Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Preferred Bank (NASDAQ: PFBC) and the best and worst performers in the regional banks industry.

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 1.4% since the latest earnings results.

Preferred Bank (NASDAQ: PFBC)

Founded in 1991 with a focus on serving the Pacific Rim community in Southern California, Preferred Bank (NASDAQ: PFBC) is a commercial bank that provides banking products and services to small and mid-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, real estate developers, and high net worth individuals.

Preferred Bank reported revenues of $78.07 million, up 7.2% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4.8%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a mixed quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but EPS in line with analysts’ estimates.

Li Yu, Chairman and CEO, commented, “I am pleased to report fourth quarter net income of $34.8 million or $2.79 per share and for the full year 2025, net income of $133.6 million or $10.41 per share, which makes our profitability among the top echelon of the banking industry.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 7.1% since reporting and currently trades at $92.10.

Is now the time to buy Preferred Bank? 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 28.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $44.85.

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 $103.3 million, down 3.6% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.1%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $40.12.

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

Glacier Bancorp (NYSE: GBCI)

Operating through seventeen distinct bank divisions with local brands and management teams, Glacier Bancorp (NYSE: GBCI) is a bank holding company that provides various banking services to individuals and businesses across eight western states.

Glacier Bancorp reported revenues of $307.6 million, up 36.1% year on year. This print met analysts’ expectations. Taking a step back, it was a slower quarter as it recorded a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and net interest income in line with analysts’ estimates.

The stock is down 5% since reporting and currently trades at $47.39.

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

Independent Bank (NASDAQ: INDB)

Tracing its roots back to 1907 and serving as a financial cornerstone in New England for over a century, Independent Bank Corp. (NASDAQ: INDB) operates as the holding company for Rockland Trust, providing banking, investment, and financial services across Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Independent Bank reported revenues of $253.7 million, up 43.7% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 2.2%. Taking a step back, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is down 3.4% since reporting and currently trades at $77.80.

Read our full, actionable report on Independent Bank 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 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.