Peoples Bancorp (NASDAQ:PEBO) Issues Earnings Results

Peoples Bancorp (NASDAQ:PEBO) issued its earnings results on Tuesday. The bank reported $0.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.85 by $0.11, FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $121.95 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $120.05 million. Peoples Bancorp had a net margin of 17.92% and a return on equity of 9.75%.

Here are the key takeaways from Peoples Bancorp’s conference call:

• Peoples Bancorp reported adjusted diluted EPS of $0.96, topping consensus, while net interest income, net interest margin, fee income, loan growth, and capital ratios all improved versus the prior quarter.
• Credit costs improved materially, with provision for credit losses down 51% sequentially and annualized net charge-offs falling to 31 basis points from 40 basis points, driven by lower consumer and small-ticket lease charge-offs.
• The company sold about $135 million of available-for-sale securities, taking an $8.2 million loss, as part of its plan to stay below the $10 billion asset threshold and prepare for the pending Citizens merger.
• Management said the Citizens merger remains on track, with regulatory and shareholder approvals still pending, an anticipated close in early Q4 2026, and system conversion targeted for early Q2 2027.
• The company guided to full-year 2026 NIM of 4.1% to 4.3%, with loan growth likely near the low end of its 3% to 5% range due to continued CRE paydowns, while deposit competition and rate repricing remain important variables.

Peoples Bancorp Stock Performance

Shares of Peoples Bancorp stock opened at $39.50 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $1.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.66 and a beta of 0.62. Peoples Bancorp has a twelve month low of $27.49 and a twelve month high of $40.50. The company’s fifty day moving average is $36.47 and its 200 day moving average is $34.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15.

Peoples Bancorp Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 17th. Investors of record on Monday, August 3rd will be paid a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 3rd. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.3%. Peoples Bancorp’s payout ratio is currently 53.85%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Hovde Group increased their price target on Peoples Bancorp from $33.00 to $36.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Peoples Bancorp in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on Peoples Bancorp from $41.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, June 26th. Finally, DA Davidson lifted their price target on Peoples Bancorp from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $39.00.

Peoples Bancorp News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Peoples Bancorp this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Peoples Bancorp beat Q2 expectations, posting EPS of $0.96 versus consensus around $0.84-$0.85 and revenue of $121.95 million, slightly ahead of estimates. MarketBeat earnings report
• Positive Sentiment: The company’s earnings release and commentary pointed to solid profitability, with net income of $28.0 million, a 17.92% net margin, and 9.75% return on equity, reinforcing the view that fundamentals remain healthy. PR Newswire earnings release
• Positive Sentiment: Management also set a target for 2026 net interest margin of 4.10%-4.30% and said it expects the Citizens merger to close in early Q4 2026, which could support future earnings growth if completed as planned. Seeking Alpha merger and NIM update
• Positive Sentiment: The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.42 per share, highlighting ongoing capital returns and a yield that should appeal to income-focused investors. PR Newswire dividend announcement
• Neutral Sentiment: Commentary around the stock reaching a new 1-year high and “nearing a defining moment” reflects strong momentum, but these pieces are mostly market reaction rather than new operating developments. American Banking News article

Insider Transactions at Peoples Bancorp

In related news, Director Dwight Eric Smith bought 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, April 27th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $34.51 per share, with a total value of $34,510.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 9,256 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $319,424.56. This represents a 12.11% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 3.31% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Peoples Bancorp

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in PEBO. Larson Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Peoples Bancorp in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of Peoples Bancorp in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Strs Ohio acquired a new position in shares of Peoples Bancorp in the 1st quarter worth approximately $62,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Peoples Bancorp by 654.3% in the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 3,100 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $93,000 after purchasing an additional 2,689 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in shares of Peoples Bancorp by 1,191.0% during the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,718 shares of the bank’s stock worth $114,000 after buying an additional 3,430 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.68% of the company’s stock.

Peoples Bancorp Company Profile

Peoples Bancorp, Inc is a bank holding company headquartered in Marietta, Ohio. Through its subsidiary Peoples Bank, the company provides a comprehensive range of commercial and consumer banking services designed to serve individuals, businesses and institutional clients. Its deposit products include checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit and digital banking platforms that enable secure online and mobile access.

On the lending side, Peoples Bancorp offers commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate financing, construction and agricultural lending, as well as residential mortgage products.