Whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities, all investors love seeing their portfolios score big returns. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend ...

Company Overview - Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (EBMT) shares increased by 7% to close at $16.63, following a notable trading volume that exceeded typical levels, despite an 8.1% loss over the previous four weeks [1][2] Market Influence - The sharp rally in Eagle Bancorp Montana shares was influenced by broader market strength, particularly after President Donald Trump's announcement of a 90-day suspension on tariffs for non-retaliating countries, which eased trade tensions and improved market sentiment [2] Earnings Expectations - The company is projected to report quarterly earnings of $0.33 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 37.5%. Revenues are anticipated to reach $21.4 million, marking an 11.6% rise from the same quarter last year [3] Earnings Estimate Trends - The consensus EPS estimate for Eagle Bancorp Montana has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating that stock price movements may not sustain without trends in earnings estimate revisions. Monitoring EBMT is advised to assess if the recent price increase can lead to further strength [4] Industry Context - Eagle Bancorp Montana operates within the Zacks Banks - Midwest industry, where Wintrust Financial (WTFC) also resides. WTFC shares closed 9.4% higher at $104.13, although it has experienced a -12.2% return over the past month [4] Wintrust Financial Overview - Wintrust's consensus EPS estimate for its upcoming report is $2.52, which represents a year-over-year change of -12.8%. Wintrust currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5]

Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, ...

Business Operations - Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. operates 30 full-service branches and 32 ATMs across Montana, focusing on small businesses and individuals [20]. - The Bank aims to enhance market share through organic growth and opportunistic acquisitions, with a focus on maintaining strong asset quality [23][28]. - The Bank's strategy includes diversifying its portfolio by emphasizing growth in commercial real estate and agricultural loans while maintaining disciplined credit underwriting standards [27]. - The company emphasizes the origination of consumer, commercial real estate, and commercial business loans, which increases credit risk and may necessitate additional provisions for credit losses [134]. - The company plans to pursue organic growth and evaluate potential acquisitions, but there are risks associated with managing this growth effectively [149]. Loan Portfolio - As of December 31, 2024, commercial real estate and commercial business loans constituted approximately 78.60% of total loans [28]. - At December 31, 2024, the Bank's balance of residential 1-4 family mortgage loans was $153.72 million, representing 10.11% of total loans [37]. - Commercial real estate loans accounted for 42.48% of the Bank's total loan portfolio, amounting to $645.96 million at December 31, 2024 [41]. - Home equity loans totaled $97.54 million, or 6.41% of total loans, as of December 31, 2024 [44]. - Commercial construction and development loans accounted for $124.21 million, or 8.17% of the Bank's total loan portfolio at December 31, 2024 [42]. - As of December 31, 2024, consumer loans totaled $28.51 million, representing 1.88% of the Bank's total loan portfolio [46]. - Commercial business loans amounted to $144.04 million, or 9.47% of the Bank's total loan portfolio as of December 31, 2024 [49]. - Agricultural production loans totaled $134.35 million, accounting for 8.83% of the Bank's total loan portfolio as of December 31, 2024 [49]. - Approximately 18.48% of the total gross loan portfolio, equating to $280.96 million, was comprised of farmland and agricultural production loans as of December 31, 2024 [163]. - As of December 31, 2024, the total loan portfolio includes 60.3% in commercial real estate loans, with farmland loans making up 9.6% and commercial business loans at 18.3%, including agricultural loans at 8.8% [203]. Financial Performance - The total consideration for the acquisition of First Community Bancorp, Inc. in April 2022 was $38.58 million, including $10.23 million in cash and $28.35 million in common stock [24]. - The Bank's mortgage loan servicing fees were $5.11 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $5.09 million in 2023 [36]. - The company recorded goodwill of $34.74 million as of December 31, 2024, and is required to test for impairment periodically [129]. - The company sold $211.78 million in mortgage loans during 2024, relying on secondary market purchasers for liquidity [145]. - The company’s earnings are primarily driven by net interest income, which is influenced by the interest rate spread and the balance of interest-earning assets [202]. - The company’s strategy focuses on increasing net interest margin and fee income while controlling operating expenses to achieve earnings growth [205]. Regulatory Compliance - The Bank is classified as "well-capitalized" under the prompt corrective action framework as of December 31, 2024 [100]. - Federal regulations require a common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets ratio of 4.5%, a Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets ratio of 6.0%, and a total capital to risk-based assets of 8.0% [94]. - The company is subject to regulations under the Bank Holding Company Act and must notify the FRB for any acquisition of 10.0% or more of Eagle's voting stock [107]. - The company’s ability to pay dividends is subject to regulatory requirements and depends on the level of earnings at the bank [147]. - The company faces risks related to noncompliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and other anti-money laundering regulations, which could lead to significant penalties and reputational damage [166]. Economic and Market Conditions - Economic conditions, particularly in Montana, significantly impact the company's financial performance, with potential adverse effects from rising interest rates and inflation [110]. - The Federal Open Market Committee raised the federal funds rate four times in 2023, with potential interest rate reductions forecasted for 2024, but persistent inflation may delay this [113]. - The company faces heightened credit risk due to economic and geopolitical factors, particularly affecting real estate loans and collateral values [115]. - Declines in home values could lead to decreased loan originations and increased delinquencies, adversely impacting financial results [116]. - Changes in interest rates significantly affect net interest income, which is crucial for the company's financial health [117]. - The transition from LIBOR to SOFR as a benchmark rate may introduce uncertainty and risks related to financial instruments [120]. - Intense competition in the banking sector may limit the company's growth and profitability, as larger institutions may offer more resources and services [122]. Asset Management - The investment policy allows for investments in high credit quality instruments while maximizing total return within interest rate risk and liquidity management guidelines [60]. - The Bank maintains liquid assets that may be invested in specified short-term securities and other investments, with liquidity levels adjusted based on management's judgment [59]. - The aggregate cost of the company's investment in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines common stock was $7.78 million as of December 31, 2024 [169]. - The allowance for credit losses is a critical accounting policy, reflecting management's estimate of expected losses in the loan portfolio [210]. - Total assets increased by $27.42 million, or 1.3%, to $2.10 billion as of December 31, 2024, compared to $2.08 billion as of December 31, 2023 [215]. Cybersecurity and Internal Controls - The company faces risks associated with system failures and security breaches, which could adversely affect earnings and customer trust [130]. - The company is committed to maintaining a strong internal control environment and is taking actions to remediate the identified material weakness [157]. - The company has established comprehensive incident response and recovery plans for cybersecurity threats, which are regularly tested and evaluated [180]. - The Board of Directors has ultimate oversight of cybersecurity risk, receiving regular reports on various cybersecurity efforts and incidents [182]. - The company engages third-party consultants annually to assess and manage cybersecurity threats, ensuring robust security measures are in place [184]. Shareholder Information - The company has 372 full-time employees and 10 part-time employees as of December 31, 2024 [74]. - Nearly all employees are shareholders of the Company through participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) [75]. - The company repurchased 25,000 shares of common stock at an average price of $16.74 during December 2024, with a total of 50,000 shares repurchased in January 2025 at an average price of $15.11 [196]. - The company’s common stock closed at $15.33 per share on December 31, 2024, with 8,507,429 shares outstanding held by approximately 939 shareholders [192].

Company Overview - Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (EBMT) is headquartered in Helena and has experienced a price change of 5.35% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.14 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.53%, which is higher than the Banks - Midwest industry's yield of 2.9% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.54% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of $0.57 represents a 0.9% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, EBMT has increased its dividend five times, achieving an average annual increase of 10.60% [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 46%, indicating that it pays out 46% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year, EBMT anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $1.61 per share, reflecting a 29.84% increase from the previous year [5] Investment Considerations - Dividends are favored by investors as they enhance stock investing profits, reduce overall portfolio risk, and offer tax advantages [6] - High-growth firms or tech start-ups typically do not provide dividends, while established companies with secure profits are preferred for dividend investments [7] - EBMT is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7]

Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, February 5th:RITHM CAP CP (RITM) : This company which is a provider of capital and services to the real estate and financial services industries, has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 3.2% over the last 60 days.This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company has a dividend yield of 8.8%, compared with the industry average of 0.0%.Horizon Bancorp IN (HBNC) : This bank h ...

Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (EBMT) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.44 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.30 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.28 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 46.67%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $0.30 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.34, delivering a surprise of 13.33%.Over the last four quarters, ...

Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights (at or for the three-month period ended December 31, 2024, except where noted): | | December 31, 2024 | | | | December 31, 2023 | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | (Dollars in | | | Remaining | Borrowing | Remaining | | | Borrowing | | thousands) | Borrowings | Outstanding | | Capacity | Borrowings | Outstanding | | Capacity | | Federal Home | | | | | | | | | | Loan Bank | | | | | | | | | | advances | $ $ | 140,930 | | 276,664 | $ | 175,737 | $ | ...

HELENA, Mont., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (NASDAQ: EBMT), (the “Company,” “Eagle”), the holding company of Opportunity Bank of Montana (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $3.4 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $2.7 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the preceding quarter, and $2.2 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, net income was $9.8 million, or ...

Financial Performance - Net interest income after provision for credit losses was $15,525 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2024, up from $14,999 thousand for the same period in 2023, representing an increase of about 3.5%[16] - Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was $2,709,000, compared to $2,635,000 for the same period in 2023, representing an increase of 2.8%[18] - For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, net income was $6,345,000, down from $7,892,000 in 2023, a decrease of 19.6%[19] - Basic earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was $0.35, compared to $0.34 in 2023, reflecting a 2.9% increase[18] - Comprehensive income for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was $8,490,000, compared to a loss of $4,557,000 in 2023[19] Asset and Liability Management - Total assets increased to $2,145,113 thousand as of September 30, 2024, compared to $2,075,666 thousand at December 31, 2023, reflecting a growth of approximately 3.35%[9] - Total deposits reached $1,650,512 thousand as of September 30, 2024, a slight increase from $1,635,195 thousand at December 31, 2023, indicating a growth of about 0.94%[12] - Total liabilities increased to $1,951,677 thousand, with interest-bearing liabilities averaging $1,502,844 thousand and a cost of 2.89%[133] - The Bank's total shareholders' equity increased by $8.46 million, or 5.0%, to $178.00 million as of September 30, 2024[114] Income and Expense Analysis - Total interest and dividend income rose to $26,760 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $24,094 thousand in the prior year, marking an increase of approximately 11%[16] - Interest expense increased to $10,958 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $8,507 thousand in the prior year, representing an increase of approximately 29%[16] - Total noninterest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was $17,270,000, a decrease of 3.4% from $17,875,000 in 2023[18] - Noninterest income decreased to $4,983 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2024, down from $6,035 thousand in the same period of 2023, reflecting a decline of approximately 17.4%[16] Credit Quality and Losses - Provision for credit losses was $277 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2024, down from $588 thousand in the same period of 2023, indicating a decrease of about 53%[16] - The allowance for credit losses was $17,130 thousand as of September 30, 2024, compared to $16,440 thousand at December 31, 2023, indicating a rise of about 4.2%[9] - The company reported a decrease in salaries and employee benefits to $9,894,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2024, down from $10,837,000 in 2023, a reduction of 8.7%[18] - The total charge-offs for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, were $178 million, indicating a higher level of credit losses compared to the current year[55] Investment and Securities - The fair value of total investment securities was $306,982,000 as of September 30, 2024, down from $345,355,000 as of December 31, 2023, indicating a decrease of approximately 11.0%[43] - The total unrealized losses on investment securities amounted to $20,936,000 as of September 30, 2024, compared to $27,689,000 as of December 31, 2023, reflecting an improvement of approximately 24.0%[43] - The company reported a net realized loss on the sale of available-for-sale securities of $222,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024[44] Loan Portfolio - As of September 30, 2024, total loans receivable amounted to $1,534,652,000, an increase from $1,484,489,000 as of December 31, 2023, representing a growth of approximately 3.4%[49] - Total loans reached $1,534,652 million, with a pass rate of $1,517,098 million, representing approximately 98.9%[59] - The total agricultural loans amounted to $144,645 million, with a pass rate of $141,423 million, indicating a strong performance in this sector[59] - The total commercial loans reached $143,190 million, with a pass rate of $142,942 million, reflecting stability in commercial lending[58] Market and Strategic Initiatives - The company is focusing on market expansion and new product development to enhance growth opportunities in the future[58] - The company has reviewed all LIBOR-based products and adjusted them to another index as LIBOR ceased publication after June 30, 2023[40] - The company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2023-09 on its financial statement disclosures, which requires enhanced income tax disclosures effective after December 15, 2024[42] Regulatory and Compliance - The FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, requiring expanded reportable segment disclosures[41] - The company has established that projected net interest income will not be reduced by more than 15% over the next twelve months given an immediate increase or decrease in interest rates of up to 300 basis points[169] - A quantitative goodwill impairment test was performed, concluding that goodwill was not impaired as of August 31, 2024[174]