ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BayFirst Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: BAFN) (“BayFirst” or “Company”), parent company of BayFirst National Bank (“Bank”) today announced that it will report its fourth quarter results after the market close on Thursday, January 29, 2026. Management will host a conference call on Friday, January 30, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results. The call will also be broadcast live via the internet. Interested investors may listen to the call live under the ...

Market Overview - Major U.S. indexes have shown significant year-to-date gains: Nasdaq Composite up 78.1%, S&P 500 up 15.8%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average up 11.5% [1] - Despite strong performance, volatility remains as investors shift to safer sectors, moving away from high-valuation technology and AI stocks [1] - Ongoing instability from government tariff policies and economic uncertainty continues to impact market participants [1] Employment and Economic Data - The unemployment rate for September rose to 4.4%, the highest in four years, while nonfarm payrolls increased by 119,000 [2] - Retail sales in September grew by only 0.2%, below expectations, with higher prices raising affordability concerns [2] - The Producer Price Index (PPI) increased by 0.3% in September, aligning with market expectations [2] - The consumer confidence index fell to 88.7, a seven-month low, significantly below the consensus estimate of 93.5 [2] Federal Reserve Expectations - Investors are anticipating a 25-basis point cut in benchmark interest rates by the Federal Reserve in December to address labor-market softness and support growth [3] Dividend-Paying Stocks - In a volatile market, dividend-paying stocks are recommended for portfolio diversification [4] - Notable dividend-paying companies include: - **Orange County Bancorp, Inc. (OBT)**: Declared an 18-cent dividend with a yield of 1.9% [5][6] - **United Bankshares (UBSI)**: Declared a 38-cent dividend with a yield of 3.9% [7] - **Dillard's (DDS)**: Declared a $30 dividend with a yield of 0.2% [10] - **Patrick Industries (PATK)**: Declared a 47-cent dividend with a yield of 1.5% [11][12] - **Agilent Technologies (A)**: Declared a 26-cent dividend with a yield of 0.6% [13][14] - Companies with consistent dividend payouts indicate a healthy business model and tend to outperform non-dividend-paying entities in volatile markets [4]

Market Overview - Wall Street is attempting to rebound after volatility in October and November, but concerns over high inflation, economic health, and uncertainty regarding a Federal Reserve rate cut in December persist [1] - Consumer confidence remains low, which could lead to further market volatility [2] Consumer Sentiment - Consumer sentiment declined to a record low of 51 in November, down from 53.6 in October, representing a 29% year-over-year decrease [3] Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points in September and October, but high inflation remains a concern, complicating potential future cuts [4] - A shrinking labor market raises fears of a slowing economy, with expectations that the Federal Reserve may cautiously approach rate cuts in 2026 [4] Impact of Tariffs - President Trump's tariffs have increased commodity prices, leading consumers to reduce spending ahead of the holiday season, which may contribute to prolonged market volatility [5] Dividend-Paying Stocks - Cautious investors may consider dividend-paying stocks for steady income and capital protection amid market uncertainty [2] - Three notable stocks include: - **Orange County Bancorp, Inc. (OBT)**: Announced a dividend of $0.18 per share with a yield of 1.90%, having increased dividends four times in the past five years [6][7] - **Dillard's, Inc. (DDS)**: Declared a dividend of $30 per share with a yield of 0.18%, having increased dividends eight times in the past five years [8][10] - **United Bankshares, Inc. (UBSI)**: Announced a dividend of $0.38 per share with a yield of 3.93%, having increased dividends three times in the past five years [11][12]

Core Insights - The Q3 earnings season for regional banks showed satisfactory results, with First Financial Bancorp (NASDAQ:FFBC) reporting a revenue increase of 16.3% year-on-year, exceeding analysts' expectations by 2.5% [3][5]. Industry Overview - Regional banks serve as intermediaries between local depositors and borrowers, benefiting from rising interest rates that enhance net interest margins, digital transformation that reduces operational costs, and local economic growth that drives loan demand [2]. - However, these banks face challenges such as fintech competition, deposit outflows to higher-yielding alternatives, credit deterioration during economic slowdowns, and regulatory compliance costs [2]. - Recent concerns regarding regional bank stability, particularly following high-profile failures and significant exposure to commercial real estate, add to the challenges faced by the sector [2]. Company Performance - First Financial Bancorp reported total revenues of $234 million for Q3, marking a 16.3% increase year-on-year, and adjusted net income of $72.6 million, with adjusted earnings per share of $0.76 [5][6]. - The adjusted return on assets was 1.55%, and the adjusted return on tangible common equity was 19.3% [6]. - Despite the positive revenue performance, the stock price has decreased by 2.6% since the earnings report, currently trading at $23.65 [6].

Core Insights - The Q3 earnings season for regional banks showed satisfactory performance, with revenues collectively missing analysts' consensus estimates by 1.1% [3] - Merchants Bancorp reported a revenue increase of 14.4% year on year, totaling $171.1 million, exceeding analysts' expectations by 3% [6] - Customers Bancorp emerged as a top performer with a revenue increase of 38.5% year on year, reaching $232.1 million, outperforming analysts' expectations by 7% [9] Industry Overview - Regional banks serve as intermediaries between local depositors and borrowers, benefiting from rising interest rates, digital transformation, and local economic growth [2] - Challenges include competition from fintech, deposit outflows, credit deterioration during economic slowdowns, and regulatory compliance costs [2] - Recent concerns regarding regional bank stability due to high-profile failures and significant commercial real estate exposure add to the industry's challenges [2] Company Performance - Merchants Bancorp focuses on low-risk, government-backed lending programs and specializes in multi-family mortgage banking [5] - Despite a strong quarter, Merchants Bancorp's stock is down 2.4% since reporting, currently trading at $31.59 [7] - Customers Bancorp's strategy emphasizes business lending and digital banking, leading to a stock increase of 2.2% since reporting, currently trading at $66.99 [10]

Core Insights - Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (NYSE:NIC) is identified as an undervalued small-cap stock with a Hold rating and a price target of $140 set by Piper Sandler analyst Nathan Race [1] - The company announced a definitive merger agreement to acquire MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc., which is expected to enhance its market position [2][4] Financial Overview - The pro forma total assets of the combined entity will reach $15.3 billion, with deposits of $13.1 billion and loans amounting to $11.3 billion as of September 30 [3] - The merger will result in Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. operating over 110 branches and loan production offices in various regions including Denver, the Upper Midwest, Florida, and Colorado [3] Merger Details - The merger agreement has received unanimous approval from the boards of directors of both Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. and MidWestOne [4] - MidWestOne shareholders will receive 0.3175 shares of Nicolet common stock for each share of MidWestOne common stock they own, with the total merger consideration valued at approximately $864 million, equating to $41.37 per share based on Nicolet's closing stock price of $130.31 as of October 22, 2025 [5] Company Services - Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. provides a range of commercial and consumer banking services, including brokerage, lending, deposit gathering, trust, and investment management services [6]

Company Overview - BayFirst Financial Corp. is a registered bank holding company based in St. Petersburg, Florida, which commenced operations on September 1, 2000 [3] - The primary source of income is derived from its wholly owned subsidiary, BayFirst National Bank, which began operations on February 12, 1999 [3] - The Bank operates twelve full-service banking offices throughout the Tampa Bay-Sarasota region, offering a broad range of commercial and consumer banking services [3] - As of June 30, 2025, BayFirst Financial Corp. had total assets of $1.34 billion [3] Recent Developments - BayFirst Financial Corp. will report its third quarter results after the market close on Thursday, October 30, 2025 [1] - Management will host a conference call on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results, which will also be broadcast live via the internet [1][2] - The Bank was the 8th largest SBA 7(a) lender by number of units originated and 18th largest by dollar volume nationwide as of the SBA's quarter ended June 30, 2025 [3]

Core Viewpoint - Zacks Investment Research has initiated coverage of Ohio Valley Banc Corp. (OVBC) with an "Outperform" recommendation, highlighting strong core earnings momentum and disciplined cost actions [1] Company Overview - Ohio Valley Banc, based in Gallipolis, OH, is a financial holding company providing commercial and consumer banking services, personal and commercial loans, construction and real estate loans, safe deposit boxes, and trust services [2] - The company operates through its main banking subsidiary, The Ohio Valley Bank Company, offering a wide range of community banking services in southeastern Ohio and western West Virginia [2] Financial Performance - In 2024, OVBC achieved solid loan growth, resulting in a $2.8 million increase in net interest income, totaling $48.8 million [3] - The company experienced a $148 million rise in deposits, primarily due to participation in state-subsidized homebuyer savings programs [3] - A strategic capital deployment into securities led to a $105 million increase in 2024, with interest and dividend income from securities rising over 50% year over year [4] - Non-interest income increased by 4.3% in 2024, contributing to earnings stability amid an uncertain rate environment [4] Strategic Initiatives - Ohio Valley Banc is focused on streamlining expenses, which is expected to improve the efficiency ratio over time [4] - The stock has significantly outperformed industry peers and the broader market over the past year, indicating a compelling entry point for long-term investors [6] - The company's modest market capitalization of $136.9 million suggests potential for growth in a promising but risky market segment [7]