As the Q4 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the regional banks industry, including Popular (NASDAQ: BPOP) 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 1.6%.

While some regional banks stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 4.9% since the latest earnings results.

Popular (NASDAQ: BPOP)

Founded in 1893 as the first bank in Puerto Rico to serve the working class, Popular (NASDAQ: BPOP) is a financial holding company that provides retail, mortgage, and commercial banking services primarily in Puerto Rico and the mainland United States.

Popular reported revenues of $824.6 million, up 9.1% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a mixed quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a miss of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates.

“We closed out a strong fourth quarter and an excellent year for Popular, reflecting the discipline and focus of our team across the organization,” said Javier D. Ferrer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Popular, Inc.

Interestingly, the stock is up 5.7% since reporting and currently trades at $129.89.

Is now the time to buy Popular? 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 20.1% since reporting. It currently trades at $41.96.

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

Weakest Q4: National Bank Holdings (NYSE: NBHC)

Operating under familiar local brands like Community Banks of Colorado, Bank Midwest, and Bank of Jackson Hole, National Bank Holdings (NYSE: NBHC) operates regional banks across Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Texas, and other western states, offering commercial, business, and consumer banking services.

National Bank Holdings reported revenues of $102.6 million, down 3.7% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.7%. 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 1.1% since the results and currently trades at $39.63.

Read our full analysis of National Bank Holdings’s results here.

Peoples Bancorp (NASDAQ: PEBO)

Founded in 1902 in Ohio and expanding through both organic growth and acquisitions, Peoples Bancorp (NASDAQ: PEBO) is a financial holding company that provides banking, insurance, equipment leasing, and investment services to consumers and businesses.

Peoples Bancorp reported revenues of $119.6 million, up 5.2% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.3%. It was a strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The stock is up 1.8% since reporting and currently trades at $31.77.

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

Hope Bancorp (NASDAQ: HOPE)

With roots in serving Korean-American communities and now expanded to a multi-ethnic clientele across 12 states, Hope Bancorp (NASDAQ: HOPE) operates Bank of Hope, providing commercial and retail banking services with a focus on serving multi-ethnic communities across the United States.

Hope Bancorp reported revenues of $144.5 million, up 25.3% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 0.8%. More broadly, it was a slower quarter as it recorded a miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is down 7.4% since reporting and currently trades at $10.91.

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

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