As the Q4 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the regional banks industry, including Dime Community Bancshares (NASDAQ: DCOM) 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%.

While some regional banks stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 2.4% since the latest earnings results.

Dime Community Bancshares (NASDAQ: DCOM)

With roots dating back to 1910 and a name that evokes the historic "dime savings banks" of America's past, Dime Community Bancshares (NASDAQ: DCOM) is a New York-based bank holding company that provides commercial banking and financial services to businesses and consumers throughout Greater Long Island.

Dime Community Bancshares reported revenues of $123.8 million, up 24.5% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 5.2%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 7.9% since reporting and currently trades at $32.50.

Is now the time to buy Dime Community Bancshares? 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 19.6% since reporting. It currently trades at $41.79.

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.

Interestingly, the stock is up 1.3% since the results and currently trades at $40.58.

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

Simmons First National (NASDAQ: SFNC)

With roots dating back to 1903 and a presence across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas, Simmons First National (NASDAQ: SFNC) is a regional bank holding company that provides banking and financial services to individuals and businesses.

Simmons First National reported revenues of $251.9 million, up 17.2% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 5.3%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 3.9% since reporting and currently trades at $20.04.

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

Hilltop Holdings (NYSE: HTH)

Transformed from a residential communities business to a financial services powerhouse in 2007, Hilltop Holdings (NYSE: HTH) is a Texas-based financial holding company that provides banking, broker-dealer, and mortgage origination services.

Hilltop Holdings reported revenues of $330.7 million, up 8.9% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 9.7%. It was an exceptional quarter as it also put up a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $37.02.

Read our full, actionable report on Hilltop Holdings here, it’s free.

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