First Merchants (FRME) reported $172.17 million in revenue for the quarter ended December 2025, representing a year-over-year decline of 2.8%. EPS of $0.98 for the same period compares to $1.00 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $166.8 million, representing a surprise of +3.22%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +2.08%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.96.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how First Merchants performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Efficiency Ratio: 54.5% versus 55% estimated by three analysts on average.
- Net Interest Margin (FTE): 3.3% compared to the 3.2% average estimate based on three analysts.
- Net Charge-offs (Recoveries) as % of Average Loans (Annualized): 0.2% compared to the 0.2% average estimate based on two analysts.
- Average Balance - Total Earning Assets: $17.65 billion compared to the $17.57 billion average estimate based on two analysts.
- Total Non-Interest Income: $33.11 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $32.11 million.
- Net gains and fees on sales of loans: $5.42 million compared to the $4.93 million average estimate based on three analysts.
- Other income: $1.26 million versus $1.4 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Net Interest Income: $139.06 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $135.15 million.
- Other customer fees: $0.32 million compared to the $0.41 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Net Interest Income (FTE): $145.25 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $142.06 million.
- Fiduciary and wealth management fees: $9.18 million compared to the $9.07 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Service charges on deposit accounts: $8.7 million versus $8.75 million estimated by two analysts on average.
View all Key Company Metrics for First Merchants here>>>
Shares of First Merchants have returned -0.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
First Merchants Corporation (FRME): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
Zacks Investment Research
