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 Citizens BancShares (NASDAQ: FCNCA) and the rest of the regional banks stocks fared in Q3.
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 87 regional banks stocks we track reported a slower Q3. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.
In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 1.4% on average since the latest earnings results.
First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQ: FCNCA)
With roots dating back to 1898 and a significant expansion through its 2023 acquisition of Silicon Valley Bank, First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQGS:FCNC.A) is a bank holding company that provides financial services to individuals and businesses through its First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company subsidiary.
First Citizens BancShares reported revenues of $2.27 billion, flat year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.
Interestingly, the stock is up 7.2% since reporting and currently trades at $2,354.
Is now the time to buy First Citizens BancShares? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q3: 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 $224.9 million, up 31.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 22.3%. The business had a very strong quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates.
Merchants Bancorp scored the biggest analyst estimate beat of the whole group. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 6% since reporting. It currently trades at $52.10.
Is now the time to buy Merchants Bancorp? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q3: 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 $127.1 million, up 20.5% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 3.2%. 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.
As expected, the stock is down 4% since the results and currently trades at $37.42.
Read our full analysis of National Bank Holdings’s results here.
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 $371.6 million, up 9.6% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 1%. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as it also produced a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a miss of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates.
The stock is up 4.2% since reporting and currently trades at $23.48.
Read our full, actionable report on Fulton Financial here, it’s free.
Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: WAL)
Operating through five distinct regional banking divisions across the western United States, Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: WAL) provides commercial banking, treasury management, mortgage services, and specialized financial solutions through its banking divisions and subsidiaries.
Western Alliance Bancorporation reported revenues of $997.2 million, up 7.8% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. More broadly, it was a softer quarter as it produced a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a slight miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.
The stock is up 3.6% since reporting and currently trades at $76.29.
Read our full, actionable report on Western Alliance Bancorporation here, it’s free.
Market update
Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.
Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.
By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.
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.
