Globenewswire·2026-01-29 12:00Core Insights - ConnectOne Bancorp reported a net income of $38.0 million for Q4 2025, a decrease from $39.5 million in Q3 2025 but an increase from $18.9 million in Q4 2024. Diluted earnings per share were $0.75 for Q4 2025, down from $0.78 in Q3 2025 but up from $0.49 in Q4 2024 [2][4]. Financial Performance - The company's operating net income for Q4 2025 was $42.0 million, compared to $35.5 million in Q3 2025 and $20.2 million in Q4 2024. Operating diluted earnings per share were $0.83 for Q4 2025, up from $0.70 in Q3 2025 and $0.52 in Q4 2024 [3]. - The net interest margin widened by 16 basis points to 3.27% in Q4 2025, benefiting from a decrease in the cost of interest-bearing deposits and stable loan portfolio yields [5][7]. - Total assets increased to $14.0 billion as of December 31, 2025, from $9.9 billion a year earlier, primarily due to the merger with First of Long Island Corporation [16][17]. Income and Expenses - Noninterest income for Q4 2025 was $6.0 million, down from $19.4 million in Q3 2025, largely due to nonrecurring benefits from the employee retention tax credit and pension plan curtailment gains recognized in the previous quarter [10]. - Noninterest expenses decreased to $56.9 million in Q4 2025 from $58.7 million in Q3 2025, attributed to lower merger expenses and employee benefits [11]. Asset Quality - The provision for credit losses was $2.3 million in Q4 2025, down from $5.5 million in Q3 2025, reflecting improved asset quality and lower loss drivers [13]. - Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets were 0.33% as of December 31, 2025, compared to 0.58% a year earlier, indicating improved asset quality [14]. Dividends - The Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.18 per share on common stock, payable on March 2, 2026, to shareholders of record on February 13, 2026 [6].