Beacon Financial Corporation Announces Debut of Beacon Bank [Accessibility Statement] Skip NavigationOne of 100 largest banks in the United StatesBOSTON, Feb. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- [Beacon Financial Corporation](NYSE: BBT) (the "Company") today announced the successful combination of four storied financial institutions under one new brand, [Beacon Bank](the "Bank"), one of the 100 largest banks in the United States.Continue ReadingBeacon Bank has more than 145 branches and commercial centers across New E ...

Core Viewpoint - Heritage Financial Corporation has successfully completed the merger with Olympic Bancorp, Inc. and Kitsap Bank, enhancing its market presence and customer base in the Pacific Northwest [1][2]. Group 1: Merger Details - The merger was finalized on January 31, 2026, integrating Olympic Bancorp into Heritage and Kitsap Bank into Heritage Bank [1]. - Heritage will issue a total of 7,167,600 shares of its common stock as part of the merger agreement, with Olympic shareholders receiving 45.0 shares of Heritage's common stock for each share they hold [3]. Group 2: Company Overview - Heritage Financial Corporation is based in Olympia and operates Heritage Bank, a full-service commercial bank with branches in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho [4]. - The bank also operates under the names Whidbey Island Bank and Kitsap Bank for the branches acquired in the merger [4].

Core Viewpoint - SmartFinancial, Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend and authorized a new stock repurchase plan, indicating a commitment to returning value to shareholders while managing capital effectively [1][2]. Dividend Declaration - The board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share of common stock, payable on March 2, 2026, to shareholders of record as of February 13, 2026 [1]. Stock Repurchase Plan - The 2026 Repurchase Plan allows SmartFinancial to repurchase up to $10 million of its common stock, effective from March 1, 2026, and expiring on February 28, 2027, unless extended [2]. - This new plan will replace the previous stock repurchase plan, which will be terminated upon the new plan's effectiveness [2]. Repurchase Mechanism - Repurchases under the 2026 Repurchase Plan may occur in the open market, through accelerated share repurchase programs, or in privately negotiated transactions, adhering to regulatory requirements [3]. - The plan does not obligate SmartFinancial to repurchase any specific amount of stock and can be modified or discontinued at the Board's discretion [3]. Company Overview - SmartFinancial, Inc. is a publicly-traded bank holding company for SmartBank, which is a full-service commercial bank established in 2007, with branches in Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida [4]. - The company's success is attributed to recruiting top talent, exceptional client service, strategic branching, and a disciplined lending approach [4].

Core Viewpoint - Peoples Financial Corporation reported a significant decrease in net income for both the fourth quarter and the full year of 2025 compared to 2024, primarily due to lower interest income and the absence of a prior year tax benefit [1][4][5]. Financial Performance - Net income for Q4 2025 was $716,000, down from $1,528,000 in Q4 2024, resulting in earnings per share of $0.16 compared to $0.33 in the previous year [2][18]. - For the full year 2025, net income decreased to $3,911,000 from $21,703,000 in 2024, with earnings per share dropping to $0.85 from $4.66 [4][18]. Revenue and Expenses - Total interest income for Q4 2025 decreased by $1,071,000 to $6,569,000, while total interest expense decreased by $134,000 to $1,930,000 [3][18]. - For the year ended 2025, total interest income fell by $4,592,000 to $28,502,000, and total interest expense decreased by $1,496,000 to $8,147,000 [5][18]. Asset Quality and Equity - Total shareholders' equity increased by $10,666,000 to $100,667,000 as of December 31, 2025, partly due to earnings and a reduction in unrealized losses on securities [9][22]. - The company reported unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities of $28,929,000 as of December 31, 2025, down from $38,006,000 in 2024, attributed to higher interest rates affecting market values [9][22]. Liquidity and Deposits - Total deposits decreased by $116,301,000 to $604,429,000 as of December 31, 2025, primarily due to the loss of large public fund deposits [12][22]. - The bank's leverage ratio remained strong at 15.76% as of December 31, 2025, unaffected by unrealized losses due to a prior opt-out election [10][22]. Operational Insights - The company maintains a well-capitalized balance sheet with strong capital and liquidity, providing a full range of banking services in local markets [11]. - The bank's leadership is focused on maintaining high-quality assets and monitoring economic conditions closely [8].

Core Insights - Beacon Financial Corporation reported a net income of $53.4 million for Q4 2025, translating to an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.64 [2][3] - For the full year 2025, the company achieved a net income of $90.3 million, or $1.03 per share, with operating earnings after tax (non-GAAP) amounting to $142.3 million, or $1.63 per basic share [3][4] Financial Performance - The net interest income for Q4 2025 increased by $70.9 million to $199.7 million compared to $128.9 million in Q3 2025, with a net interest margin of 3.82% [12][13] - Total non-interest income rose by $13.6 million to $25.9 million in Q4 2025, reflecting three months of combined results from the merger [14] - The provision for credit losses was recorded at $8.1 million for Q4 2025, a decrease from $20.3 million in Q3 2025, indicating improved credit performance [15][16] Balance Sheet Highlights - Total assets increased by $352.9 million to $23.2 billion as of December 31, 2025, primarily due to assets acquired in the merger [6] - Total loans and leases decreased by $275.8 million from Q3 2025 to $18.0 billion, while increasing by $8.3 billion from December 31, 2024, due to the merger [7] - Total deposits rose by $610.6 million to $19.5 billion from Q3 2025, with a significant increase attributed to payroll deposits [9] Asset Quality - The ratio of nonperforming loans and leases to total loans and leases was 0.63% as of December 31, 2025, up from 0.54% in Q3 2025 [18] - Total nonperforming assets increased to $116.7 million, representing 0.50% of total assets [18][37] Capital Ratios - The ratio of stockholders' equity to total assets was 10.75% as of December 31, 2025, slightly down from 10.76% in Q3 2025 [11][37] - Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) increased to $23.32, up from $22.75 in Q3 2025 [11] Dividend Declaration - The Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.3225 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, to be paid on February 27, 2026 [25]

Core Viewpoint - Eagle Bancorp, Inc. will host a teleconference on January 22, 2026, to discuss its fourth quarter and year-end 2025 financial results, which will be released on January 21, 2026 [1]. Group 1: Teleconference Details - The teleconference will feature CEO Susan Riel and CFO Eric Newell discussing the financial results [1]. - Interested participants must register to access the call, receiving a dial-in number and unique PIN [2]. - The call will also be available via live webcast on the company's website, with a replay accessible until February 5, 2026 [2]. Group 2: Company Overview - Eagle Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for EagleBank, which began operations in 1998 and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland [4]. - EagleBank operates 12 offices in Suburban Maryland, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia, focusing on building relationships with businesses, professionals, and individuals [4].

Group 1 - Glacier Bancorp (NYSE:GBCI) is recognized as one of the best financial pure plays under $100 according to hedge funds [1] - Analyst Matthew Clark upgraded Glacier Bancorp's rating to Buy from Neutral and raised the price target from $50 to $58, indicating a potential upside of 30.5% [1][2] - The stock is currently trading at a significant discount compared to its historical valuation multiples, which is a key factor for the upgrade [2] - The bank has a stable credit profile and asset repricing, which are expected to enhance net interest margins and drive double-digit earnings growth [2] Group 2 - As of December 30, all four analysts covering Glacier Bancorp have assigned Buy ratings, leading to a consensus 1-year average price target of $56.50, representing an upside potential of over 27% [3] - Glacier Bancorp operates around 18 distinct banking brands with total assets of $29 billion, focusing on community-oriented commercial banking services [4]

Core Viewpoint - 140 Summer Partners has established a new position in Webster Financial Corporation, acquiring 1.27 million shares valued at approximately $75.46 million, representing 6.55% of the fund's reportable U.S. equity assets [2][3]. Company Overview - Webster Financial Corporation has a market capitalization of $10.66 billion, with a trailing twelve months (TTM) revenue of $2.81 billion and a net income of $924.75 million [5]. - The company provides a range of services including commercial banking, health savings accounts, and retail banking, generating revenue through net interest income and fee-based services [8][9]. Recent Performance - Webster Financial reported third-quarter earnings of $1.54 per share on revenue of $732.6 million, with a return on tangible common equity near 18% and an efficiency ratio of about 46% [11]. - The bank's loans increased by 2.6% sequentially, deposits rose nearly 3%, and capital ratios remained comfortably above regulatory minimums, while also repurchasing 2.2 million shares [11]. Market Position - As of the latest filing, Webster Financial's shares were priced at $64.15, reflecting a nearly 17% increase over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500, which rose about 15.5% during the same period [4]. - The new holding in Webster Financial ranks as the fifth-largest position within 140 Summer Partners' portfolio, which now includes a total of 21 positions [3][6].

Core Insights - U.S. markets are experiencing an upswing, leading investors to seek opportunities in bank stocks, which have shown positive performance after a dip in April due to tariff plans [1] - The optimism in the banking sector is attributed to trade clarity and interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, although inflationary pressures and geopolitical uncertainties remain concerns [1] Bank Stocks with Dividend Increases - Investors are advised to focus on fundamentally solid banks that provide robust dividend yields, which can offer stability and income during volatile times [2] - Four bank stocks highlighted for their recent dividend hikes are ServisFirst Bancshares, Fulton Financial Corporation, First Financial Corporation, and Norwood Financial Corp, all of which have seen their stock prices rally over 3% in the past month [3][9] ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (SFBS) - Headquartered in Birmingham, AL, SFBS has $17.6 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025 [7] - Announced a quarterly cash dividend of 38 cents per share, a 13.4% increase from the previous payout, with a dividend yield of 1.84% and a payout ratio of 28% [8] - Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales indicates a 16.2% year-over-year rise, with earnings expected to grow by 21.8% [12] Fulton Financial Corporation (FULT) - Based in Lancaster, PA, FULT has $32 billion in assets and operates 200 financial centers [13] - Announced a quarterly cash dividend of 19 cents per share, a 5.6% increase, with a dividend yield of 3.57% and a payout ratio of 34% [14] - Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales suggests an 8.5% increase, while earnings are expected to grow by 11.9% [17] First Financial Corporation (THFF) - Operates in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia with $5.7 billion in assets [18] - Announced a quarterly cash dividend of 56 cents per share, a 9.8% increase, with a dividend yield of 3.19% and a payout ratio of 33% [19] - Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales indicates an 18.5% rise, with earnings expected to surge by 64.8% [22] Norwood Financial Corp. (NWFL) - Offers a variety of financial services with $2.4 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025 [23] - Announced a quarterly cash dividend of 32 cents per share, a 3.1% increase, with a dividend yield of 4.18% and a payout ratio of 47% [24] - Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales indicates a 23.1% rise, while earnings are expected to jump by 60.1% [27] Conclusion on Dividend Stocks - Investing in dividend stocks is seen as a prudent strategy for generating steady income and providing a buffer against market risks, although careful selection is necessary to ensure consistent returns [26]

Core Viewpoint - Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) is poised to report strong fourth-quarter results, with expectations of a significant year-over-year increase in adjusted earnings per share (EPS) and a positive outlook from analysts [2][3][6]. Financial Performance - For the fourth quarter, HBAN is expected to report an adjusted profit of $0.40 per share, reflecting a 17.7% increase from $0.34 per share in the same quarter last year [2]. - For the full fiscal year 2025, HBAN's adjusted EPS is projected to be $1.50, which is a 21% increase from $1.24 in 2024, with further growth expected in fiscal 2026 to $1.70 per share, a 13.3% year-over-year increase [3]. - The company's topline revenue for the recent quarter was $2 billion, marking a 13.8% year-over-year increase, while net income surged 25.2% year-over-year to $602 million, exceeding analysts' expectations [6]. Stock Performance - Over the past three months, HBAN's stock prices have increased by 10.6%, although this is lower than the S&P 500 Index's 15.4% rise and the Financial Services Select Sector SPDR Fund's 14.5% returns during the same period [4]. - Following the release of its Q3 results, HBAN's stock saw a slight uptick, supported by a 7.6% year-over-year growth in interest on loans and leases to $2.1 billion, and a 1.7% increase in overall interest income to $2.6 billion [5]. Analyst Sentiment - Analysts maintain a positive outlook on HBAN, with a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating among 23 analysts, which includes 16 "Strong Buys," one "Moderate Buy," five "Holds," and one "Strong Sell" [6]. - The mean price target for HBAN is $19.89, indicating a potential upside of 13.1% from current price levels [6].