The end of an earnings season can be a great time to discover new stocks and assess how companies are handling the current business environment. Let’s take a look at how First Interstate BancSystem (NASDAQ: FIBK) and the rest of the regional banks stocks fared in Q4.

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%.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 7.8% since the latest earnings results.

First Interstate BancSystem (NASDAQ: FIBK)

Tracing its roots back to 1971 and still guided by founding family principles, First Interstate BancSystem (NASDAQ: FIBK) operates a network of community banks across 14 western and midwestern states, offering comprehensive banking services to individuals, businesses, and government entities.

First Interstate BancSystem reported revenues of $250.2 million, down 4.1% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 2.3%, but it was still a satisfactory quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.

“We made continued, meaningful progress as we advance through each phase of our strategic plan. Our net interest margin continues to improve, we continued executing on our previously announced share repurchase program, and we were pleased to see reductions in non-performing and criticized assets as we continue to take a proactive approach to credit risk management. Given our strong capital position, we further increased our share repurchase authorization,” said James A Reuter, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 12.6% since reporting and currently trades at $32.04.

Is now the time to buy First Interstate BancSystem? 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 a solid beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 18.6% since reporting. It currently trades at $41.46.

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 5% since the results and currently trades at $38.07.

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

First Busey (NASDAQ: BUSE)

Tracing its roots back to 1868 during America's post-Civil War reconstruction era, First Busey (NASDAQ: BUSE) is a bank holding company that provides commercial and retail banking, wealth management, and payment technology solutions across Illinois, Missouri, Florida, and Indiana.

First Busey reported revenues of $200.9 million, up 71.7% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. It was a very strong quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The stock is down 3.6% since reporting and currently trades at $24.16.

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

Fulton Financial (NASDAQ: FULT)

Tracing its roots back to 1882 in the heart of Pennsylvania, Fulton Financial (NASDAQ: FULT) is a financial holding company that provides banking, lending, and wealth management services to consumers and businesses across five Mid-Atlantic states.

Fulton Financial reported revenues of $340.4 million, up 4.3% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. Zooming out, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also produced a narrow beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but net interest income in line with analysts’ estimates.

The stock is down 6.9% since reporting and currently trades at $19.09.

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

Market Update

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 5 Growth Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.