Meridian Bank (MRBK) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.61 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.55 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.49 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +11.93%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $0.5 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.58, delivering a surprise of +16%.Over the last four quarters, the company has ...

MALVERN, Pa., Jan. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meridian Corporation (Nasdaq: MRBK) today reported: Three Months Ended(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)(Unaudited)December 31,2025 September 30,2025 December 31,2024Income: Net income$7,186 $6,659 $5,601Diluted earnings per common share<td style="paddin ...

Financial Performance - Meridian Corporation reported a net income of $7.2 million for Q4 2025, an increase of $527 thousand or 7.9% from the previous quarter[2]. - Diluted earnings per share for Q4 2025 were $0.61, up from $0.58 in Q3 2025 and $0.49 in Q4 2024[5]. - Pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) for Q4 2025 was $12.6 million, an improvement of $1.4 million or 13% year-over-year[5]. - Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2025, was $7,186 million, an increase of 8% from $6,659 million in the previous quarter[31]. - Basic earnings per common share rose to $0.62, up from $0.59 in the prior quarter, reflecting a 5% increase[33]. - Total interest income for the quarter was $42,826 million, compared to $43,109 million in the previous quarter, a decrease of 1%[33]. - Net interest income after provision for credit losses was $20,340 million, slightly up from $20,266 million in the previous quarter[33]. - Non-interest income totaled $10,615 million, an increase from $9,953 million in the previous quarter, representing a growth of 7%[33]. - The efficiency ratio improved to 63.25%, down from 65.15% in the previous quarter, indicating better cost management[31]. - Return on average assets increased to 1.10%, up from 1.04% in the previous quarter[31]. Asset and Equity Growth - Total assets increased to $2.6 billion as of December 31, 2025, compared to $2.5 billion at September 30, 2025, and $2.4 billion at December 31, 2024[5]. - Total stockholders' equity increased by $10.1 million to $198.1 million, driven by net income of $7.2 million and a net increase of $7.5 million from stock issuance[23]. - Total assets increased by $19.3 million, or 0.8%, to $2.6 billion as of December 31, 2025[20]. - Total deposits reached $2,158,128 million, up from $2,131,116 million in the previous quarter, indicating a growth of 1.3%[35]. - Total stockholders' equity (GAAP) reached $198,141,000 as of December 31, 2025, compared to $171,522,000 on December 31, 2024, a growth of 15.5%[43]. - Total assets (GAAP) were $2,560,420,000 as of December 31, 2025, an increase from $2,385,867,000 a year earlier, representing a 7.3% growth[43]. Loan and Deposit Activity - Commercial loans, excluding leases, increased by $35.2 million or 2% from the prior quarter[5]. - Portfolio loans grew by $8.4 million, or 0.4% quarter-over-quarter, driven by increases in commercial & industrial loans and construction loans[21]. - Total deposits increased by $27.0 million, or 1.3% quarter-over-quarter, led by a $21.2 million increase in interest-bearing deposits[22]. - SBA loan income decreased by $146 thousand, with the volume of SBA loans sold down by $4.5 million to $20.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2025[17]. Credit Quality and Loss Provisions - The provision for credit losses increased by $437 thousand to $3.3 million in Q4 2025, primarily due to a rise in net charge-offs[15]. - Non-performing loans decreased by $298 thousand to $55.1 million, with the ratio of non-performing loans to total loans decreasing to 2.50%[24]. - Net charge-offs increased to $3.5 million, or 0.16% of total average loans for the quarter ended December 31, 2025[25]. - The ratio of allowance for credit losses to total loans held for investment was 1.00%, slightly down from 1.01% as of September 30, 2025[26]. - Provision for credit losses was $3,287 million for the quarter, an increase from $2,850 million in the previous quarter, reflecting a rise of 15.4%[37]. - The allowance for credit losses (GAAP) as of December 31, 2025, was $21,573,000, an increase from $18,438,000 on December 31, 2024, reflecting a 16.5% rise[42]. Strategic Initiatives - The company has focused on strategic acquisitions in 2025 to leverage market opportunities and enhance growth in 2026[5]. - The wealth management segment generated pre-tax income of $2.3 million, with assets under management growing by 7.8%[4].

Core Viewpoint - Meridian Mining plc has announced updated Mineral Resource Estimates for the Cabaçal and Santa Helena Central deposits, indicating significant resource potential and advancing towards a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) expected in Q4 2026 [2][7]. Group 1: Cabaçal Deposit - The updated Measured and Indicated (M&I) resource for Cabaçal is reported at 70.1 million tonnes (Mt) grading 0.6 g/t Au, 0.3% Cu, and 1.3 g/t Ag, totaling 1.3 million ounces (Moz) of Au, 0.5 billion pounds (Blbs) of Cu, and 3.0 Moz of Ag [3][8]. - The resource shows increases of 39.2% for Au, 14.2% for Cu, and 19.3% for Ag compared to the previous estimate [8]. - The Cabaçal deposit's M&I resources total 1.4 Moz Au, 0.6 Blbs Cu, 5.6 Moz Ag, 217.4 million pounds (Mlbs) Zn, and 49.9 Mlbs Pb [8]. Group 2: Santa Helena Central Deposit - The maiden open-pittable resource for Santa Helena Central is reported at 5.3 Mt grading 0.6 g/t Au, 0.4% Cu, 15.5 g/t Ag, 1.9% Zn, and 0.4% Pb, totaling 95.8 thousand ounces (Koz) of Au, 50.4 Mlbs of Cu, 2.6 Moz of Ag, 217.4 Mlbs of Zn, and 49.9 Mlbs of Pb [4][8]. - The resource remains open in all directions, indicating further exploration potential [4][8]. Group 3: Exploration and Development - Meridian has expanded its granted mineral rights across the Cabaçal, Jauru, and Araputanga Greenstone Belts, doubling its exploration portfolio [5]. - The company plans to initiate exploration activities across the Jauru and Araputanga Belts in 2026 while continuing to expand exploration programs along the Cabaçal Belt [5][7]. - The DFS for Cabaçal is on track, with metallurgical studies optimizing recoveries of Au, Cu, and Ag [8][51]. Group 4: Market Context and Commodity Prices - The updated resource estimates are based on CIBC Analyst Consensus Commodity prices of November 2025: Au at USD 3,103/oz, Ag at USD 35.34/oz, and Cu at USD 4.39/lb [6][44]. - The effective date of the Mineral Resource Estimates is December 31, 2025, reflecting current market conditions [32][42].

Core Insights - Cityblock Health and Meridian Health Plan of Illinois have partnered to provide comprehensive, community-based care to 10,000 Medicaid beneficiaries across 17 counties in Illinois [1][2] Group 1: Partnership Overview - Meridian is a leading managed care organization in Illinois and a subsidiary of Centene Corporation [2] - Cityblock Health focuses on value-based healthcare for Medicaid and dually eligible beneficiaries and has been operating in Illinois since 2024 [2] - This partnership marks the fourth regional collaboration between Centene and Cityblock, following previous partnerships in New York, Ohio, and Florida [2] Group 2: Care Model and Services - The partnership aims to enhance clinical and care coordination for Medicaid members by integrating Meridian's primary care services with Cityblock's wrap-around care services [3] - Cityblock's wrap-around model includes 24/7 access to primary and urgent care, behavioral health, social care, clinical pharmacy, care management, and support services [3] - The care model leverages multidisciplinary clinical expertise, advanced technology, and data insights to improve care quality and member experience [4] Group 3: Market Context and Need - Nearly one in four residents in Illinois are enrolled in Medicaid, highlighting the need for improved access to quality care for this population [4] - Cityblock Health serves over 100,000 members and collaborates with various Medicaid health plans and health systems across more than ten states [6]

Core Insights - Crude Value Insights provides an investment service and community focused on the oil and natural gas sector, emphasizing cash flow and the companies that generate it, which leads to value and growth prospects with real potential [1] - Subscribers benefit from a model account featuring over 50 stocks, in-depth cash flow analyses of exploration and production (E&P) firms, and live chat discussions about the sector [1] Subscription Offer - A two-week free trial is available for new subscribers, allowing them to explore the oil and gas investment opportunities [2]

Group 1: Management Changes - Mr. David Halkyard has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Company effective November 25, 2025 [1] - Ms. Catherine Apthorpe has been appointed as Corporate Secretary following the resignation of Ms. Mariana Bermudez, who left to pursue other business opportunities [1] - The CEO, Mr. Gilbert Clark, expressed confidence in the expanded finance team and welcomed Ms. Apthorpe, highlighting her extensive corporate and legal experience [3] Group 2: Name Change and Corporate Structure - The Company will complete its name change from Meridian Mining UK Societas to Meridian Mining Plc, effective for trading on December 10, 2025, following its conversion to a public limited company [2] - The Company's ISIN has changed to GB00BVPND783 and the CUSIP to G6017H 103, with previous identifiers now inactive [2] Group 3: Project and Financial Highlights - The Cabaçal Gold-Copper Project has a base case after-tax NPV5 of USD 984 million and an IRR of 61.2%, with a pre-production capital cost of USD 248 million, leading to capital repayment in 17 months [4] - The project has a low All-in-Sustaining-Cost of USD 742 per ounce gold equivalent and a production profile of 141,000-ounce gold equivalent over its life [4] - The Cabaçal Mineral Reserve estimate consists of Proven and Probable reserves of 41.7 million tonnes at 0.63g/t gold, 0.44% copper, and 1.64g/t silver [5] Group 4: Exploration and Development Focus - The Company is focused on the development and exploration of the advanced stage Cabaçal VMS gold-copper project and initial resource definition at the Santa Helena asset [6] - There is a regional scale exploration strategy for the Cabaçal VMS belt and exploration in the Jaurú & Araputanga Greenstone belts, all located in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil [6]

Core Insights - Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Inc. has announced a $1.15 million grant over three years to support the Food On The Move mobile food pantry program, which aims to provide healthy food to underserved populations in Illinois [2][4]. Group 1: Grant and Program Details - The grant will fund over 300 mobile market distributions throughout Metro East and Southern Illinois, targeting low-income areas with limited access to nutritious food [3]. - In 2024, Food On The Move supported approximately 12,000 individuals across 4,300 households, and by May 2025, it reached nearly 18,700 people in over 6,500 households [5]. Group 2: Community Impact - More than 1.6 million residents in Illinois face food insecurity, with St. Clair County having an estimated 34,520 food-insecure individuals, representing 13.5% of the population [4]. - The program is expected to serve an anticipated 60,000 community members through 2028, significantly enhancing access to healthy food and nutrition education [5]. Group 3: Program Features and Community Engagement - The mobile pantry allows individuals to choose foods that fit their household needs, serving up to 100 families at each stop, which promotes dignity and respect [7]. - Starting in 2026, Meridian will collaborate with local healthcare providers to offer health screenings and vaccinations at selected Food On The Move events [8].

Financial Performance - Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $6,659 thousand, a 40.5% increase compared to $4,743 thousand for the same period in 2024[14]. - Basic earnings per common share for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $0.59, up from $0.43 for the same period in 2024, representing a growth of 37.2%[14]. - Total comprehensive income for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $8,265,000, compared to $6,065,000 in 2024, reflecting an increase of 36.3%[16]. - For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, net income reached $14,650,000, up from $10,745,000 in 2024, indicating a growth of 36.5%[16]. - Income before income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $8,673, a significant increase from $6,245 in the same period of 2024, representing a 39.0% growth[146]. Asset and Liability Growth - Total assets increased to $2,541,130 thousand as of September 30, 2025, up from $2,385,867 thousand at December 31, 2024, representing a growth of 6.5%[12]. - Total liabilities increased to $2,353,101 thousand as of September 30, 2025, compared to $2,214,345 thousand at December 31, 2024, reflecting a growth of 6.3%[12]. - Total stockholders' equity rose to $188,029 thousand as of September 30, 2025, compared to $171,522 thousand at December 31, 2024, indicating a growth of 9.6%[12]. - Total deposits increased to $2,131,116 thousand as of September 30, 2025, up from $2,005,368 thousand at December 31, 2024, reflecting a growth of 6.3%[12]. Credit Losses and Provisions - Provision for credit losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $11,865 thousand, compared to $7,828 thousand for the same period in 2024, indicating a 51.9% increase[14]. - The allowance for credit losses increased to $21,794 thousand as of September 30, 2025, from $18,438 thousand at December 31, 2024, an increase of 12.8%[12]. - The total allowance for credit losses (ACL) as of September 30, 2025, was $21,794 thousand, reflecting a provision for credit losses of $2,850 thousand during the quarter[63]. - The total charge-offs for credit losses amounted to $9,236 thousand, with recoveries of $524 thousand during the reporting period[66]. Non-Interest Income and Expenses - Non-interest income totaled $9,953 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2025, slightly down from $10,831 thousand for the same period in 2024, a decrease of 8.1%[14]. - Non-interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, totaled $61,646, an increase of 6.5% from $57,738 in the same period of 2024[147]. - The bank's mortgage banking income for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $5,914, a decrease of 8.7% from $6,474 in the same period of 2024[146]. - Wealth management income for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $1,610, an increase from $1,447 in the same period of 2024, reflecting an 11.3% growth[146]. Loan and Securities Performance - The total loans and other finance receivables increased to $2,159,261,000 as of September 30, 2025, up from $2,026,292,000 at December 31, 2024, representing a growth of approximately 6.55%[46]. - Total securities available-for-sale amounted to $194,268,000 as of September 30, 2025, with an allowance for credit losses of $7,781,000[37]. - The total fair value of held-to-maturity securities was $29,853,000, with an unrealized loss of $2,746,000[37]. - The total unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities decreased from $10,160,000 as of December 31, 2024, to $7,781,000 as of September 30, 2025, indicating an improvement in the portfolio[40]. Cash Flow and Investments - The company reported a net cash provided by operating activities of $30,476,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $10,301,000 in 2024, marking a significant increase of 195.5%[21]. - The net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $155,822,000, slightly down from $156,309,000 in 2024[21]. - The cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period on September 30, 2025, were $39,989,000, up from $32,347,000 in 2024[22]. Borrowings and Capital Management - Total short-term borrowings increased to $126.671 million as of September 30, 2025, compared to $98.632 million as of December 31, 2024[90]. - The Corporation has a maximum borrowing capacity with the FHLB of $746.0 million as of September 30, 2025, up from $699.3 million as of December 31, 2024[92]. - The Corporation's long-term borrowings decreased to $10.594 million as of September 30, 2025, from $25.839 million as of December 31, 2024[91]. Modifications and Foreclosures - The total number of modifications granted to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty increased to 44 in the nine months ended September 30, 2025, from 14 in the same period of 2024, marking a 214% increase[85]. - The company reported a total of 9 consumer mortgage loans in foreclosure proceedings as of September 30, 2025, with a total value of $2.5 million[54]. - The company foreclosed on a commercial real estate property valued at $1.3 million and repossessed a billboard asset valued at $2.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2025[55].

Core Insights - Meridian Health Plan of Illinois and Centene Foundation are making a strategic investment of $300,000 to combat food insecurity in Illinois, addressing the challenges posed by disruptions to SNAP and WIC programs [1][2] - Food insecurity affects approximately 47.4 million people in the U.S., including 13.8 million children, highlighting the urgency of the situation [1] - Centene Foundation has committed a total of $1.5 million to support food banks and community organizations nationwide, particularly as they prepare for winter [4] Group 1: Investment and Initiatives - The $300,000 donation will enhance access to nutritious food in Illinois communities, continuing Meridian's commitment to addressing hunger and nutrition challenges [2] - Meridian has launched several initiatives, including the "Eat Well, Be Well" nutrition program and partnerships with local farmers' markets to provide fresh produce [3][6] - In 2024, Centene invested $77.1 million in food security initiatives across multiple states, reinforcing its commitment to addressing food access as a critical health driver [6][7] Group 2: Community Impact - In August, nearly 14.7% of Illinois residents required additional assistance to feed their families, underscoring the critical need for support [2] - Local organizations are working diligently to meet the rising demand for food assistance, with emergency funding aimed at ensuring access to healthy meals for vulnerable families [5] - Centene's Medicaid plans include food and nutrition intervention programs, addressing social factors that influence health outcomes [5][6]