HBT

HBT Financial, Inc. recently reported past second-quarter 2026 results showing higher net interest income of US$69.06 million and net income of US$27.84 million, alongside a quarterly dividend increase to US$0.25 per share payable on August 18, 2026. The combination of stronger quarterly profitability, a higher cash dividend, and ongoing share repurchases underlines management’s willingness to return more capital to shareholders. Next, we will examine how the stronger second-quarter earnings growth and dividend increase shape HBT Financial’s broader investment narrative. Outshine the giants: these 16 early-stage AI stocks could fund your retirement. To own HBT Financial, you need to be comfortable with a regional bank that is leaning into capital returns while trading on a richer earnings multiple than many peers. The latest quarter’s higher net interest income and stronger net income, coupled with the dividend lift to US$0.25 and completion of the US$16.0 million buyback program, reinforce a shareholder-friendly story and help explain the strong recent share price performance. In the short term, the key catalyst is whether this earnings momentum can be repeated after a softer first quarter, especially given net interest income and credit costs can move quickly with funding and asset quality pressures. The main risk is that the higher payout and buybacks leave less room to absorb any future credit or margin headwinds. However, investors should recognise how quickly funding or credit trends could change this picture. HBT Financial's shares have been on the rise but are still potentially undervalued by 48%. Find out what it's worth. With only two fair value estimates from the Simply Wall St Community spanning about US$38 to US$69, you are seeing very different views on HBT’s worth. Set against a richer than industry earnings multiple and rising capital returns, that dispersion underlines why understanding both the earnings resilience and balance sheet risks is so important before forming your own stance. Explore 2 other fair value estimates on HBT Financial - why the stock might be worth as much as 93% 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 HBT Financial research is our analysis highlighting 3 key rewards and 1 important warning sign that could impact your investment decision. Our free HBT Financial research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual - the Snowflake - making it easy to evaluate HBT Financial's overall financial health at a glance. The market won't wait. These fast-moving stocks are hot now. Grab the list before they run: Invest in the nuclear renaissance through our list of 88 elite nuclear energy infrastructure plays powering the global AI revolution. Uncover the next big thing with 21 elite penny stocks that balance risk and reward. We've uncovered the 9 dividend fortresses yielding 5%+ that don't just survive market storms, but thrive in them. 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 HBT. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]

Make better investment decisions with Simply Wall St's easy, visual tools that give you a competitive edge. HBT Financial (HBT) just paired a higher quarterly dividend with stronger second quarter results, giving investors fresh income and earnings data to weigh after the company reported an earnings and revenue beat. See our latest analysis for HBT Financial. The stronger second quarter and the higher dividend come on top of a strong run in HBT Financial’s stock, with a 1 month share price return of 13.89% and year to date share price return of 40.65%. Over a longer horizon, total shareholder return of 46.44% over 1 year and 165.08% over 5 years suggests momentum has been building rather than fading. If the latest move in HBT Financial has you thinking about other opportunities in the market, it could be a good time to broaden your search and check out 18 top founder-led companies After a run like this and a richer dividend, it is fair to ask whether most of the easy money in HBT Financial is already behind you, or if the current valuation still leaves meaningful upside on the table. On current numbers, HBT Financial is trading on a P/E of 16.9x, which screens as expensive compared to several reference points even after the recent share price strength. The P/E ratio compares the company’s share price with its earnings per share, so a higher P/E usually reflects higher expectations for future profits. For a regional bank like HBT Financial, this means the market appears willing to pay a premium for its earnings compared with many peers. That premium shows up clearly. The current 16.9x P/E is above the estimated fair P/E of 16.2x that our modelling suggests the market could gravitate toward. It is also higher than the US Banks industry average of 11.9x and the peer group average of 13.7x, which points to a richer valuation than both the broader sector and closer comparables. Explore the SWS fair ratio for HBT Financial Result: Price-to-earnings of 16.9x (OVERVALUED) However, you also have to consider that HBT Financial operates in a regional banking niche where credit quality, funding costs, or shifts in local economies could quickly challenge today's premium valuation. Find out about the key risks to this HBT Financial narrative. The P/E premium suggests HBT Financial is expensive, yet our DCF model points in the opposite direction. At a share price of $36.16 and a future cash flow value estimate of $69.21, HBT Financial screens as trading about 47.8% below that figure. Which signal do you give more weight to? To see how this cash flow based view is built step by step, take a closer look at the SWS DCF model for HBT Financial, starting with Look into how the SWS DCF model arrives at its fair value. Simply Wall St performs a discounted cash flow (DCF) on every stock in the world every day (check out HBT Financial for example). We show the entire calculation in full. You can track the result in your watchlist or portfolio and be alerted when this changes, or use our stock screener to discover 49 high quality undervalued stocks. If you save a screener we even alert you when new companies match - so you never miss a potential opportunity. See enough to form a first impression on HBT Financial but still weighing the balance between concern and optimism. It is worth moving quickly to review the company’s key data points and decide where you stand, then round out that picture with 3 key rewards and 1 important warning sign If HBT Financial has sharpened your focus, use this momentum and widen your watchlist with a few focused stock ideas built from clear fundamentals. Spot potential value opportunities early by reviewing 49 high quality undervalued stocks that combine solid earnings power with room for a re rating. Strengthen your income stream by scanning 8 dividend fortresses that already offer higher yields with an emphasis on stability. Prioritise resilience by filtering for 83 resilient stocks with low risk scores that score well on balance sheet strength and risk factors. 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 HBT. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]

HBT Financial (HBT) reported $80.9 million in revenue for the quarter ended June 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 37.6%. EPS of $0.78 for the same period compares to $0.63 a year ago. The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $80.7 million, representing a surprise of +0.24%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +5.41%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.74. While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance. Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance. Here is how HBT Financial performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Net interest margin (FTE): 4.4% versus 4.2% estimated by two analysts on average. Average Balances - Interest-earning assets: $6.41 billion compared to the $6.5 billion average estimate based on two analysts. Net charge-offs to average loans: -0% versus 0.1% estimated by two analysts on average. Efficiency Ratio: 50.7% compared to the 51.8% average estimate based on two analysts. Card income: $3.43 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $2.91 million. Other noninterest income: $0.94 million versus $1.15 million estimated by two analysts on average. Net interest income (FTE): $69.91 million versus $68.58 million estimated by two analysts on average. Service charges on deposit accounts: $2.49 million versus $2.82 million estimated by two analysts on average. Wealth management fees: $3.92 million versus $4 million estimated by two analysts on average. Total noninterest income: $11.84 million compared to the $12.13 million average estimate based on two analysts. Mortgage servicing: $1.14 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $1 million. View all Key Company Metrics for HBT Financial here>>> Shares of HBT Financial have returned +4.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform 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 HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Quarterly Cash Dividend Increased to $0.25 per Share Second Quarter Highlights Net income of $27.8 million, or $0.76 per diluted share; return on average assets (“ROAA”) of 1.66%; return on average stockholders' equity (“ROAE”) of 14.73%; and return on average tangible common equity (“ROATCE”)(1) of 17.69% Adjusted net income(1) of $28.5 million, or $0.78 per diluted share; adjusted ROAA(1) of 1.70%; adjusted ROAE(1) of 15.09%; and adjusted ROATCE(1) of 18.13% Asset quality remained strong with nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.15% and net recoveries to average loans of 0.01%, on an annualized basis Net interest margin increased 12 basis points to 4.32% and net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis)(1) increased 13 basis points to 4.38% BLOOMINGTON, Ill., July 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HBT Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: HBT) (the “Company”, “HBT Financial” or “HBT”), the holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company, today reported net income of $27.8 million, or $0.76 diluted earnings per share, for the second quarter of 2026. This compares to net income of $11.2 million, or $0.34 diluted earnings per share, for the first quarter of 2026, and net income of $19.2 million, or $0.61 diluted earnings per share, for the second quarter of 2025. J. Lance Carter, President and Chief Executive Officer of HBT Financial, said, “Our first full quarter after the closing of our acquisition of CNB Bank Shares, Inc. (“CNB”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, CNB Bank & Trust, N.A. (“CNB Bank”) delivered strong results. For the second quarter, we reported adjusted net income(1) of $28.5 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, adjusted ROAA(1) of 1.70% and adjusted ROATCE(1) of 18.13%. Our net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis(1) increased 13 basis points to 4.38% compared to the first quarter of 2026. While some of that increase was driven by higher than expected loan accretion income, net interest margin also increased as maturing fixed rate loans repriced higher and securities cash flows were reinvested at higher rates, which offset an increase in cost of funds related to the deposit base acquired from CNB Bank. Noninterest income and noninterest expense were both in line with expectations as we are now realizing the full benefit of our acquisition and all material cost savings. Our tangible book value per share(1) increased 3.5% for the quarter to $17.60 while our balance sheet remains strong with good liquidity, solid capital ratios, and no material credit issues. That gives us confidence that we are prepared for a variety of economic environments. Our capital levels and operational structure support continued organic growth and attractive acquisition opportunities should the right opportunity arise.” (1)   See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures.Adjusted Net Income In addition to reporting GAAP results, the Company believes non-GAAP measures such as adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share, which adjust for acquisition expenses, branch closure expenses, net earnings (losses) on closed or sold operations, losses on extinguishment of debt, gains (losses) on closed branch premises, realized gains (losses) on sales of securities, mortgage servicing rights (“MSR”) fair value adjustments, and the tax effect of these pre-tax adjustments, provide investors with additional insight into its operational performance. The Company reported adjusted net income of $28.5 million, or $0.78 adjusted diluted earnings per share, for the second quarter of 2026. This compares to adjusted net income of $22.6 million, or $0.68 adjusted diluted earnings per share, for the first quarter of 2026, and adjusted net income of $19.8 million, or $0.63 adjusted diluted earnings per share, for the second quarter of 2025. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” tables below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures. Cash Dividend On July 24, 2026, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share on the Company’s common stock (the “Dividend”). The Dividend is payable on August 18, 2026 to shareholders of record as of August 11, 2026. This represents an increase of $0.02 from the previous quarterly cash dividend of $0.23 per share. Mr. Carter noted, “We are very pleased to announce that our strong financial performance and capital ratios have enabled us to further increase our quarterly cash dividend by $0.02 per share. This increased dividend reflects the increase in earnings from the successful acquisition and integration of CNB in the first quarter of 2026 while ensuring that capital levels remain strong and comfortably support our balance sheet and strategic objectives.” Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin Net interest income for the second quarter of 2026 was $69.1 million, an increase of 22.5% from $56.4 million for the first quarter of 2026. The increase was primarily attributable to higher average interest-earning asset balances following the CNB merger completed on March 1, 2026 and higher yields on interest-earning assets. Additionally, acquired loan discount accretion was $2.1 million during the second quarter of 2026 compared to $1.0 million during the first quarter of 2026. Partially offsetting these increases were higher funding costs and a $0.3 million decrease in loan fees. Relative to the second quarter of 2025, net interest income increased 39.1% from $49.7 million. The increase was primarily attributable to higher average interest-earning asset balances following the CNB merger and improved yields on debt securities. Additionally, a $1.1 million increase in acquired loan discount accretion contributed to the improvement and was partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in loan fees. Net interest margin for the second quarter of 2026 was 4.32%, compared to 4.20% for the first quarter of 2026, while net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis)(1) for the second quarter of 2026 was 4.38%, compared to 4.25% for the first quarter of 2026. These increases were primarily attributable to improved yields on loans, which increased 10 basis points to 6.38%, including an 8 basis point increase in acquired loan discount accretion, and improved yields on debt securities. Additionally, a more favorable interest-earning asset mix further contributed to the overall improvement. These increases were partially offset by higher funding costs, which increased 7 basis points to 1.32%, driven primarily by the first full quarter of interest expense on the subordinated notes and the higher cost deposit base acquired from CNB Bank. Relative to the second quarter of 2025, net interest margin increased 18 basis points from 4.14% and net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis)(1) increased 19 basis points from 4.19%. These increases were primarily attributable to improved yields on debt securities and a more favorable interest-earning asset mix, which were partially offset by higher funding costs. (1)   See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures. Noninterest Income Noninterest income for the second quarter of 2026 was $11.8 million, an increase from $10.9 million for the first quarter of 2026. The increase was primarily attributable to a $0.7 million increase in card income, a $0.3 million increase in service charges on deposit accounts, and a $0.2 million increase in wealth management fees, all primarily driven by a larger customer base following the CNB merger. These increases were partially offset by changes in the MSR fair value adjustment, with a $0.8 million negative MSR fair value adjustment included in the second quarter of 2026 results compared to a $0.2 million positive MSR fair value adjustment included in the first quarter of 2026 results. Relative to the second quarter of 2025, noninterest income increased 29.6% from $9.1 million. The increase was primarily attributable to a $1.1 million increase in wealth management fees, a $0.6 million increase in card income, and a $0.6 million increase in service charges on deposit accounts, all primarily driven by a larger customer base following the CNB merger. Noninterest Expense Noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2026 was $42.4 million, a 19.1% decrease from the first quarter of 2026. Acquisition-related noninterest expenses totaled $0.3 million during the second quarter of 2026, compared to $15.7 million during the first quarter of 2026. Excluding acquisition-related expenses, the $5.4 million increase in noninterest expense was primarily attributable to higher base costs following the CNB merger, which primarily drove a $3.2 million increase in salaries and employee benefits as well as increases in data processing, occupancy, and marketing expenses. Relative to the second quarter of 2025, noninterest expense increased 33.0% from $31.9 million. Excluding acquisition-related expenses, the $10.3 million increase in noninterest expense was primarily attributable to higher base costs following the CNB merger, including a $6.2 million increase in salaries and employee benefits, which were also driven higher by annual merit increases and higher medical benefits costs, as well as increases in occupancy, data processing, and marketing expenses. Acquisition-related expenses during the first and second quarter of 2026 and during the six months ended June 30, 2026 are summarized below. There were no acquisition-related expenses during the second quarter of 2025 or during the six months ended June 30, 2025. We do not expect material acquisition-related expenses related to the CNB merger in subsequent quarters. Loan Portfolio Total loans outstanding, before allowance for credit losses, were $4.75 billion at June 30, 2026, compared with $4.69 billion at March 31, 2026, and $3.35 billion at June 30, 2025. The $65.5 million increase from March 31, 2026 was primarily due to increases in multi-family loans and loans to nondepository institutions, included within the municipal, consumer, and other category. These increases were offset by seasonal reductions on grain elevator lines of $27.3 million and several large payoffs due to refinancings across multiple categories, including one condominium loan for $26.1 million within the one-to-four family residential category. In addition, $50.6 million in completed construction projects were transferred from the construction and land development to other categories, primarily in the commercial real estate – non-owner occupied category. Deposits Total deposits were $5.76 billion at June 30, 2026, compared with $5.80 billion at March 31, 2026, and $4.31 billion at June 30, 2025. The $45.5 million decrease from March 31, 2026 was primarily attributable to higher outflows for tax payments by depositors and lower balances maintained in existing retail accounts, which were partially offset by higher public funds balances. Additionally, $48.6 million of wealth management customer reciprocal deposits were moved on-balance sheet during the second quarter of 2026. Asset Quality Nonperforming assets totaled $9.9 million, or 0.15% of total assets, at June 30, 2026, compared with $14.4 million, or 0.21% of total assets, at March 31, 2026, and $6.5 million, or 0.13% of total assets, at June 30, 2025. The $4.5 million decrease in nonperforming assets from March 31, 2026 was primarily attributable to paydowns and payoffs in the one-to-four family residential and construction and land development categories. Additionally, of the $9.1 million of nonperforming loans held as of June 30, 2026, $2.4 million were either wholly or partially guaranteed by the U.S. government. The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $0.7 million for the second quarter of 2026. The provision for credit losses primarily reflects a $3.9 million increase in required reserves resulting from changes in qualitative factors; a $1.3 million decrease in specific reserves; a $1.0 million decrease in required reserves driven by changes in the economic forecast; and a $1.0 million decrease in required reserves driven by changes within the portfolio. The Company had net recoveries of $0.1 million, or 0.01% of average loans on an annualized basis, for the second quarter of 2026, compared to net charge-offs of $0.8 million, or 0.08% of average loans on an annualized basis, for the first quarter of 2026, and net charge-offs of $1.0 million, or 0.12% of average loans on an annualized basis, for the second quarter of 2025. The Company’s allowance for credit losses was 1.27% of total loans and 666% of nonperforming loans at June 30, 2026, compared with 1.29% of total loans and 457% of nonperforming loans at March 31, 2026. In addition, the allowance for credit losses on unfunded lending-related commitments totaled $6.6 million as of June 30, 2026, compared with $5.9 million as of March 31, 2026. Capital As of June 30, 2026, the Company exceeded all regulatory capital requirements under Basel III as summarized in the following table: The ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets(1) increased to 9.69% as of June 30, 2026, from 9.31% as of March 31, 2026, and tangible book value per share(1) increased by $0.59 to $17.60 as of June 30, 2026, when compared to March 31, 2026. During the second quarter of 2026, the Company repurchased 15,466 shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of $27.53 under its stock repurchase program. The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $30.0 million of HBT Financial common stock under its stock repurchase program, which is in effect until January 1, 2027. As of June 30, 2026, the Company had $14.0 million remaining under the stock repurchase program. (1)   See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures. About HBT Financial, Inc. HBT Financial, Inc., headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, is the holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company, and has banking roots that can be traced back to 1920. HBT Financial provides a comprehensive suite of financial products and services to consumers, businesses, and municipal entities throughout Illinois, eastern Iowa, and suburban St. Louis through 83 full-service branches. As of June 30, 2026, HBT Financial had total assets of $6.7 billion, total loans of $4.8 billion, and total deposits of $5.8 billion. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Some of the financial measures included in this press release are not measures of financial performance recognized in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures include adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted ROAA, pre-provision net revenue, pre-provision net revenue less charge-offs (recoveries), adjusted pre-provision net revenue, adjusted pre-provision net revenue less charge-offs (recoveries), net interest income (tax-equivalent basis), net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis), efficiency ratio (tax-equivalent basis), adjusted efficiency ratio (tax-equivalent basis), the ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets, tangible book value per share, adjusted ROAE, ROATCE, and adjusted ROATCE. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures, together with the related GAAP financial measures, in its analysis of our performance and in making business decisions. Management believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present these non-GAAP financial measures, and accordingly believes that providing these measures may be useful for peer comparison purposes. These disclosures should not be viewed as substitutes for the results determined to be in accordance with GAAP; nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP financial measures that may be presented by other companies. See our reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” tables. Forward-Looking Statements Readers should note that in addition to the historical information contained herein, this press release contains, and future oral and written statements of the Company and its management may contain, “forward-looking statements” within the meanings of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “will,” “propose,” “may,” “plan,” “seek,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” or “should,” or similar terminology and the negative forms of such words. Any forward-looking statements presented herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) the strength of the local, state, national and international economies and financial markets (including effects of inflationary pressures, global energy market conditions, the threat or implementation of tariffs, immigration enforcement and changes in foreign policy); (2) policy changes in, and the interpretation and prioritization of, local, state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies, including executive orders; (3) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats and attacks, widespread disease or pandemics, acts of war or other threats thereof (including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, and other international military conflicts that can increase levels of political and economic unpredictability, contribute to rising energy and commodity prices, affect global supply chains, increase the volatility of financial markets, and other matters beyond our control), and the response of the local, state and national governments to any such adverse external events; (4) new and revised accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory banking agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; (5) the imposition of tariffs or other governmental policies impacting the value of products produced by the Company's commercial borrowers; (6) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of the Company’s assets; (7) increased competition in the financial services sector, including from non-bank competitors such as credit unions, private credit firms, fintech companies, and digital asset service providers, and the inability to attract new customers; (8) technological changes implemented by us and other parties, including our third-party vendors, which may have unforeseen consequences to us and our customers; (9) emerging issues related to the development and use of artificial intelligence that could give rise to legal or regulatory action, damage our reputation or otherwise materially harm our business or customers; (10) unexpected results of acquisitions, which may include failure to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions and the possibility that transaction costs may be greater than anticipated, including the acquisition of CNB; (11) the loss of key executives and employees, talent shortages and employee turnover; (12) changes in consumer spending; (13) unexpected outcomes or costs of existing or new litigation or other legal proceedings and regulatory actions involving the Company; (14) the economic impact on the Company and its customers of climate change, natural disasters and of exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, floods and blizzards; (15) fluctuations in the value of securities held in our securities portfolio, including as a result of changes in interest rates; (16) credit risks and risks from concentrations (by type of borrower, geographic area, collateral and industry) within our loan portfolio (including commercial real estate loans) and large loans to certain borrowers; (17) the overall health of the local and national real estate market; (18) the ability to maintain an adequate level of allowance for credit losses on loans; (19) the concentration of large deposits from certain clients who have balances above current FDIC insurance limits and who may withdraw deposits to diversify their exposure; (20) the availability of future equity and debt issuances and other capital raising opportunities on favorable terms; (21) the ability to successfully manage liquidity risk, which may increase dependence on non-core funding sources such as brokered deposits, and may negatively impact the Company’s cost of funds; (22) the level of nonperforming assets on our balance sheet; (23) interruptions involving our information technology and communications systems or those of our third-party servicers; (24) the occurrence of fraudulent activity, breaches or failures of our third-party vendors’ information security controls or cybersecurity-related incidents, including as a result of sophisticated attacks using artificial intelligence and similar tools or as a result of insider fraud; (25) the effectiveness of the Company’s risk management framework; and (26) the ability of the Company to manage the risks associated with the foregoing as well as anticipated. Readers should note that the forward-looking statements included in this press release are not a guarantee of future events, and that actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect the Company’s financial results, is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CONTACT:Peter [email protected](309) 664-4556 *Annualized measure. (1)   See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures.(2)   On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state income tax rate of 9.5%. *Annualized measure. (1)   Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.(2)   On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state income tax rate of 9.5%.(3)   See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures.(4)   Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.(5)   Net interest-earning assets represents total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities. (1)   Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.(2)   On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state income tax rate of 9.5%.(3)   See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures.(4)   Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.(5)   Net interest-earning assets represents total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities. *Annualized measure. *Annualized measure. (1)   Assumes a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state income tax rate of 9.5%, and excludes non-deductible acquisition expenses. *Annualized measure. (1)   On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state income tax rate of 9.5%. (1)   On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state income tax rate of 9.5%. *Annualized measure.

HBT Financial (HBT) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.78 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.74 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.63 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +5.41%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this bank holding company would post earnings of $0.62 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.68, delivering a surprise of +9.68%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. HBT Financial, which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry, posted revenues of $80.9 million for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.24%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $58.8 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three 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. HBT Financial shares have added about 28.8% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 8.3%. While HBT Financial 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 HBT Financial was favorable. 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 #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform 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 $0.77 on $81.65 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $2.95 on $313.85 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 - Northeast is currently in the top 30% 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 Commonwealth Financial (FCF), is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on July 28. This financial holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.42 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +10.5%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. First Commonwealth Financial's revenues are expected to be $137.23 million, up 4.8% 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 HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT) : Free Stock Analysis Report First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (FCF) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

The Bancorp (TBBK) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price. The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 30. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise. This holding company for The Bancorp Bank is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.36 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +7.1%. Revenues are expected to be $166.7 million, down 8% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only. A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP. Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell). For The Bancorp, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.47%. On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3. So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that The Bancorp will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number. For the last reported quarter, it was expected that The Bancorp would post earnings of $1.34 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.41, delivering a surprise of +5.22%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times. An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. The Bancorp doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release. Among the stocks in the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry, HBT Financial (HBT), is soon expected to post earnings of $0.74 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +17.5%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $80.7 million, up 37.2% from the year-ago quarter. Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for HBT Financial has remained unchanged. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of -2.04%, reflecting a lower Most Accurate Estimate. This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that HBT Financial will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar. 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 The Bancorp, Inc. (TBBK) : Free Stock Analysis Report HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Carter Bankshares, Inc. (CARE) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.53 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.41 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.41 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +29.27%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $3.91 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.4, delivering a surprise of -89.77%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. Carter Bankshares, which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry, posted revenues of $68.92 million for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.28%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $37.44 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates just once 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. Carter Bankshares shares have added about 67.5% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 9.6%. While Carter Bankshares 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 Carter Bankshares was unfavorable. 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 #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform 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 $0.52 on $46.22 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $5.43 on $267.25 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 - Northeast is currently in the top 37% 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. HBT Financial (HBT), another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on July 27. This bank holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.74 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +17.5%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. HBT Financial's revenues are expected to be $80.7 million, up 37.2% 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 Carter Bankshares, Inc. (CARE) : Free Stock Analysis Report HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when HBT Financial (HBT) reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates. The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 27, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise. This bank holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.74 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +17.5%. Revenues are expected to be $80.7 million, up 37.2% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only. A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP. Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell). For HBT Financial, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -2.04%. On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2. So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that HBT Financial will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number. For the last reported quarter, it was expected that HBT Financial would post earnings of $0.62 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.68, delivering a surprise of +9.68%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times. An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. HBT Financial doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release. Valley National (VLY), another stock in the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.31 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +34.8%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $552.02 million, up 11.2% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for Valley National has been revised 0.6% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, an equal Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Valley National will beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar. 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 HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Valley National Bancorp (VLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research