Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Pathward Financial (NASDAQ: CASH) and the best and worst performers in the regional banks industry.

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 6.5% since the latest earnings results.

Pathward Financial (NASDAQ: CASH)

Formerly known as Meta Financial until its 2022 rebranding, Pathward Financial (NASDAQ: CASH) provides banking-as-a-service solutions and commercial finance products, enabling partners to offer financial services like prepaid cards, payment processing, and lending options.

Pathward Financial reported revenues of $173.2 million, flat year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 6.8%. Overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

CEO Brett Pharr said, "We started the fiscal year in a position of strength. Overall, we are pleased with the financial results achieved in the quarter, which were marked by solid growth in our core business including growing interest income in commercial finance with a lower provision, increasing core card and deposit fee income, and flat expenses. Our strategy continues to drive strong results, and we are seeing positive outcomes driven by what we accomplished in fiscal 2025. We look forward to delivering on our fiscal 2026 goals which we believe will set us up for sustainable growth in the future. "

Interestingly, the stock is up 13.7% since reporting and currently trades at $90.83.

Is now the time to buy Pathward Financial? 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 19.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $41.92.

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 3.5% since the results and currently trades at $38.66.

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

Live Oak Bancshares (NYSE: LOB)

Founded during the 2008 financial crisis with a vision to reimagine small business banking through technology, Live Oak Bancshares (NYSE: LOB) is a bank holding company that specializes in providing online banking services and SBA-guaranteed loans to small businesses across targeted industries nationwide.

Live Oak Bancshares reported revenues of $151.9 million, up 16.8% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. However, 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 16.3% since reporting and currently trades at $32.63.

Read our full, actionable report on Live Oak Bancshares here, it’s free.

City Holding (NASDAQ: CHCO)

With roots dating back to 1957 and a strategic presence along the I-64 and I-81 corridors, City Holding (NASDAQGS:CHCO) operates as a financial holding company providing banking, trust, and investment services through its subsidiary City National Bank across West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, and Ohio.

City Holding reported revenues of $80.93 million, up 7.8% year on year. This number came in 0.5% below analysts' expectations. It was a softer quarter as it also produced a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a slight miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

The stock is down 3.3% since reporting and currently trades at $117.79.

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

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