Looking back on regional banks stocks’ Q4 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB) 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 as they are up 4.5% on average since the latest earnings results.

M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB)

Tracing its roots back to 1856 when it was founded as Manufacturers and Traders Bank in Buffalo, New York, M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB) is a regional bank holding company that provides retail and commercial banking, trust, wealth management, and investment services to consumers and businesses.

M&T Bank reported revenues of $2.49 billion, up 4.5% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a mixed quarter for the company with a narrow beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 7.4% since reporting and currently trades at $228.36.

Read our full report on M&T Bank 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 35.2% since reporting. It currently trades at $47.24.

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’ tangible book value per share estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 15.5% since the results and currently trades at $59.60.

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

UMB Financial (NASDAQ: UMBF)

With roots dating back to 1913 and a name derived from "United Missouri Bank," UMB Financial (NASDAQ: UMBF) is a financial holding company that provides banking, asset management, and fund services to commercial, institutional, and individual customers.

UMB Financial reported revenues of $727.5 million, up 67.5% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 7%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The stock is up 2.3% since reporting and currently trades at $127.75.

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

WSFS Financial (NASDAQ: WSFS)

Founded in 1832 as Wilmington Savings Fund Society and one of the oldest banks in America still operating under its original name, WSFS Financial (NASDAQ: WSFS) operates a community banking and wealth management franchise primarily serving customers in the Mid-Atlantic region through its main subsidiary, WSFS Bank.

WSFS Financial reported revenues of $278 million, up 6.2% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 4.1%. It was an exceptional quarter as it also produced an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

The stock is up 15.7% since reporting and currently trades at $66.99.

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

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