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 Atlantic Union Bankshares (NYSE: AUB) 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 6.9% since the latest earnings results.

Atlantic Union Bankshares (NYSE: AUB)

Tracing its roots back to 1902 when it first opened its doors in Virginia, Atlantic Union Bankshares (NYSE: AUB) is a full-service regional bank providing commercial and retail banking, wealth management, and insurance services throughout Virginia and parts of Maryland and North Carolina.

Atlantic Union Bankshares reported revenues of $391.3 million, up 76.1% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 3.1%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

“Atlantic Union had a strong fourth quarter, reflecting disciplined execution and a successful integration of the Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. acquisition,” said John C. Asbury, president and chief executive officer of Atlantic Union.

Atlantic Union Bankshares achieved the fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Investor expectations, however, were likely higher than Wall Street’s published projections, leaving some wishing for even better results (analysts’ consensus estimates are those published by big banks and advisory firms, not the investors who make buy and sell decisions). The stock is down 14.5% since reporting and currently trades at $34.18.

Is now the time to buy Atlantic Union 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 19.5% since reporting. It currently trades at $41.78.

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 5.2% since the results and currently trades at $38.00.

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

Amalgamated Financial (NASDAQ: AMAL)

Founded in 1923 by labor unions seeking a financial institution aligned with worker values, Amalgamated Financial (NASDAQGM:AMAL) operates a values-oriented bank that provides commercial banking, trust services, and investment management to socially responsible organizations and individuals.

Amalgamated Financial reported revenues of $87.91 million, up 6.5% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 2.2%. It was a strong quarter as it also put up a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

The stock is up 4.8% since reporting and currently trades at $37.77.

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

First Hawaiian Bank (NASDAQ: FHB)

Dating back to 1858 as Hawaii's oldest bank with deep roots in the Pacific island communities, First Hawaiian (NASDAQ: FHB) operates a full-service community bank providing deposit accounts, commercial and consumer loans, credit cards, and wealth management services across Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan.

First Hawaiian Bank reported revenues of $225.9 million, up 5.4% year on year. This number was in line with analysts’ expectations. More broadly, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged a narrow beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates but EPS in line with analysts’ estimates.

The stock is down 14.1% since reporting and currently trades at $23.69.

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

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Growth Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.