Looking back on regional banks stocks’ Q4 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including SouthState (NYSE: SSB) 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 93 regional banks stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.5%.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 6.9% on average since the latest earnings results.

SouthState (NYSE: SSB)

With roots dating back to the Great Depression era of 1933, SouthState (NYSE: SSB) is a financial holding company that provides banking services, wealth management, and correspondent banking services across six southeastern states.

SouthState reported revenues of $686.9 million, up 52.5% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 3.7%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 7.2% since reporting and currently trades at $107.81.

We think SouthState is a good business, but is it a buy today? Read our full report 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 24.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $43.49.

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 12.2% since the results and currently trades at $61.94.

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

S&T Bancorp (NASDAQ: STBA)

Tracing its roots back to 1902 in western Pennsylvania's industrial heartland, S&T Bancorp (NASDAQ: STBA) is a Pennsylvania-based bank holding company that provides retail and commercial banking services, cash management, trust services, and investment advisory solutions.

S&T Bancorp reported revenues of $105.9 million, up 11.5% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 2%. More broadly, it was a mixed quarter as it also recorded a decent beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 5.2% since reporting and currently trades at $44.13.

Read our full, actionable report on S&T Bancorp here, it’s free.

Lake City Bank (NASDAQ: LKFN)

Dating back to 1872 and deeply rooted in Indiana's communities, Lakeland Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: LKFN) operates Lake City Bank, providing commercial and consumer banking services throughout Northern and Central Indiana.

Lake City Bank reported revenues of $70.91 million, up 9.6% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.7%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also logged a decent beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 6.3% since reporting and currently trades at $62.56.

Read our full, actionable report on Lake City Bank here, it’s free.

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