Investors in Metropolitan Bank Holding (MCB) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Feb. 20, 2026 $60 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could ...

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.Even ...

Key Takeaways USCB Financial, AMAL, CDRE, CADE, MCB recently announced dividend hikes despite ongoing economic uncertainty.USCB declared a 13-cent dividend, reflecting its consistent payout growth and a payout ratio of 25%.Cadence Bank raised its dividend to 34 cents, marking its sixth increase in five years with a 2.4% yield.The U.S. economy remains resilient; however, investors are concerned over various domestic and geopolitical headwinds that may trigger sudden bouts of market volatility. The U.S. GDP g ...

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (MCB) could be a solid choice for investors given the company's remarkably improving earnings outlook. While the stock has been a strong performer lately, this trend might continue since analysts are still raising their earnings estimates for the company.Analysts' growing optimism on the earnings prospects of this company is driving estimates higher, which should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earni ...

Core Insights - Three stocks are highlighted with strong buy rankings and positive momentum characteristics for investors to consider on January 22nd Group 1: Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria (BBVA) - BBVA is engaged in a variety of banking and financial activities in Spain and has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BBVA's current year earnings has increased by 0.5% over the last 60 days [1] - BBVA's shares have gained 27.9% over the last three months, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 2.5% [2] - The company possesses a Momentum Score of A [2] Group 2: Metropolitan Bank Holding (MCB) - MCB is a chartered commercial bank providing various financial services and has a Zacks Rank of 1 [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MCB's current year earnings has increased by 7% over the last 60 days [3] - MCB's shares have gained 20.8% over the last three months, also outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 2.5% [4] - The company possesses a Momentum Score of A [4] Group 3: Plains All American Pipeline (PAA) - PAA is a master limited partnership involved in the transportation and marketing of crude oil and natural gas in the U.S. and Canada, with a Zacks Rank of 1 [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PAA's current year earnings has increased by 4.8% over the last 60 days [5] - PAA's shares have gained 18.4% over the last three months, again outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 2.5% [6] - The company possesses a Momentum Score of A [6]

Deposits increased $304 million in the fourth quarter, or about 4.3%. On a spot basis, the cost of interest-bearing deposits declined 43 basis points quarter over quarter. Dougherty said more than $2 billion of the bank’s indexed deposits reprice on the first business day of the month following a rate change, meaning the benefit of the mid-December Fed funds target rate reduction should be more visible in the first quarter.The bank reported a fourth-quarter net interest margin of 4.1%, up 22 basis points fr ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a net interest margin (NIM) of 4.1% in Q4 2025, an increase of 22 basis points from the previous quarter [10] - Net interest income for Q4 was $85.3 million, up more than 10% quarter-over-quarter and nearly 20% year-over-year [11] - The diluted EPS for the quarter was $2.77, with non-core credits impacting earnings by approximately $0.30 per share [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The loan portfolio expanded by approximately $775 million in 2025, representing a growth of nearly 13% [3] - Total loan originations for the year reached approximately $1.9 billion [3] - In Q4, total loan originations and draws were approximately $599 million, with a weighted average coupon of 7.28% [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Deposits increased by roughly $1.4 billion, or about 23%, for the year [4] - In Q4, deposits grew by $304 million, or approximately 4.3% [9] - The cost of interest-bearing deposits declined by 43 basis points quarter-over-quarter [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to capture additional market share through traditional channels while enhancing long-term shareholder value [5] - New branches are planned in Florida and New Jersey to strengthen market presence [4] - The strategy includes managing asset quality, optimizing profitability, and expanding in New York and complementary markets [5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the stability of asset quality, with no broad-based negative trends observed [4] - The company anticipates modest NIM expansion in 2026, with a forecasted annual NIM of about 4.10% [16] - The outlook for non-interest income suggests a growth assumption of 5%-10% [17] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for the quarter was about 30% [15] - The company plans to host an Investor Day on March 3rd, 2026, to discuss further developments [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Loan mix and C&I growth - Management indicated that core C&I growth is not expected to be substantial, with a focus on healthcare-related C&I [21][23] Question: Asset quality and NPAs - Management reported that two loans in the multifamily sector are expected to have little or no loss upon sale, with ongoing workouts for specific reserves [29][30] Question: CET1 ratio targets - The CET1 ratio is currently about 10.7%, with expectations to trend towards low nines as the balance sheet grows [31][32] Question: Digital transformation completion - The digital transformation is anticipated to be completed by President's Day weekend, with expenses expected to finalize at that time [37][39] Question: Demand deposit growth contributors - The largest contributors to demand deposit growth were municipal deposits and property managers, with a broad distribution across various sectors [42] Question: M&A opportunities - Management does not see significant value in current M&A opportunities and will focus on organic growth instead [44] Question: Team lift-out strategy - Management indicated that team lift-outs are unlikely, preferring to acquire talent within existing markets [47]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a net interest margin (NIM) of 4.1% in Q4, an increase of 22 basis points from the previous quarter [11] - Net interest income for Q4 was $85.3 million, up more than 10% on a linked quarter basis and nearly 20% for the year [12] - The diluted EPS for Q4 was $2.77, with non-core credits estimated at about $4.6 million, or approximately $0.30 per share [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The loan portfolio expanded by approximately $775 million, representing a growth of nearly 13% for the year, with total loan originations reaching approximately $1.9 billion [3][4] - In Q4, total loan originations and draws were approximately $599 million, with a weighted average coupon of 7.28% [9] - Deposits increased by roughly $1.4 billion, or about 23% for the year, with a Q4 growth of $304 million, or approximately 4.3% [4][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company opened a full-service branch in Lakewood, New Jersey, and plans to open two new branches in Florida in the first half of 2026 [4] - Asset quality remains solid, with no broad-based negative trends across loan segments, geographies, or sectors [4] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to capture additional market share through traditional channels while enhancing long-term shareholder value [5] - The strategy for 2026 includes focusing on managing asset quality, optimizing profitability, and expanding presence in New York and other complementary markets [5][6] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's disciplined underwriting and proactive portfolio management, indicating no areas of concern from client feedback [5] - The company expects to grow loans by about $800 million, or approximately 12% in 2026, with a forecasted NIM of about 4.10% for the year [15][16] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for Q4 was about 30% [14] - The company is hosting an Investor Day at its headquarters in New York on March 3rd, with limited seats available for in-person attendance [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Loan mix and C&I growth - Management does not expect substantial growth in core C&I but anticipates some growth in healthcare-related C&I [22] Question: CRE concentrations - Management expects CRE concentration increase to be stable going forward as owner-occupied CRE continues to grow [23] Question: Contribution of new branches to municipal deposit growth - New Jersey branches have contributed to municipal deposit growth, while Florida branches are expected to contribute significantly in the future [24] Question: Asset quality and NPAs - Management reported that NPAs increased by around $5 million but are stable, with expectations of little or no loss upon the sale of affected assets [28] Question: CET1 ratio targets - Management aims for TCE to trend from the current high 8s to low 9s as the balance sheet grows [30] Question: Digital transformation completion - The digital transformation is anticipated to be completed by President's Day weekend in Q1 [36] Question: Demand deposit growth drivers - The largest contributors to demand deposit growth were municipal deposits and property managers [41] Question: M&A possibilities - Management does not see significant value in current M&A opportunities and is focused on organic growth [43] Question: Team lift-out strategy - Management is not inclined towards team lift-outs but remains open to unique opportunities that fit the company culture [46]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the full year 2025, the loan portfolio expanded by approximately $775 million, representing a growth of nearly 13% [3] - Total loan originations reached approximately $1.9 billion, with deposits increasing by roughly $1.4 billion, or about 23% [3][9] - Net interest income for the fourth quarter was $85.3 million, up more than 10% on a linked quarter basis and up almost 20% for the year [10] - The net interest margin (NIM) was 4.1% in the fourth quarter, up 22 basis points from the prior quarter [9][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The loan book was essentially flat in the fourth quarter due to prepayments of approximately $317 million, which was about $150 million above the trailing three-quarter run rate [6][7] - The new volume origination mix was approximately 70% fixed and 30% floating [8] - Non-interest income for the fourth quarter was $3.1 million, with expectations to rebuild the fee income line through new business initiatives [11][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Deposits grew by $304 million, or approximately 4.3% in the fourth quarter, with a total annual growth of $1.4 billion [9] - The cost of interest-bearing deposits declined by 43 basis points quarter over quarter [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The strategy for 2026 focuses on capturing additional market share through traditional channels while enhancing long-term shareholder value [5] - The company plans to open two new branches in Florida in the first half of 2026, enhancing its presence in key growth markets [4] - The business model is designed to defend or expand the NIM with or without additional rate cuts [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in asset quality, noting no broad-based negative trends across loan segments, geographies, or sectors [4] - The company expects to grow loans by about $800 million, or approximately 12% in 2026, with a forecasted ROTCE approaching 16% by the fourth quarter of 2026 [13][15] - Management remains focused on organic growth and does not see significant M&A opportunities in the current market [40][44] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for the quarter was about 30% [12] - The company is hosting an Investor Day at its headquarters in New York on March 3rd, with several senior leaders presenting [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Loan mix and C&I growth - Management does not expect substantial growth in core C&I but sees potential in healthcare-related C&I [20] Question: Asset quality and NPAs - Two loans in the multifamily sector are expected to have little or no loss upon sale, with ongoing workouts expected to resolve by the end of the quarter [28] Question: CET1 ratio targets - The company aims for a TCE trend from the current high eights to about low nines [29] Question: Digital transformation completion - The conversion is anticipated to be completed by President's Day weekend [35] Question: Demand deposit growth contributors - The largest contributors to deposit growth were municipal deposits and property managers [39] Question: M&A opportunities - Management does not see significant value in current M&A opportunities and is focused on organic growth [40][44]

4Q 2025 Investor Presentation Contents | | Page | | --- | --- | | Disclosure | 2 | | Performance Metrics | 3 | | Differentiating Factors | 7 | | Loans and Deposits | 12 | | Modern Banking in Motion Digital Transformation | 21 | | Selected Financial Information and Guidance | 24 | 1 Disclosure This presentation contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward- looking statements include but are not limited to the Company's f ...