Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (NYSE:NIC) is among the 11 Best All-Time High Stocks to Buy According to Wall Street. On February 17, 2026, Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (NYSE:NIC) completed its merger with MidWestOne Financial Group, with MidWestOne merging into Nicolet as the surviving corporation. MidWestOne Bank will operate as a division of Nicolet National Bank until a planned system conversion in August, after which more than 50 MidWestOne locations will transition to the Nicolet brand and digital banking plat ...

GREEN BAY, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (NYSE: NIC) ("Nicolet†) completed its merger with MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc., ("MidWestOne†), as a result of which, MidWestOne merged with and into Nicolet, with Nicolet being the surviving corporation. MidWestOne Bank will operate as a division of Nicolet National Bank until the planned system conversion in August 2026. At that time, all 50+ MidWestOne locations will transition to the Nicolet brand and digital banking platform, e. ...

Group 1 - Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores S.A. (AVAL) has shown a year-to-date performance increase of approximately 24.2%, outperforming the average gain of 18.3% in the Finance sector [4] - The Zacks Rank for Grupo Aval is currently 2 (Buy), indicating a favorable outlook based on earnings estimate revisions [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVAL's full-year earnings has increased by 2.1% over the past three months, reflecting improved analyst sentiment [4] Group 2 - Grupo Aval is part of the Financial - Investment Management industry, which has seen an average loss of 15.1% this year, indicating that AVAL is performing better than its industry peers [6] - In comparison, Nicolet Bankshares (NIC), another stock in the Finance sector, has a year-to-date return of 18.4% and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [5] - The Banks - Northeast industry, to which Nicolet Bankshares belongs, has gained 11.5% this year, ranking 53 among 74 stocks [6]

Core Viewpoint - Nicolet Bankshares Inc. (NIC) is showing potential for a bullish breakout as it has reached a key support level and formed a "golden cross" in its moving averages [1][2]. Technical Analysis - A "golden cross" occurs when a short-term moving average (50-day) crosses above a long-term moving average (200-day), indicating a potential bullish trend [2]. - The formation of a golden cross typically follows three stages: a downtrend that bottoms out, the crossover of moving averages, and subsequent upward price momentum [3]. Performance Metrics - NIC shares have increased by 16.7% over the past four weeks, indicating positive momentum [4]. - The company holds a 1 (Strong Buy) rating on the Zacks Rank, suggesting strong investor confidence and potential for further gains [4]. Earnings Expectations - Recent earnings estimate revisions show one upward change with no downward revisions in the last 60 days, contributing to a bullish outlook [4]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NIC has also increased, reinforcing the positive sentiment around the stock [4][5].

Core Viewpoint - Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. reported record net income for Q4 2025, with a full-year earnings of $151 million, representing a 21.7% increase compared to 2024 [1] Financial Performance - The bank holding company achieved a net income of $151 million for the full year 2025 [1] - This figure marks a significant increase of 21.7% from the previous year, 2024 [1]

Core Insights - Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. reported record net income for Q4 2025, with a total earnings of $151 million for the full year, representing a 21.7% increase compared to 2024 [1] Financial Performance - The bank holding company achieved a net income of $151 million for the year 2025 [1] - This figure marks a significant growth of 21.7% from the previous year, 2024 [1]

Financial Performance - Record net income of $151 million for full year 2025, a 21.8% increase from $124 million in 2024[2][6] - Diluted earnings per share of $9.78 for full year 2025, up 21.5% from $8.05 in 2024[2][6] - Net income for the year ended 12/31/2025 was $150,686 thousand, a 21.5% increase from $124,059 thousand in 2024[27] - Adjusted net income (Non-GAAP) for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $151,324,000, up from $120,668,000 in 2024, representing a growth of 25.5%[33] - The diluted earnings per common share (GAAP) for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $9.78, an increase from $8.05 in 2024, indicating a rise of 21.5%[33] - Adjusted diluted earnings per common share (Non-GAAP) for the year ended December 31, 2025, reached $9.82, compared to $7.83 in 2024, marking a growth of 25.4%[33] Asset Growth - Total assets reached $9.2 billion at December 31, 2025, an increase of $156 million from September 30, 2025[4] - Total assets increased to $9,185,107 thousand as of 12/31/2025, up from $9,029,430 thousand on 9/30/2025, representing a growth of 1.72%[26] - Total assets as of December 31, 2025, amounted to $9,185,107,000, an increase from $8,796,795,000 in 2024, reflecting a growth of 4.4%[33] Deposits and Loans - Core deposits grew by $497 million (7%) year-over-year, totaling $7.7 billion at December 31, 2025[6][4] - Total deposits rose to $7,730,771 thousand as of 12/31/2025, up from $7,611,465 thousand on 9/30/2025, marking a 1.56% increase[26] - Deposits rose to $7,717,321 thousand as of December 31, 2025, up from $7,314,632 thousand a year ago, marking a growth of 5.5%[28] - Total loans as of December 31, 2025, amounted to $6,836,345, a slight decrease of 0.56% from $6,874,711 on September 30, 2025[30] - Loans reached $6,858,444 thousand for the three months ended December 31, 2025, compared to $6,581,059 thousand for the same period last year, reflecting an increase of 4.2%[28] Income and Expenses - Noninterest income for full year 2025 was $86 million, a $3 million increase from 2024[9] - Noninterest expense for full year 2025 was $201 million, an increase of $9 million from 2024, driven by higher personnel expenses[10] - Total noninterest income for the year ended 12/31/2025 was $85,567 thousand, compared to $82,267 thousand in 2024, reflecting a growth of 4.0%[27] Credit Quality - Nonperforming assets represented 0.35% of total assets at December 31, 2025, compared to 0.31% at September 30, 2025[5] - Provision for credit losses decreased to $750 thousand for the three months ended 12/31/2025, down from $1,500 thousand in the previous quarter, indicating improved credit quality[27] - The allowance for credit losses to loans ratio was 1.01% as of December 31, 2025, unchanged from the previous year, indicating stable credit quality management[28] - Nonperforming assets increased to $32,346 thousand as of December 31, 2025, compared to $29,112 thousand a year ago, representing a rise of 7.7%[28] Operational Efficiency - The efficiency ratio improved to 51.00% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, down from 52.17% a year earlier, showing enhanced operational efficiency[28] - The return on average assets was 1.75% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, compared to 1.57% for the same quarter last year, indicating an improvement of 18 basis points[28] Stockholder Information - Quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share declared, payable on March 16, 2026[15] - The book value per common share increased to $84.91 as of December 31, 2025, compared to $76.38 a year earlier, reflecting a growth of 11.1%[28] - Total stockholders' equity increased to $1,257,662 thousand as of 12/31/2025, up from $1,214,960 thousand on 9/30/2025, a growth of 3.5%[26] Future Outlook - The acquisition of MidWestOne is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals[3]

The market expects Nicolet Bankshares (NIC) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2025. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report. On the other hand, if th ...

Core Viewpoint - The proposed sale of MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. to Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. is under investigation to assess whether the transaction adequately values MidWestOne and the process leading to this valuation [1]. Group 1: Transaction Details - Shareholders of MidWestOne will receive 2.6 shares of Farmers common stock for each share of MidWestOne they own as part of the proposed transaction [1]. Group 2: Legal Investigation - Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC is investigating the proposed sale to determine if the consideration is adequate or if it undervalues MidWestOne [1]. - The firm is inviting shareholders who believe the transaction undervalues the company to discuss their legal rights regarding the proposed sale [2].

Core Viewpoint - Nicolet Bankshares (NIC) shows a significant improvement in earnings outlook, making it an attractive investment option as analysts continue to raise earnings estimates for the company [1][2]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - The upward trend in earnings estimate revisions reflects growing analyst optimism regarding the company's earnings prospects, which is expected to positively influence its stock price [2]. - For the current quarter, the earnings estimate is $2.55 per share, representing a 17.5% increase from the previous year, with a 10.39% rise in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the last 30 days [6]. - For the full year, the earnings estimate stands at $9.65 per share, indicating a 23.2% increase from the prior year, with a 6.34% increase in the consensus estimate due to positive revisions [7][8]. Zacks Rank and Performance - Nicolet Bankshares has achieved a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating strong agreement among analysts in raising earnings estimates, which historically correlates with stock performance [9]. - Stocks rated Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) have shown significant outperformance compared to the S&P 500, with Zacks 1 stocks averaging a 25% annual return since 2008 [3][9]. Stock Performance - The stock has gained 8.9% over the past four weeks, driven by solid estimate revisions and positive earnings growth prospects, suggesting it may be a good addition to investment portfolios [10].