Dividends are one of the best benefits to being a shareholder, but finding a great dividend stock is no easy task. Does First Merchants (FRME) have what it takes?
First Merchants Corporation (FRME) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Dividends are one of the best benefits to being a shareholder, but finding a great dividend stock is no easy task. Does First Merchants (FRME) have what it takes?
Although the revenue and EPS for First Merchants (FRME) give a sense of how its business performed in the quarter ended December 2025, it might be worth considering how some key metrics compare with Wall Street estimates and the year-ago numbers.
First Merchants (FRME) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.98 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.96 per share. This compares to earnings of $1 per share a year ago.
Beyond analysts' top-and-bottom-line estimates for First Merchants (FRME), evaluate projections for some of its key metrics to gain a better insight into how the business might have performed for the quarter ended December 2025.
The consensus price target hints at a 26.1% upside potential for First Merchants (FRME). While empirical research shows that this sought-after metric is hardly effective, an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions could mean that the stock will witness an upside in the near term.
First Merchants delivers solid earnings growth, with net interest income rising and a well-covered 4% dividend yield. FRME's common shares offer a compelling risk/reward profile, trading at under 10x earnings and below 1.5x tangible book value. The preferred stock appears less attractive due to a 5% premium over the call price and potential call risk, despite strong dividend coverage.
First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ:FRME ) Q3 2025 Earnings Call October 23, 2025 9:00 AM EDT Company Participants Mark Hardwick - CEO & Director Michael Stewart - President Michele Kawiecki - Executive VP, CFO & Principal Accounting Officer John Martin - Executive VP & Chief Credit Officer Conference Call Participants Damon Del Monte - Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc., Research Division Nathan Race - Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division Daniel Tamayo - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division Brian Martin - Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Research Division Terence McEvoy - Stephens Inc., Research Division Brendan Nosal - Hovde Group, LLC, Research Division Presentation Operator Thank you for standing by, and welcome to the First Merchants Corporation Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call. Before we begin, management would like to remind you that today's call contains forward-looking statements with respect to the future performance and financial condition of First Merchants Corporation that involve risks and uncertainties.
First Merchants (FRME) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.99 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.96 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.95 per share a year ago.
Dividends are one of the best benefits to being a shareholder, but finding a great dividend stock is no easy task. Does First Merchants (FRME) have what it takes?
Robust loan pipelines and a prospective shift in the asset mix will likely drive earnings. A tariff-driven economic slowdown in FRME's markets will likely drag profits. I've raised my EPS estimate to $3.90 from my previous estimate of $3.60 because the efficiency ratio has been better than expected.