As the Q2 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the regional banks industry, including Amalgamated Financial (NASDAQ:AMAL) and its peers.
Regional banks, financial institutions operating within specific geographic areas, serve as intermediaries between local depositors and borrowers. They benefit from rising interest rates that improve net interest margins (the difference between loan yields and deposit costs), digital transformation reducing operational expenses, and local economic growth driving loan demand. However, these banks face headwinds from fintech competition, deposit outflows to higher-yielding alternatives, credit deterioration (increasing loan defaults) during economic slowdowns, and regulatory compliance costs. Recent concerns about regional bank stability following high-profile failures and significant commercial real estate exposure present additional challenges.
The 99 regional banks stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q2. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.
In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 4.1% on average since the latest earnings results.
Amalgamated Financial (NASDAQ:AMAL)
Founded in 1923 by labor unions seeking a financial institution aligned with worker values, Amalgamated Financial (NASDAQGM:AMAL) operates a values-oriented bank that provides commercial banking, trust services, and investment management to socially responsible organizations and individuals.
Amalgamated Financial reported revenues of $82.18 million, up 4.8% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and net interest income in line with analysts’ estimates.
Priscilla Sims Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are achieving our results because our banking model is flexible. We have many levers we can pull to drive performance and that creates reliability and predictability for our shareholders, customers, and employees.”
Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 13.2% since reporting and currently trades at $28.87.
Is now the time to buy Amalgamated Financial? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q2: UMB Financial (NASDAQ:UMBF)
With roots dating back to 1913 and a name derived from "United Missouri Bank," UMB Financial (NASDAQ:UMBF) is a financial holding company that provides banking, asset management, and fund services to commercial, institutional, and individual customers.
UMB Financial reported revenues of $689.2 million, up 76.7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 8.6%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates.
The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 13.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $124.47.
Is now the time to buy UMB Financial? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q2: Coastal Financial (NASDAQ:CCB)
Pioneering the intersection of traditional banking and financial technology in the Pacific Northwest, Coastal Financial (NASDAQ:CCB) operates as a bank holding company that provides traditional banking services and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) solutions to consumers and businesses.
Coastal Financial reported revenues of $119.4 million, down 11.7% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 21.5%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Interestingly, the stock is up 9.4% since the results and currently trades at $111.
Read our full analysis of Coastal Financial’s results here.
Merchants Bancorp (NASDAQ:MBIN)
With a strategic focus on low-risk, government-backed lending programs, Merchants Bancorp (NASDAQCM:MBIN) is an Indiana-based bank holding company specializing in multi-family mortgage banking, mortgage warehousing, and traditional banking services.
Merchants Bancorp reported revenues of $179.2 million, up 12.4% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 12.5%. However, it was a slower quarter as it produced a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a slight miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.
Merchants Bancorp scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is down 6.5% since reporting and currently trades at $32.82.
Read our full, actionable report on Merchants Bancorp here, it’s free.
Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB)
Named after the merger of Third National Bank and Fifth National Bank in 1908, Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) is a financial services company that provides banking, lending, wealth management, and investment services to individuals and businesses across the Midwest and Southeast.
Fifth Third Bancorp reported revenues of $2.25 billion, up 7.8% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1%. More broadly, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates but a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The stock is up 6.1% since reporting and currently trades at $45.63.
Read our full, actionable report on Fifth Third Bancorp here, it’s free.
Market Update
In response to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been gradually trending down from its post-pandemic peak, trending closer to the Fed’s 2% target. Despite higher borrowing costs, the economy has avoided flashing recessionary signals. This is the much-desired soft landing that many investors hoped for. The recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November 2024) have bolstered the stock market, making 2024 a strong year for equities. Donald Trump’s presidential win in November sparked additional market gains, sending indices to record highs in the days following his victory. However, debates continue over possible tariffs and corporate tax adjustments, raising questions about economic stability in 2025.
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