Let’s dig into the relative performance of Commerce Bancshares (NASDAQ: CBSH) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q3 regional banks earnings season.

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 94 regional banks stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q3. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.1%.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 1.3% on average since the latest earnings results.

Commerce Bancshares (NASDAQ: CBSH)

Founded in 1865 during the post-Civil War economic boom, Commerce Bancshares (NASDAQGS:CBSH) is a Midwest-focused bank holding company that provides retail, commercial, and wealth management services to individuals and businesses.

Commerce Bancshares reported revenues of $448.9 million, up 5.6% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 0.5%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a softer quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

In making this announcement, John Kemper, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Commerce delivered another strong quarter, underscoring the resilience of our diversified operating model and the dedication of our talented team. Our third quarter results reflect steady loan balances, robust fee income, and disciplined expense management, all of which contributed to another period of high profitability.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 4.1% since reporting and currently trades at $54.36.

Read our full report on Commerce Bancshares here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Best Q3: Customers Bancorp (NYSE: CUBI)

Originally founded with a "high-tech, high-touch" branch-light banking strategy, Customers Bancorp (NYSE: CUBI) is a bank holding company that provides commercial and consumer banking services through its Customers Bank subsidiary, with a focus on business lending and digital banking.

Customers Bancorp reported revenues of $232.1 million, up 38.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7%. The business had a stunning quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

However, the results were likely priced into the stock as it’s traded sideways since reporting. Shares currently sit at $64.97.

Is now the time to buy Customers Bancorp? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Weakest Q3: The Bancorp (NASDAQ: TBBK)

Operating behind the scenes of many popular fintech apps and prepaid cards you might use daily, The Bancorp (NASDAQ: TBBK) is a bank holding company that specializes in providing banking services to fintech companies and offering specialty lending products.

The Bancorp reported revenues of $174.6 million, up 38.8% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 10%. 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 19.7% since the results and currently trades at $61.99.

Read our full analysis of The Bancorp’s results here.

Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE)

With roots dating back to 1885 and a strategic focus on middle-market commercial lending, Cadence Bancorporation (NYSE: CADE) is a bank holding company that provides commercial banking, retail banking, and wealth management services to middle-market businesses and individuals.

Cadence Bank reported revenues of $519.3 million, up 15.1% year on year. This result lagged analysts' expectations by 0.6%. Zooming out, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The stock is up 2.6% since reporting and currently trades at $38.03.

Read our full, actionable report on Cadence Bank here, it’s free for active Edge members.

UMB Financial (NASDAQ: UMBF)

With roots dating back to 1913 and a name derived from "United Missouri Bank," UMB Financial (NASDAQ: UMBF) is a financial holding company that provides banking, asset management, and fund services to commercial, institutional, and individual customers.

UMB Financial reported revenues of $678.3 million, up 67% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 3.5%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates.

The stock is down 3.2% since reporting and currently trades at $108.68.

Read our full, actionable report on UMB Financial here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Market Update

As a result of the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has come down from frothy levels post-pandemic. The general rise in the price of goods and services is trending towards the Fed’s 2% goal as of late, which is good news. The higher rates that fought inflation also didn't slow economic activity enough to catalyze a recession. So far, soft landing. This, combined with recent rate cuts (half a percent in September 2024 and a quarter percent in November 2024) have led to strong stock market performance in 2024. The icing on the cake for 2024 returns was Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. Presidential Election in early November, sending major indices to all-time highs in the week following the election. Still, debates around the health of the economy and the impact of potential tariffs and corporate tax cuts remain, leaving much uncertainty around 2025.

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