Thrifts & Mortgage Finance Stocks Q4 Highlights: Northwest Bancshares (NASDAQ:NWBI)

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 thrifts & mortgage finance industry, including Northwest Bancshares (NASDAQ:NWBI) and its peers.

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance institutions operate by accepting deposits and extending loans primarily for residential mortgages, earning revenue through interest rate spreads (difference between lending rates and borrowing costs) and origination fees. The industry benefits from demographic tailwinds as millennials enter prime homebuying age, technological advancements streamlining the loan approval process, and potential interest rate stabilization improving affordability. However, significant headwinds include net interest margin compression during rate volatility, increased competition from fintech disruptors offering digital-first experiences, mounting regulatory compliance costs, and potential housing market corrections that could impact loan portfolios and default rates.

The 13 thrifts & mortgage finance stocks we track reported a slower Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.8% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 1.8% below.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 7.8% since the latest earnings results.

Northwest Bancshares (NASDAQ:NWBI)

Founded in 1896 and operating across Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Indiana, Northwest Bancshares (NASDAQ:NWBI) is a bank holding company that operates Northwest Bank, providing personal and business banking, investment management, and trust services.

Northwest Bancshares reported revenues of $173.5 million, up 14.4% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, and overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Louis J. Torchio, President and CEO, Northwest Bancshares commented, "2025 was a transformational year for Northwest Bank. We closed on a significant acquisition, drove record revenue of $655 million for the full year, and continued to expand the firm's net interest margin. Coupled with our demonstrated expense management discipline through the closing and integration of our sizeable acquisition, we drove double digit EPS growth, all while investing in the talent, technology, and new financial centers and products to support our future growth."

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 4% since reporting and currently trades at $12.15.

Is now the time to buy Northwest Bancshares? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE:ABR)

With roots dating back to 2003 and a focus on the stability of multifamily housing, Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE:ABR) is a specialized lender that provides financing solutions for multifamily and commercial real estate while also originating and servicing government-backed mortgage loans.

Arbor Realty Trust reported revenues of $133.4 million, down 12.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 10.3%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 19.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $8.70.

Is now the time to buy Arbor Realty Trust? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: Ladder Capital (NYSE:LADR)

Founded during the 2008 financial crisis when traditional lenders retreated from commercial real estate, Ladder Capital (NYSE:LADR) is a real estate investment trust that originates commercial real estate loans, owns commercial properties, and invests in real estate securities.

Ladder Capital reported revenues of $50.47 million, down 26.4% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 9.2%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Ladder Capital delivered the slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 7.3% since the results and currently trades at $10.26.

Read our full analysis of Ladder Capital’s results here.

Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY)

Operating as a real estate investment trust since 1996 with a focus on generating income from interest rate spreads, Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY) is a diversified capital manager that invests in agency mortgage-backed securities, residential mortgage loans, and mortgage servicing rights.

Annaly Capital Management reported revenues of $1.06 billion, up 101% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 45.4%. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

Annaly Capital Management pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is down 7.4% since reporting and currently trades at $22.46.

Read our full, actionable report on Annaly Capital Management here, it’s free.

Flagstar Financial (NYSE:FLG)

Tracing its roots back to 1859 and rebranded from New York Community Bancorp in 2024, Flagstar Financial (NYSE:FLG) is a bank holding company that offers commercial and consumer banking services, with specialties in multi-family lending, mortgage originations, and warehouse lending.

Flagstar Financial reported revenues of $548 million, down 3% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 3.2%. It was a stunning quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates.

The stock is down 7.5% since reporting and currently trades at $12.53.

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

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