Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q4 behind us, let’s have a look at United Bankshares (NASDAQ: UBSI) 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 1.6%.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 6.7% since the latest earnings results.

United Bankshares (NASDAQ: UBSI)

With roots dating back to 1982 and a strong presence in the Mid-Atlantic region, United Bankshares (NASDAQ: UBSI) is a bank holding company that provides commercial and retail banking services through its United Bank subsidiary across multiple states.

United Bankshares reported revenues of $319.4 million, up 21.3% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a narrow beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 8.4% since reporting and currently trades at $39.19.

Is now the time to buy United Bankshares? 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 19.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $41.69.

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.

As expected, the stock is down 3% since the results and currently trades at $38.85.

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

Community Bank (NYSE: CBU)

Tracing its roots back to 1866 in upstate New York, Community Financial System (NYSE: CBU) is a financial holding company that provides banking, employee benefits, wealth management, and insurance services to retail, commercial, and municipal customers.

Community Bank reported revenues of $215.8 million, up 10.1% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 1.7%. Aside from that, it was a slower quarter as it logged a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a miss of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates.

The stock is down 6.1% since reporting and currently trades at $58.02.

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

BancFirst (NASDAQ: BANF)

Operating as a "super community bank" with a decentralized management approach that emphasizes local responsiveness, BancFirst Corporation (NASDAQ: BANF) operates as a financial holding company providing commercial banking services to retail customers and small to medium-sized businesses primarily in Oklahoma and Texas.

BancFirst reported revenues of $180.2 million, up 10.7% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 3.8%. Zooming out, it was a mixed quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is down 9.6% since reporting and currently trades at $106.10.

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

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