Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q4 behind us, let’s have a look at Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ: WTFC) 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 95 regional banks stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.5%.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.

Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ: WTFC)

Founded in 1991 as a community-focused alternative to big banks in the Chicago area, Wintrust Financial (NASDAQGS:WTFC) operates community banks in the Chicago area and provides specialty finance services including insurance premium financing and wealth management.

Wintrust Financial reported revenues of $715.6 million, up 11% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.8%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with a decent beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

Timothy S. Crane, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased with our strong 2025 results, including the 19% improvement in net income. Throughout the year, we leveraged our unique position in the markets we serve to achieve robust growth in both loans and deposits. Wintrust ended the year with solid momentum evidenced by record net income, record net interest income, a stable net interest margin and strong balance sheet growth.”

Interestingly, the stock is up 3.4% since reporting and currently trades at $149.55.

Is now the time to buy Wintrust Financial? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Merchants Bancorp (NASDAQ: MBIN)

With a strategic focus on low-risk, government-backed lending programs, Merchants Bancorp (NASDAQCM:MBIN) is an Indiana-based bank holding company specializing in multi-family mortgage banking, mortgage warehousing, and traditional banking services.

Merchants Bancorp reported revenues of $185.3 million, down 4.4% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.8%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 23.5% since reporting. It currently trades at $43.16.

Is now the time to buy Merchants Bancorp? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: The Bancorp (NASDAQ: TBBK)

Operating behind the scenes of many popular fintech apps and prepaid cards you might use daily, The Bancorp (NASDAQ: TBBK) is a bank holding company that specializes in providing banking services to fintech companies and offering specialty lending products.

The Bancorp reported revenues of $172.7 million, up 8.2% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 11%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 19.1% since the results and currently trades at $57.03.

Read our full analysis of The Bancorp’s results here.

First Financial Bancorp (NASDAQ: FFBC)

Tracing its roots back to 1863 during the Civil War era, First Financial Bancorp (NASDAQ: FFBC) is a bank holding company that provides commercial banking, lending, deposit services, and wealth management to individuals and businesses.

First Financial Bancorp reported revenues of $251.3 million, up 12.1% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 2%. More broadly, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates but a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 6.7% since reporting and currently trades at $29.01.

Read our full, actionable report on First Financial Bancorp here, it’s free.

1st Source (NASDAQ: SRCE)

Tracing its roots back to 1863 during the Civil War era, 1st Source Corporation (NASDAQ: SRCE) is a regional bank holding company that provides commercial, consumer, specialty finance, and wealth management services across Indiana, Michigan, and Florida.

1st Source reported revenues of $111 million, up 13.3% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations. It was a very strong quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 3.3% since reporting and currently trades at $68.37.

Read our full, actionable report on 1st Source here, it’s free.

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