FBNC

First Bancorp (FBNC) reported $127.3 million in revenue for the quarter ended June 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 14.7%. EPS of $1.22 for the same period compares to $0.93 a year ago. The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.46% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $125.47 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.15, the EPS surprise was +6.09%. While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health. As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately. Here is how First Bancorp performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Net Interest Margin: 3.7% compared to the 3.7% average estimate based on three analysts. Net Charge-offs: 0% versus 0.1% estimated by two analysts on average. Average Interest-Earning Assets: $12.01 billion versus $12 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Total Non Interest Income: $16.03 million compared to the $15.59 million average estimate based on three analysts. Bank-Owned Life Insurance Income: $1.36 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $1.18 million. Fees from presold mortgage loans: $0.66 million compared to the $0.9 million average estimate based on two analysts. Net Interest Income tax-equivalent: $111.73 million versus $110.86 million estimated by two analysts on average. SBA loan sale gains: $0.53 million versus $1.16 million estimated by two analysts on average. Service charges on deposit accounts: $4.21 million versus $4.03 million estimated by two analysts on average. Other service charges, commissions and fees: $5.99 million compared to the $6.14 million average estimate based on two analysts. Net Interest Income: $111.27 million versus $109.06 million estimated by two analysts on average. Commissions from sales of insurance and financial products: $1.71 million versus $1.72 million estimated by two analysts on average. View all Key Company Metrics for First Bancorp here>>> Shares of First Bancorp have returned +4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report First Bancorp (FBNC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Second Quarter 2026 Highlights D-EPS was $1.22 per share for the second quarter of 2026 compared to $1.13 for the linked quarter and $0.93 for the like quarter. The net interest margin was 3.71% for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, an expansion of 0.04% from the linked quarter and 0.39% from the like quarter. The efficiency ratio for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 was 49.12%, compared to 49.05% for the linked quarter and 53.00% for the like quarter. Total assets exceeded $13 billion at June 30, 2026, the highest level in First Bancorp's history. Total loans were $9.0 billion at June 30, 2026, representing an increase of $194.9 million, or 8.9% annualized. Total loan yield was 5.67%, up 10 basis points from the linked quarter and 14 basis points from the like quarter. The yield on securities decreased 3 basis points to 2.71% from 2.74% for the linked quarter. Total cost of funds increased 3 basis points to 1.34% for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 from 1.31% for the linked quarter and decreased 14 basis points from the like quarter. Average core deposits were $11.0 billion, an increase of $181.0 million for the linked quarter and $268.1 million from the like quarter. Total cost of deposits was 1.31%, an increase of 3 basis points for the linked quarter and a decrease of 12 basis points from the like quarter. Noninterest expenses of $62.8 million represented a $2.5 million increase from the linked quarter and a $3.8 million increase from the like quarter. The linked quarter increase was driven by a $2.0 million increase in Total personnel expense. Noninterest-bearing demand deposits were $3.6 billion, representing 32% of total deposits at June 30, 2026. During the second quarter of 2026, period end customer deposits grew by 2.6% annualized. The loan-to-deposit ratio was 81.1% as of June 30, 2026. On July 14, 2026, First Bancorp announced its pending acquisition of First Carolina Bancshares Corporation, scheduled to close in late 2026 or early 2027. SOUTHERN PINES, N.C., July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- First Bancorp (the "Company") (NASDAQ - FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, reported unaudited second quarter earnings today. The Company reported net income of $50.5 million, or $1.22 diluted earnings per share ("D-EPS"), for the three months ended June 30, 2026 compared to $46.7 million, or $1.13 D-EPS, for the three months ended March 31, 2026 ("linked quarter") and $38.6 million, or $0.93 D-EPS, for the second quarter of 2025 ("like quarter"). On July 14, 2026, the Company announced an agreement to acquire First Carolina Bancshares Corporation ("First Carolina"), and its subsidiary, Carolina Bank & Trust Company ("Carolina Bank") headquartered in Florence, South Carolina, in a 75% stock and 25% cash transaction. This transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and approval of First Carolina's shareholders, and is expected to close in the late fourth quarter of 2026 or early first quarter of 2027. Carolina Bank operates 14 branches throughout the Pee Dee region of South Carolina and had approximately $831 million in total assets, $596 million in loans, and $714 million in deposits at June 30, 2026. The Company continued to enhance net interest income and net interest margin ("NIM") during the second quarter of 2026. The Company recorded net interest income of $111.3 million for the current quarter, compared to $107.1 million for the linked quarter and $96.7 million for the like quarter. NIM for the second quarter of 2026 expanded to 3.71% from 3.67% for the linked quarter and 3.32% for the like quarter. Noninterest expenses were $62.8 million for the second quarter of 2026, up from $60.2 million for the linked quarter, and $58.9 million for the like quarter. The efficiency ratio was 49.12% for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, compared to 49.05% for the linked quarter and 53.00% for the like quarter. Richard H. Moore, Chairman and CEO of the Company, stated, "First Bancorp continued to build on its positive start to 2026 with strong second quarter financial results driven by continued margin expansion, prudent balance sheet execution, high quality loans and a controlled efficiency ratio. Earnings continue to benefit from the repositioning of lower-yielding assets into higher-yielding opportunities, while our liquidity position, capital levels, and credit quality remain strong. We are pleased with our performance through the first half of the year and remain confident in our ability to sustain positive momentum and deliver continued success in 2026. We are excited about the acquisition of First Carolina which brings talented bankers and will help us accelerate our South Carolina growth expansion." Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin Net interest income for the second quarter of 2026 was $111.3 million, an increase of 3.9% from the linked quarter of $107.1 million and an increase of 15.1% from the like quarter of $96.7 million. The increase in net interest income from the linked and like quarters resulted from additional loan volume and increasing loan yield through originations as well as one additional earning day compared to the linked quarter. The increase from the like quarter also resulted from our focused efforts to manage deposit costs after the rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in 2025. The Company's NIM for the second quarter of 2026 was 3.71%, an increase of 4 basis points from the linked quarter and 39 basis points from the like quarter. The linked quarter expansion of NIM was driven a $114.9 million increase in average loans along with a 10 basis points expansion in loan yield. Additionally, short-term investments contributed an additional $1.5 million from increased balances partially reduced by lower yields. Offsetting these increases, the cost of interest bearing deposits increased 5 basis points on growth of $98.8 million in average balances. Driving these increases, the average balance of money market deposits increased $99.6 million while the cost of those deposits increased 8 basis points. The like quarter expansion of NIM was driven by growth of $708.9 million in average loans, coupled with a 14 basis point yield increase as well as the cost of interest bearing deposits decreasing 20 basis points. The Company shifted its mix of interest-earning assets to higher yielding assets from the like quarter, with loans increasing from 70.1% of average interest-earning assets to 74.1% in the current quarter, while securities contracted from 25.6% of average interest-earning assets to 22.3% and short-term investments contracted from 4.3% of average interest-bearing assets to 3.7%. See Appendix H regarding loan purchase discount accretion and its impact on the Company's NIM. Provision for Credit Losses and Credit Quality For the three months ended June 30, 2026, March 31, 2026 and June 30, 2025, the Company recorded $1.2 million, $3.1 million and $2.2 million in provision for credit losses, respectively. The provision for the second quarter of 2026 was driven by net charge-offs of $1.0 million. The Allowance for Credit Losses increased $0.2 million to $124.9 million, or 1.39% of loans. Additionally, the $22 thousand provision for unfunded commitments during the quarter was the result of additional unfunded lending commitments. The Company did not adjust its incremental reserve for potential exposure from Hurricane Helene, maintaining a $1.9 million reserve as of June 30, 2026. The remaining incremental reserve contributed two basis points to the Allowance for Credit Losses at period end. Asset quality remained strong with annualized net loan charge-offs of 0.04% for the second quarter of 2026. Total nonperforming assets ("NPAs") totaled $44.9 million at June 30, 2026, or 0.34% of total assets, up slightly from 0.32% at March 31, 2026 and 0.28% at June 30, 2025. The following table presents the summary of NPAs and asset quality ratios for each period. Noninterest Income Total noninterest income for the second quarter of 2026 was $16.0 million, a $0.9 million increase from the linked quarter, primarily related to a $0.7 million increase in Other income, net. The current quarter reflected a 12.2% increase from $14.3 million for the like quarter, primarily related to a $1.0 million increase in Other income net. Noninterest Expenses Noninterest expenses amounted to $62.8 million for the second quarter of 2026 compared to $60.2 million for the linked quarter and $58.9 million for the like quarter. The $2.5 million, or 4.2%, increase in noninterest expense from the linked quarter was driven by a $2.0 million increase in Total personnel expenses. The $3.8 million increase from the like quarter was driven by a $3.3 million increase in Total personnel expenses. While noninterest expenses have been increasing, they are the result of the Company's continued growth as the efficiency ratio was 49.12% for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, compared to 49.05% for the linked quarter and 53.00% for the like quarter. Income Taxes Income tax expense totaled $12.9 million for the second quarter of 2026 compared to $12.3 million for the linked quarter and $11.3 million for the like quarter, reflecting effective tax rates of 20.3%, 20.9% and 22.6% for the respective periods. Balance Sheet Total assets at June 30, 2026 were $13.0 billion, an increase of $93.9 million, or 2.9% annualized, from the linked quarter and $433.4 million, or 3.4%, from a year earlier. Key period end balance sheet components are presented below. Driven by principal paydowns and maturities, total investment securities decreased to $2.4 billion at June 30, 2026, a $42.2 million decrease from the linked quarter. Total unrealized losses on available for sale investment securities were $204.5 million at June 30, 2026, as compared to $197.7 million at March 31, 2026 and $298.9 million at June 30, 2025. Total loans were $9.0 billion at June 30, 2026, an increase of $194.9 million, or 8.9% annualized, from March 31, 2026 and an increase of $763.1 million, or 9.3%, from June 30, 2025. Adjusting for the paydown of one larger seasonal loan, loan growth for the current quarter was 10.9% annualized. Please see the below table for total loan portfolio mix. As of June 30, 2026, there were no notable concentrations in geographies within North Carolina or South Carolina or within industries, including in office or hospitality categories, which are included in the "commercial real estate - non-owner occupied" category in the table below. The Company's exposure to non-owner occupied office loans represented approximately 6.2% of the total portfolio at June 30, 2026, with the largest loan being $33.0 million and with an average loan outstanding balance of $1.4 million. Non-owner occupied office loans are generally in non-metro markets and the ten largest loans in this category represent less than 2% of the total loan portfolio. The following table presents the period end balance and portfolio percentage by loan category. Total deposits were $11.1 billion at June 30, 2026, an increase of $72.4 million, or 2.6% annualized, from March 31, 2026 and $254.5 million, or 2.3%, from June 30, 2025. The Company has a diversified and granular deposit base which has remained a stable funding source with noninterest-bearing deposits comprising 32% of total deposits at June 30, 2026. As presented in the table below, our deposit mix has remained relatively consistent. As of June 30, 2026 and March 31, 2026, estimated insured deposits totaled $6.5 billion, or 58.9%, and $6.5 billion, or 59.0%, of total deposits, respectively. In addition, at June 30, 2026 and March 31, 2026, there were collateralized deposits of $748.7 million and $723.8 million, respectively, such that approximately 65.7% and 65.6%, respectively, of our total deposits were insured or collateralized at those dates. Capital The Company maintains capital in excess of well-capitalized regulatory requirements, with an estimated total risk-based capital ratio at June 30, 2026 of 16.06%, down from the linked quarter ratio of 16.12% and from the like quarter ratio of 16.90%. The Company has elected to exclude accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") related primarily to available for sale securities from common equity tier 1 capital. AOCI is included in the Company's tangible common equity ("TCE") to tangible assets ratio (a non-GAAP financial measure) which was 9.83% at June 30, 2026, an increase of 20 basis points from the linked quarter and 100 basis points from June 30, 2025. The increase in TCE from the like quarter was driven by improvements in the level of unrealized losses on the available for sale securities portfolio, arising from market value improvements and the 2025 securities loss-earnback transactions. Please refer to Appendix A for a reconciliation of common equity to TCE (a non-GAAP measure) and Appendix C for a calculation of the TCE ratio (a non-GAAP measure). Liquidity Liquidity is evaluated as both on-balance sheet (primarily cash and cash-equivalents, unpledged securities and other marketable assets) and off-balance sheet (readily available lines of credit and other funding sources). The Company continues to manage liquidity sources, including unused lines of credit, at levels believed to be adequate to meet its operating needs for the foreseeable future. The Company's on-balance sheet liquidity ratio (net liquid assets as a percent of net liabilities) at June 30, 2026 was 15.7%. In addition, the Company had approximately $2.4 billion in available lines of credit at that date resulting in a total liquidity ratio of 32.8%. About First Bancorp First Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of $13.0 billion. Its principal activity is the ownership and operation of First Bank, a state-chartered community bank that operates 113 branches in North Carolina and South Carolina. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class financial solutions, helpful local expertise, and technology to manage a home or business. First Bank also provides SBA loans to customers through its nationwide network of lenders. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. Please visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com for more information. First Bancorp's common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Caution about Forward-Looking Statements: This News Release release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that include projections, predictions, expectations or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise are not statements of historical fact. Such statements are often characterized by the use of qualifying words (and their derivatives) such as "expect," "believe," "estimate," "plan," "project," "anticipate," or other words or phrases concerning opinions or judgments of the Company and its management about future events. Factors that could influence the accuracy of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the financial success or changing strategies of the Company's customers, the risks and uncertainties relating to the level of success in integrating acquisitions, (including the ability to successfully integrate First Carolina into First Bank; to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition; deposit attrition, customer loss or other revenue loss following completed acquisitions may be greater than anticipated; and the integration of operations and personnel may require more time and expense); actions of government regulators; the level of market interest rates; and general economic conditions. For additional information about the factors that could affect the matters discussed in this paragraph, see the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K available at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements. The Company is also not responsible for changes made to this press release by wire services, internet services or other media. Non-GAAP Measures In this Earnings Release, we present certain measures of our performance that are calculated by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Company management uses these non-GAAP measures for purposes of evaluating our performance. Non-GAAP measures exclude or include amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure determined in accordance with GAAP. Company management believes an appropriate analysis of the Company's financial performance requires an understanding of the factors underlying such performance. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed as substitutes for the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Please see the Appendices attached to this Earnings Release for reconciliations of return on tangible common equity, tangible common equity, tangible book value per share, the tangible common equity ratio, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share. Supplemental information APPENDIX H: Loan purchase discount accretion and its impact on the Company's NIM Included in interest income for the second quarter of 2026 was loan purchase accounting discount accretion of $1.1 million compared to $1.1 million for the linked quarter and $1.5 million for the like quarter, with the activity primarily related to the continued repayments/reduction of the loan portfolio acquired from GrandSouth Bancorporation in January of 2023. Loan discount accretion had positive impacts of three basis points, three basis points and four basis points, respectively, on the Company's NIM and NIM-T/E in the second quarter of 2026, the linked quarter and the like quarter. The following table presents the impact to net interest income of the purchase accounting adjustments for each period. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-bancorp-reports-second-quarter-results-302831269.html

First Bancorp (FBNC) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.22 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.15 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.93 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +6.09%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this bank holding company for First Bank would post earnings of $1.09 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.13, delivering a surprise of +3.67%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times. First Bancorp, which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Southeast industry, posted revenues of $127.3 million for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.46%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $111.02 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. First Bancorp shares have added about 27% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 9.7%. While First Bancorp has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for First Bancorp was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.19 on $128.5 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $4.67 on $507.27 million in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - Southeast is currently in the top 32% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. One other stock from the same industry, First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA), is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on July 23. This bank is expected to post quarterly earnings of $40.45 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -9.7%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.7% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. First Citizens BancShares' revenues are expected to be $2.16 billion, down 2% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report First Bancorp (FBNC) : Free Stock Analysis Report First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (FCNCA) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

First Bancorp’s 23.7% return over the past six months has outpaced the S&P 500 by 16.1%, and its stock price has climbed to $64.78 per share. This was partly thanks to its solid quarterly results, and the run-up might have investors contemplating their next move. Is now the time to buy First Bancorp, or should you be careful about including it in your portfolio? Get the full breakdown from our expert analysts, it’s free. We’re glad investors have benefited from the price increase, but we’re swiping left on First Bancorp for now. Here are three reasons why FBNC doesn’t excite us, plus one stock we’d rather own. In general, banks make money from two primary sources. The first is net interest income, which is interest earned on loans, mortgages, and investments in securities minus interest paid out on deposits. The second source is non-interest income, which can come from bank account, credit card, wealth management, investment banking, and trading fees. Unfortunately, First Bancorp’s 8.2% annualized revenue growth over the last five years was mediocre. This fell short of our benchmark for the banking sector. Forecasted net interest income by Wall Street analysts signals a company’s potential. Predictions may not always be accurate, but accelerating growth typically boosts valuation multiples and stock prices while slowing growth does the opposite. Over the next 12 months, sell-side analysts expect First Bancorp’s net interest income to rise by 4.4%, a deceleration versus its 9.9% annualized growth for the past two years. This projection is below its 9.9% annualized growth rate for the past two years. We track the long-term change in earnings per share (EPS) because it highlights whether a company’s growth is profitable. First Bancorp’s unimpressive 6.5% annual EPS growth over the last five years aligns with its revenue performance. This tells us it maintained its per-share profitability as it expanded. First Bancorp isn’t a terrible business, but it doesn’t pass our bar. With its shares beating the market recently, the stock trades at 1.6× forward P/B (or $64.78 per share). Investors with a higher risk tolerance might like the company, but we don’t really see a big opportunity at the moment. We’re pretty confident there are superior stocks to buy right now. We’d recommend looking at a dominant aerospace business that has perfected its M&A strategy. WHILE YOU’RE HERE: Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. The best stocks don’t just beat the market once. They do it again. And again. Robust revenue growth, rising free cash flow, returns on capital that leave their competition in the dust. The market has already rewarded these businesses. But our AI platform says the party isn’t over. Find out which 9 stocks made the cut this week — FREE. Get Our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks for Free HERE. Stocks that have made our list include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.

As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q3. Today, we are looking at regional banks stocks, starting with First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FBNC). 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 97 regional banks stocks we track reported a mixed Q3. 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 3.6% on average since the latest earnings results. Founded during the Great Depression in 1934 and originally known as Montgomery Bancorp, First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FBNC) is a community-oriented commercial bank providing a wide range of financial services to businesses and individuals in North and South Carolina. First Bancorp reported revenues of $117.9 million, up 21.1% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 3.6%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates. Interestingly, the stock is up 25.3% since reporting and currently trades at $60.90. Is now the time to buy First Bancorp? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free. 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 $744.8 million, up 29.3% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5.4%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and net interest income estimates. UMB Financial delivered the biggest analyst estimate beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 7.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $135.32. Is now the time to buy UMB Financial? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free. Born from the ashes of a failed Florida thrift during the 2009 financial crisis, BankUnited (NYSE:BKU) is a regional bank that provides commercial lending, deposit services, and treasury solutions to businesses and consumers primarily in Florida and the New York metropolitan area. BankUnited reported revenues of $273.8 million, up 6.1% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 5.1%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue and net interest income estimates. Interestingly, the stock is up 2.7% since the results and currently trades at $48.05. Read our full analysis of BankUnited’s results here. Founded in 1865 during the post-Civil War economic boom, Commerce Bancshares (NASDAQGS:CBSH) is a Midwest-focused bank holding company that provides retail, commercial, and wealth management services to individuals and businesses. Commerce Bancshares reported revenues of $478.1 million, up 11.1% year on year. This result met analysts’ expectations. More broadly, it was a mixed quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates. The stock is up 7.5% since reporting and currently trades at $55.26. Read our full, actionable report on Commerce Bancshares here, it’s free. Transformed from a residential communities business to a financial services powerhouse in 2007, Hilltop Holdings (NYSE:HTH) is a Texas-based financial holding company that provides banking, broker-dealer, and mortgage origination services. Hilltop Holdings reported revenues of $301.3 million, up 5.4% year on year. This number was in line with analysts’ expectations. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS and net interest income estimates. The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $37.97. Read our full, actionable report on Hilltop Holdings here, it’s free. Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand-wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure? These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability. 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In early June 2026, First Bancorp drew investor attention as regional banks benefited from a rally in the broader financial sector, supported by a stable interest rate backdrop that has aided expanding net interest margins. Sentiment around the stock was further influenced by an upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2, reflecting recent upward revisions to earnings estimates alongside concerns about elevated valuation and insider selling activity. With recent earnings estimate upgrades in focus, we’ll now examine how this news flow shapes First Bancorp’s broader investment narrative. Invest in the nuclear renaissance through our list of 88 elite nuclear energy infrastructure plays powering the global AI revolution. For someone considering First Bancorp, the big picture rests on believing that its improving earnings power and disciplined balance sheet can offset the usual regional bank pressures around funding costs and credit quality. The fresh Zacks Rank upgrade and sector-wide rally reinforce earnings momentum as a short-term catalyst, but they also sharpen the spotlight on valuation, which was already rich versus peers and now looks even more stretched after the recent price move. At the same time, insider selling and a buyback program that has been slow to deploy add a more cautious tone around capital allocation. The latest quarter’s stronger net interest income and rising dividend support the bull case, yet the new leadership, higher multiples and insider activity collectively push valuation and execution risk further to the foreground. However, investors should be aware of how richer valuation and insider selling could reshape the risk-reward. First Bancorp's shares have been on the rise but are still potentially undervalued by 39%. Find out what it's worth. Estimates from 2 Simply Wall St Community members span fair values from US$66.50 to just under US$97.90, underscoring how far opinions can stretch. Set that against recent earnings momentum and an elevated valuation, and you can quickly see why it pays to weigh several viewpoints before deciding how much optimism to price into First Bancorp’s future. Explore 2 other fair value estimates on First Bancorp - why the stock might be worth just $66.50! Disagree with this assessment? Extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd, so go with your instincts. A great starting point for your First Bancorp research is our analysis highlighting 4 key rewards and 1 important warning sign that could impact your investment decision. Our free First Bancorp research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual - the Snowflake - making it easy to evaluate First Bancorp's overall financial health at a glance. Markets shift fast. These stocks won't stay hidden for long. Get the list while it matters: We've uncovered the 9 dividend fortresses yielding 5%+ that don't just survive market storms, but thrive in them. AI is about to change healthcare. These 39 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10b in market cap - there's still time to get in early. The future of work is here. Discover the 33 top robotics and automation stocks leading the charge in AI-driven automation and industrial transformation. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include FBNC. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]

Wrapping up Q3 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the regional banks stocks, including First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FBNC) 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 97 regional banks stocks we track reported a mixed Q3. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates. In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results. Founded during the Great Depression in 1934 and originally known as Montgomery Bancorp, First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FBNC) is a community-oriented commercial bank providing a wide range of financial services to businesses and individuals in North and South Carolina. First Bancorp reported revenues of $117.9 million, up 21.1% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 3.6%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue and net interest income estimates. Interestingly, the stock is up 22% since reporting and currently trades at $59.28. Is now the time to buy First Bancorp? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free. 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 $744.8 million, up 29.3% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5.4%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and net interest income estimates. UMB Financial delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 3.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $130.16. Is now the time to buy UMB Financial? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free. Born from the ashes of a failed Florida thrift during the 2009 financial crisis, BankUnited (NYSE:BKU) is a regional bank that provides commercial lending, deposit services, and treasury solutions to businesses and consumers primarily in Florida and the New York metropolitan area. BankUnited reported revenues of $273.8 million, up 6.1% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 5.1%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue and net interest income estimates. As expected, the stock is down 1.1% since the results and currently trades at $46.27. Read our full analysis of BankUnited’s results here. Tracing its roots back to 1971 and operating in a region known as the "heart of Dixie," Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) is a financial holding company that provides banking services, wealth management, and specialty financial solutions across the South, Midwest, and Texas. Regions Financial reported revenues of $1.89 billion, up 3.6% year on year. This print missed analysts’ expectations by 1.8%. It was a softer quarter as it also produced a miss of analysts’ revenue and analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates. The stock is down 3.6% since reporting and currently trades at $26.92. Read our full, actionable report on Regions Financial here, it’s free. Founded in 1784 as one of the oldest banks in the Western Hemisphere, Butterfield Bank (NYSE:NTB) provides banking, wealth management, and trust services to individuals and businesses in select offshore financial centers including Bermuda, Cayman Islands, and the Channel Islands. Butterfield Bank reported revenues of $155.9 million, up 5.5% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 3.9%. It was a strong quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates. The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $56.44. Read our full, actionable report on Butterfield Bank here, it’s free. Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure? These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability. Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. StockStory’s analyst team — all seasoned professional investors — uses quantitative analysis and automation to deliver market-beating insights faster and with higher quality.

First Bancorp reported first-quarter 2026 results, with net interest income of US$107.12 million, net income of US$46.66 million, and net charge-offs of US$1.4 million. Earnings per share of US$1.13 from continuing operations exceeded the prior year’s US$0.88, marking the fourth consecutive quarter beating consensus estimates. We will now examine how First Bancorp’s continued earnings outperformance versus analyst expectations shapes the company’s broader investment narrative. Invest in the nuclear renaissance through our list of 91 elite nuclear energy infrastructure plays powering the global AI revolution. To own First Bancorp, you need to be comfortable backing a regional bank that is pairing solid profitability with active capital returns while trading at a discount to several fair value estimates. The latest quarter reinforces that story: EPS of US$1.13 again topped expectations, and net interest income grew year on year, while net charge-offs of US$1.4 million look manageable and do not materially alter the near term catalysts around earnings momentum, dividend growth and execution of the new US$40 million buyback. Instead, the key questions remain whether the relatively high valuation multiples versus peers can be supported and how a relatively new management team and recent board turnover balance growth with credit discipline. The Q1 beat fits neatly into that debate rather than changing it. However, the premium valuation and fresh management bench introduce risks investors should understand. Despite retreating, First Bancorp's shares might still be trading 41% above their fair value. Discover the potential downside here. With only two fair value estimates from the Simply Wall St Community, views span roughly US$66 to just under US$100 per share, while our earlier discussion of earnings outperformance and management turnover gives you further angles to weigh the bank’s future resilience. Explore 2 other fair value estimates on First Bancorp - why the stock might be worth as much as 70% more than the current price! Don't just follow the ticker - dig into the data and build a conviction that's truly your own. A great starting point for your First Bancorp research is our analysis highlighting 4 key rewards and 1 important warning sign that could impact your investment decision. Our free First Bancorp research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual - the Snowflake - making it easy to evaluate First Bancorp's overall financial health at a glance. Every day counts. These free picks are already gaining attention. See them before the crowd does: We've uncovered the 13 dividend fortresses yielding 5%+ that don't just survive market storms, but thrive in them. Capitalize on the AI infrastructure supercycle with our selection of the 38 best 'picks and shovels' of the AI gold rush converting record-breaking demand into massive cash flow. Outshine the giants: these 17 early-stage AI stocks could fund your retirement. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include FBNC. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]

First Bancorp (FBNC) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.13 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.09 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.84 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +3.67%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this bank holding company for First Bank would post earnings of $1.03 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.19, delivering a surprise of +15.53%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times. First Bancorp, which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Southeast industry, posted revenues of $122.29 million for the quarter ended March 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.49%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $105.79 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. First Bancorp shares have added about 16.5% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 3.2%. While First Bancorp has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for First Bancorp was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.14 on $126.5 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $4.61 on $510.8 million in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - Southeast is currently in the top 21% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Flagstar Bank (FLG), another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended March 2026. The results are expected to be released on April 24. This bank holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.03 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +113%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 12% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. Flagstar Bank's revenues are expected to be $557.67 million, up 13.8% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report First Bancorp (FBNC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Flagstar Bank, National Association (FLG) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research