 2025, up from **$103.7 million** in the prior quarter, with the net interest margin (NIM) expanding by **33 basis points** to **3.49%** (3.33% adjusted), primarily driven by higher loan yields and purchase accounting accretion from the CrossFirst acquisition - Key drivers for the **33 basis point increase** in NIM in Q2 2025 included: - **+54 bps** from increased loan portfolio and held for sale loan yields - **+8 bps** from increased purchase accounting accretion - **-25 bps** from increased non-maturity deposit funding costs[15](index=15&type=chunk) - The company is actively managing its funding mix by reducing brokered deposits (down **$368.6 million** in Q2) and anticipates the deposit beta will normalize between **45% and 50%**[12](index=12&type=chunk) Net Interest Margin Comparison | Period | Net Interest Margin (GAAP) | Adjusted Net Interest Margin | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Q2 2025 | 3.49% | 3.33% | | Q1 2025 | 3.16% | 3.08% | | Q2 2024 | 3.03% | 3.00% | [Noninterest Income](index=5&type=section&id=Noninterest%20Income) Total noninterest income for Q2 2025 was **$44.9 million**, a **111.4% increase** from Q1 2025, largely due to **$6.0 million** in net securities gains and the full-quarter impact of the CrossFirst acquisition, with adjusted noninterest income at **$38.9 million** - Wealth Management assets under care grew to **$14.10 billion** at the end of Q2 2025, up from **$13.68 billion** in Q1 2025[17](index=17&type=chunk) - Treasury management services income grew **132.2% YoY**, and card services fees grew **42.3% YoY**, primarily due to the addition of CrossFirst commercial and corporate card services[17](index=17&type=chunk) Noninterest Income Breakdown (in thousands) | Category | Q2 2025 | Q1 2025 | Q2 2024 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Wealth management fees | $16,777 | $17,364 | $15,917 | | Payment technology solutions | $4,956 | $5,073 | $5,915 | | Treasury management services | $4,981 | $3,017 | $2,145 | | Card services and ATM fees | $4,880 | $3,709 | $3,430 | | Net securities gains (losses) | $5,997 | $(15,768) | $(353) | | **Total noninterest income** | **$44,863** | **$21,223** | **$33,703** | [Operating Efficiency](index=6&type=section&id=Operating%20Efficiency) Total noninterest expense was **$127.8 million** in Q2 2025, an increase of **14.1%** from Q1 2025, driven by nonrecurring acquisition expenses and the full-quarter operating costs of the combined organization, with the adjusted efficiency ratio improving to **55.3%** from **58.7%** - Noninterest expense growth was primarily due to the CrossFirst acquisition, including nonrecurring expenses and added operational costs, with the company expecting to realize **50%** of the estimated **$25.0 million** in annual expense synergies in 2025 and **100%** in 2026[18](index=18&type=chunk) - Salaries, wages, and employee benefits increased by **$10.8 million** compared to Q1 2025, reflecting a full quarter of expenses for the expanded workforce from the CrossFirst acquisition[20](index=20&type=chunk) Efficiency Ratio Comparison | Period | Efficiency Ratio (GAAP) | Adjusted Efficiency Ratio | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Q2 2025 | 63.9% | 55.3% | | Q1 2025 | 77.1% | 58.7% | | Q2 2024 | 62.6% | 60.9% | [Balance Sheet Strength](index=8&type=section&id=Balance%20Sheet%20Strength) [Balance Sheet Overview](index=8&type=section&id=Balance%20Sheet%20Overview) As of June 30, 2025, total assets stood at **$18.92 billion**, a slight decrease from **$19.46 billion** at the end of Q1 2025, primarily due to a reduction in deposits, while portfolio loans remained relatively stable at **$13.81 billion** Key Balance Sheet Items (in billions) | Item | June 30, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | June 30, 2024 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Total Assets | $18.92 | $19.46 | $11.97 | | Portfolio Loans | $13.81 | $13.87 | $8.00 | | Total Deposits | $15.80 | $16.46 | $9.98 | | Total Stockholders' Equity | $2.41 | $2.18 | $1.33 | [Asset Quality](index=9&type=section&id=Asset%20Quality) Asset quality remains strong and well-diversified, with non-performing loans stable at **0.40%** of portfolio loans as of Q2 2025, and the allowance for credit losses at **$183.3 million**, providing robust coverage of **3.36 times** non-performing loans - The increase in non-performing loans and assets compared to the prior year is mainly due to purchased credit deteriorated (PCD) loans assumed in the CrossFirst acquisition[33](index=33&type=chunk)[34](index=34&type=chunk) - Net charge-offs were **$12.9 million** in Q2 2025, a decrease from **$31.4 million** in Q1 2025, with the Q1 figure including **$29.6 million** related to PCD loans from CrossFirst that were fully reserved at acquisition[36](index=36&type=chunk)[39](index=39&type=chunk) Asset Quality Ratios | Ratio | June 30, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | June 30, 2024 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Non-performing loans to portfolio loans | 0.40% | 0.39% | 0.11% | | Non-performing assets to total assets | 0.31% | 0.31% | 0.08% | | Allowance for credit losses to portfolio loans | 1.33% | 1.41% | 1.07% | | ACL to non-performing loans coverage | 3.36x | 3.57x | 9.36x | [Deposits and Borrowings](index=11&type=section&id=Deposits%20and%20Borrowings) Total deposits decreased to **$15.80 billion** at quarter-end, down from **$16.46 billion** in Q1 2025, a deliberate decline driven by a **$386.8 million** reduction in higher-cost brokered deposits and listing service CDs, while core deposits remain strong at **92.5%** of total deposits - The decrease in total deposits was a deliberate strategy, with a **$386.8 million** reduction in higher-cost brokered deposits and listing service CDs[41](index=41&type=chunk) - Core deposits represented **92.5%** of total deposits as of June 30, 2025, with an estimated **33%** of total deposits uninsured and uncollateralized[42](index=42&type=chunk) - On June 1, 2025, Busey redeemed the entire **$125.0 million** outstanding principal amount of its 5.25% Subordinated Notes due 2030[43](index=43&type=chunk) [Liquidity and Capital Strength](index=12&type=section&id=Liquidity%20and%20Capital%20Strength) The company maintains a robust liquidity and capital position, with available liquidity sources totaling **$7.95 billion** as of June 30, 2025, and strong capital ratios including an estimated Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of **12.22%** and a Total Capital ratio of **15.75%** - Total available sources of on- and off-balance sheet liquidity were **$7.95 billion** as of June 30, 2025[44](index=44&type=chunk) Regulatory Capital Ratios (Estimated) | Ratio | June 30, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | June 30, 2024 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Common Equity Tier 1 | 12.22% | 12.00% | 13.20% | | Total Capital to RWA | 15.75% | 14.88% | 17.50% | Tangible Common Equity Metrics | Metric | June 30, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | June 30, 2024 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Tangible Common Equity / Tangible Assets | 9.27% | 8.83% | 8.30% | | Tangible Book Value per Share | $19.18 | $18.62 | $16.97 | [Shareholder Returns](index=12&type=section&id=Shareholder%20Returns) Busey continued its commitment to shareholder returns by paying a common stock dividend of **$0.25 per share** in Q2 2025 and repurchasing **1,012,000 shares** of its common stock for **$21.7 million** during the quarter - Paid a quarterly dividend of **$0.25 per common share**, continuing a consistent dividend history since 1980[46](index=46&type=chunk) - Repurchased **1,012,000 shares** for **$21.7 million** in Q2 2025, with **2,687,275 shares** remaining available for repurchase under the current plan as of June 30, 2025[48](index=48&type=chunk) [Corporate Profile](index=12&type=section&id=Corporate%20Profile) First Busey Corporation is an **$18.92 billion** financial holding company headquartered in Leawood, Kansas, with its subsidiary Busey Bank operating **78 banking centers** across 10 states, offering comprehensive wealth management services with **$14.10 billion** in assets under care and innovative payment technology solutions through FirsTech - As of June 30, 2025, First Busey Corporation was an **$18.92 billion** financial holding company[50](index=50&type=chunk) - Busey Bank operates **78 banking centers** across 10 states, including Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Florida, and Kansas[51](index=51&type=chunk) - The Wealth Management division had **$14.10 billion** in assets under care as of June 30, 2025[52](index=52&type=chunk) - FirsTech, a wholly-owned subsidiary, specializes in financial technology and payment solutions for businesses[53](index=53&type=chunk) [Non-GAAP Financial Information](index=15&type=section&id=Non-GAAP%20Financial%20Information) This section provides detailed reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP counterparts, which management uses to analyze core performance trends and for peer comparison, excluding items like acquisition expenses, restructuring charges, and net securities gains/losses [Reconciliation of Pre-Provision Net Revenue](index=16&type=section&id=Reconciliation%20of%20Pre-Provision%20Net%20Revenue) This table reconciles GAAP net interest income and noninterest income to the non-GAAP measures of Pre-Provision Net Revenue (PPNR) and Adjusted PPNR, showing GAAP PPNR of **$64.2 million** and Adjusted PPNR of **$80.8 million** for Q2 2025 Q2 2025 PPNR Reconciliation (in thousands) | Description | Amount | | :--- | :--- | | Net interest income (GAAP) | $153,183 | | Total noninterest income (GAAP) | $44,863 | | Net security (gains) losses | $(5,997) | | Total noninterest expense (GAAP) | $(127,833) | | **Pre-provision net revenue (Non-GAAP)** | **$64,216** | | Acquisition and restructuring expenses | $16,600 | | **Adjusted pre-provision net revenue (Non-GAAP)** | **$80,816** | [Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income and Related Ratios](index=18&type=section&id=Reconciliation%20of%20Adjusted%20Net%20Income%20and%20Related%20Ratios) This reconciliation adjusts GAAP net income for several items, including the Day 2 provision for credit losses from the CrossFirst acquisition, other acquisition expenses, and net securities gains/losses, resulting in a non-GAAP net income of **$57.4 million** for Q2 2025 from a GAAP net income of **$47.4 million** Q2 2025 Adjusted Net Income Reconciliation (in thousands) | Description | Amount | | :--- | :--- | | Net income (GAAP) | $47,404 | | Adjustment of initial provision for unfunded commitments | $4,030 | | Other acquisition expenses | $16,600 | | Net securities (gains) losses | $(5,997) | | Related tax (benefit) expense | $(4,971) | | **Adjusted net income (Non-GAAP)** | **$57,394** | [Reconciliation of Net Interest Margin](index=20&type=section&id=Reconciliation%20of%20Net%20Interest%20Margin) The table adjusts GAAP net interest income for the tax-equivalent impact of non-taxable income and for purchase accounting accretion to derive adjusted net interest income and the corresponding adjusted net interest margin, with the **3.49%** tax-equivalent NIM adjusted down to **3.33%** for Q2 2025 Q2 2025 Net Interest Margin Reconciliation (dollars in thousands) | Description | Amount / Ratio | | :--- | :--- | | Net interest income (GAAP) | $153,183 | | Tax-equivalent adjustment | $791 | | **Tax-equivalent net interest income (Non-GAAP)** | **$153,974** | | Purchase accounting accretion | $(7,119) | | **Adjusted net interest income (Non-GAAP)** | **$146,855** | | Average interest-earning assets | $17,700,356 | | **Net interest margin (Non-GAAP)** | **3.49%** | | **Adjusted net interest margin (Non-GAAP)** | **3.33%** | [Reconciliation of Tangible Common Equity](index=24&type=section&id=Reconciliation%20of%20Tangible%20Common%20Equity) This section details the calculation of tangible common equity by subtracting goodwill, other intangible assets, and preferred stock from total stockholders' equity, resulting in tangible common equity of **$1.71 billion** and a tangible book value per common share of **$19.18** as of June 30, 2025 Tangible Common Equity Calculation as of June 30, 2025 (in thousands) | Description | Amount | | :--- | :--- | | Total stockholders' equity (GAAP) | $2,412,546 | | Less: Preferred stock | $(215,197) | | Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets, net | $(488,181) | | **Tangible common equity (Non-GAAP)** | **$1,709,168** | | Ending common shares outstanding | 89,104,678 | | **Tangible book value per common share (Non-GAAP)** | **$19.18** | [Forward-Looking Statements](index=25&type=section&id=Forward-Looking%20Statements) This section contains standard cautionary language regarding forward-looking statements, warning that actual results could differ materially from expectations due to various factors, including economic conditions, regulatory changes, interest rate fluctuations, competition, and risks associated with acquisitions like the recent CrossFirst transaction - The document contains forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially[76](index=76&type=chunk) - Key risk factors include economic strength, regulatory changes, interest rate movements, competition, and the successful integration of acquisitions such as CrossFirst[77](index=77&type=chunk)

Core Insights - First Busey Corporation reported a net income of $47.4 million for the second quarter of 2025, a significant recovery from a net loss of $30.0 million in the first quarter of 2025, and an increase from $27.4 million in the second quarter of 2024 [6][8][48] - The acquisition of CrossFirst Bank has been a transformative event, contributing positively to the financial results and expanding the bank's service offerings [3][6] Financial Performance - Net interest income for the second quarter of 2025 was $153.2 million, up from $103.7 million in the first quarter of 2025 and $82.5 million in the second quarter of 2024 [11][12] - The net interest margin increased to 3.49% in the second quarter of 2025, compared to 3.16% in the first quarter of 2025 and 3.03% in the second quarter of 2024 [12][13] - Adjusted net income, excluding non-GAAP adjustments, was $57.4 million, or $0.63 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $39.9 million in the first quarter of 2025 [8][21] Noninterest Income - Total noninterest income increased by 111.4% compared to the first quarter of 2025 and by 33.1% compared to the second quarter of 2024, primarily due to net securities gains and the contribution from the CrossFirst acquisition [15][16] - Adjusted noninterest income, excluding net securities gains and losses, increased by 5.1% to $38.9 million in the second quarter of 2025 [16][17] Noninterest Expense - Total noninterest expense rose by 14.1% compared to the first quarter of 2025 and by 68.4% compared to the second quarter of 2024, largely due to acquisition-related costs and increased operational expenses [21][22] - Adjusted noninterest expense, excluding acquisition and restructuring expenses, was $106.6 million in the second quarter of 2025, a 28.6% increase from the first quarter of 2025 [22] Asset Quality - The allowance for credit losses was $183.3 million as of June 30, 2025, representing 1.33% of total portfolio loans, with a coverage ratio of 3.36 times non-performing loans [43][41] - Non-performing loans were 0.40% of portfolio loans as of June 30, 2025, reflecting a slight increase from the previous quarter [41][42] Balance Sheet Strength - Total assets were $18.92 billion as of June 30, 2025, down from $19.46 billion as of March 31, 2025, but up from $11.97 billion a year earlier [32][26] - Total deposits were $15.80 billion at June 30, 2025, compared to $16.46 billion at March 31, 2025, with a deliberate run-off of higher-cost brokered deposits contributing to the decrease [48][49]

Financial Performance - Adjusted diluted EPS increased from $0.57 in 1Q25 to $0.63 in 2Q25[10] - Adjusted net income increased from $40 million in 1Q25 to $57 million in 2Q25[10] - Adjusted pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) increased from $55 million in 1Q25 to $81 million in 2Q25[10] - Net interest margin increased from 3.16% in 1Q25 to 3.49% in 2Q25[10] - Adjusted efficiency ratio improved from 58.7% in 1Q25 to 55.3% in 2Q25[10] Balance Sheet and Capital - Total assets reached $18.9 billion in 2Q25[8, 21] - Total capital ratio was 15.8% in 2Q25[8, 36] - Tier 1 capital ratio increased to 13.7% at 6/30/25 from 12.0% at 3/31/25[5] - Tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio was 9.27% at 6/30/25, up from 8.30% at 6/30/24[36] Loan Portfolio - Total loan portfolio was $13.8 billion[43] - Non-performing loans (NPLs) to total loans ratio was 0.40%[43] - Classified loans to capital ratio was 7.7%[43] Deposits - Total deposits reached $15.8 billion[18, 70] - Core deposits represented 92.5% of total deposits[36, 70] - Average deposits per branch were $203 million[20, 70] - Non-interest bearing deposits accounted for 22.7% of total deposits[36] Wealth Management and FirsTech - Wealth assets under care reached $14.1 billion[8, 21, 96] - FirsTech processed $11 billion in payments[21, 151]

Core Viewpoint - The market anticipates First Busey (BUSE) to report a year-over-year earnings increase driven by higher revenues for the quarter ended June 2025, with actual results being crucial for stock price movement [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - First Busey is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.61 per share, reflecting a +22% year-over-year change, with revenues projected at $192.1 million, up 65.3% from the previous year [3]. - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 2.12% lower in the last 30 days, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP model suggests that a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading indicates the likely deviation of actual earnings from the consensus estimate, with a positive reading being a strong predictor of an earnings beat [9][10]. - For First Busey, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -4.49%, combined with a Zacks Rank of 4, making it challenging to predict an earnings beat [12]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, First Busey was expected to post earnings of $0.53 per share but delivered $0.57, resulting in a surprise of +7.55% [13]. - Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times [14]. Industry Comparison - Wintrust Financial (WTFC), another player in the Zacks Banks - Midwest industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $2.59 for the same quarter, indicating a +11.6% year-over-year change, with revenues expected at $655.9 million, up 10.8% [18][19].

Financial Performance - First Busey Corporation's total assets were $119 billion as of March 31, 2024 [3] - The company's Assets Under Care (AUC) reached $128 billion [3] - Last Twelve Months (LTM) revenue totaled $3727 million [4] - FirsTech, a segment of First Busey, processed $11 billion in payments LTM [3] and generated $231 million in revenue LTM [4] - Wealth Management segment revenue LTM was $586 million [4] Balance Sheet & Capital - As of March 31, 2024, the CET1 ratio was 135% and the Total Capital Ratio was 179% [20] - Core deposits represented 967% of total deposits [20] - The loan-to-deposit ratio stood at 762% [26] Wealth Management - Wealth Management's Assets Under Care (AUC) reached $128 billion as of March 31, 2024, a year-over-year increase of 139% [3, 49] - Wealth segment revenue for 1Q24 was $157 million, a year-over-year increase of 53% [49] FirsTech - FirsTech's revenue for 1Q24 reached $60 million, marking the highest quarterly revenue in the company's history [52] - FirsTech is focused on achieving double-digit annual growth and reaching $50 million in annual revenue [54] Strategic Initiatives - On April 1, 2024, First Busey completed the acquisition of M&M Bank Corp [3, 12]

Group 1 - The article focuses on newly listed fixed-income IPOs at the exchange, specifically highlighting First Busey Corporation [1] - It invites active investors to join a free trial and engage in discussions with sophisticated traders and investors [1] Group 2 - The article does not provide specific financial data or performance metrics related to First Busey Corporation or other companies [2]

Company Overview - First Busey (BUSE) is headquartered in Leawood and operates in the Finance sector. The stock has experienced a price change of -5.69% since the beginning of the year [3]. Dividend Information - First Busey currently pays a dividend of $0.25 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.5%. This yield is significantly higher than the Banks - Midwest industry's yield of 3.17% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.56% [3]. - The company's annualized dividend of $1 has increased by 4.2% from the previous year. Over the last five years, First Busey has raised its dividend three times, averaging an annual increase of 2.21% [4]. - The current payout ratio for First Busey is 46%, indicating that it distributes 46% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4]. Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for First Busey's earnings in 2025 is projected at $2.54 per share, reflecting a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 22.12% [5]. Investment Considerations - Dividends are favored by investors for various reasons, including improving stock investing profits and providing tax advantages. However, not all companies offer quarterly payouts [6]. - High-growth firms or tech start-ups typically do not provide dividends, while larger, established companies are often viewed as better dividend options. Income investors should be aware that high-yielding stocks may face challenges during periods of rising interest rates [7]. - First Busey is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile and current Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7].

Core Viewpoint - First Busey Corporation successfully closed a public offering of 8,600,000 depositary shares, raising approximately $207.48 million, which will enhance its capital structure and support future growth initiatives [1]. Group 1: Offering Details - The public offering included 8,600,000 depositary shares, with each share representing a 1/40th ownership interest in a share of 8.25% Fixed Rate Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock [1]. - The liquidation preference for each share is $1,000, equivalent to $25.00 per depositary share [1]. - The offering was managed by Piper Sandler & Co., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. as joint bookrunning managers [2]. Group 2: Financial Profile - As of March 31, 2025, First Busey Corporation had total assets of $19.46 billion [4]. - Busey Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary, reported total assets of $11.98 billion [5]. - CrossFirst Bank, another subsidiary, had total assets of $7.45 billion and is set to merge with Busey Bank on June 20, 2025 [6]. Group 3: Wealth Management and Technology Services - Busey Bank's Wealth Management division manages assets totaling $13.68 billion, offering a range of services including asset management and tax preparation [7]. - FirsTech, a subsidiary of Busey Bank, specializes in financial technology solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, providing various payment technology services [8]. Group 4: Recognition and Awards - Busey was ranked 88th among America's Best Banks by Forbes in 2025 and received multiple accolades for being a great workplace [9].