Small-Cap Stocks Surge, Led by Financials
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 4 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy AMTB?
Source: seekingalpha
- Strong Small-Cap Performance: Year-to-date in 2026, small-cap stocks represented by the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) have surged 10.9%, significantly outperforming the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) which only rose 1.4%, indicating a robust rebound after years of underperformance.
- Top Financial Stocks: Amerant Bancorp (AMTB) leads with a last price percentage above its 200-day simple moving average (200D SMA) at 19.95%, followed closely by Plumas Bancorp (PLBC) and Ares Commercial Real Estate (ACRE), highlighting the strength of regional banks in the small-cap sector.
- Strong Buy Ratings: Columbia Financial (CLBK) and Capitol Federal Financial (CFFN) received strong buy Quant Ratings of 4.56 and 4.70 respectively, reflecting increased market confidence and potentially attracting more investor interest in these financial stocks.
- Regional Banks Dominate: With nine out of the top ten small-cap financial stocks being regional banks, this dominance underscores the sector's stability and growth potential, particularly as CRE loans stabilize, suggesting upside opportunities ahead.
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Analyst Views on AMTB
Wall Street analysts forecast AMTB stock price to rise
3 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 22.430
Low
23.00
Averages
23.67
High
25.00
Current: 22.430
Low
23.00
Averages
23.67
High
25.00
About AMTB
Amerant Bancorp Inc. is a bank holding company. The Company operates through its subsidiary, Amerant Bank, N.A. (the Bank). It provides individuals and businesses with a comprehensive array of deposit, credit, investment, wealth management, retail banking, mortgage services and fiduciary services. It offers a variety of trust and estate planning products and services catering to high-net-worth customers. Its trust and estate planning products include simple and complex trusts, private foundations and personal investment companies. It offers a full suite of online banking services, including online account opening for domestic and international customers, access to account balances, statements and other documents, Zelle for consumers and businesses, online transfers, online bill payment and electronic delivery of customer statements, as well as automated teller machines, and banking by mobile devices, telephone and mail.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Small-Cap Stocks Surge, Led by Financials
- Strong Small-Cap Performance: Year-to-date in 2026, small-cap stocks represented by the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) have surged 10.9%, significantly outperforming the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) which only rose 1.4%, indicating a robust rebound after years of underperformance.
- Top Financial Stocks: Amerant Bancorp (AMTB) leads with a last price percentage above its 200-day simple moving average (200D SMA) at 19.95%, followed closely by Plumas Bancorp (PLBC) and Ares Commercial Real Estate (ACRE), highlighting the strength of regional banks in the small-cap sector.
- Strong Buy Ratings: Columbia Financial (CLBK) and Capitol Federal Financial (CFFN) received strong buy Quant Ratings of 4.56 and 4.70 respectively, reflecting increased market confidence and potentially attracting more investor interest in these financial stocks.
- Regional Banks Dominate: With nine out of the top ten small-cap financial stocks being regional banks, this dominance underscores the sector's stability and growth potential, particularly as CRE loans stabilize, suggesting upside opportunities ahead.
See More
Amerant Bancorp (AMTB) Unveils 3-Year Strategic Plan Aiming for Near 1% ROA
- Strategic Plan Launch: Amerant Bancorp unveiled a three-year strategic plan in Q4 2025, focusing on credit transformation, balance sheet optimization, and operational efficiency to stabilize and grow the business.
- Financial Performance Overview: As of Q4, total assets decreased to $9.8 billion from $10.4 billion in Q3, primarily due to reduced wholesale funding and high-cost deposits, resulting in diluted earnings per share dropping to $0.07.
- Loan and Deposit Outlook: Management projects Q1 2026 loan balances to remain at Q4 2025 levels, with full-year loan growth estimated between 7% and 9%, and deposit growth expected to match loan growth.
- International Market Opportunities: The company has nearly $2 billion in deposits and close to 50,000 customers in Venezuela, with management expressing optimism about new opportunities arising from changes in U.S. oil extraction policy, which are expected to drive future business growth.
See More
Amerant Bancorp (AMTB) Reports Q4 Revenue of $112.2M, NIM Declines to 3.78%
- Earnings Highlights: Amerant Bancorp reported a Q4 GAAP EPS of $0.07, which may not be comparable to estimates, but revenue reached $112.2M, reflecting a 0.8% year-over-year increase and exceeding expectations by $5.7M, indicating the company's stability in the market.
- NIM Decline: The net interest margin (NIM) decreased to 3.78% from 3.92% in the previous quarter, highlighting the impact of changing interest rate environments on profitability, which may affect future profit growth.
- Loan Yield and Deposit Costs: The average yield on loans was 6.73%, down from 6.93%, while the average cost of total deposits improved to 2.34% from 2.41%, demonstrating the company's efforts in cost control amidst fluctuating rates.
- Executive Changes: Amerant Bancorp announced the resignation of CEO Jerry Plush, with COO Carlos Iafigliola appointed as interim CEO, a leadership change that may influence the company's strategic direction and market confidence.
See More
Amerant Bancorp (AMTB) Reports Q4 Earnings Decline but Beats Estimates
- Earnings Performance: Amerant Bancorp reported Q4 earnings of $2.70 million, or $0.07 per share, a significant decline from last year's $16.88 million and $0.40 per share, yet it surpassed analysts' expectations of $0.35, demonstrating resilience amid challenges.
- Adjusted Earnings: Excluding special items, the company reported adjusted earnings of $21.67 million, or $0.53 per share, indicating that its core operations remain profitable despite the overall earnings decline.
- Revenue Growth: The company's revenue for the fourth quarter rose 0.8% to $112.17 million from $111.32 million last year, reflecting stable revenue streams despite market challenges.
- Market Expectations: Although earnings declined, Amerant's performance exceeded market expectations, potentially boosting investor confidence and indicating the company's potential for improved profitability in future quarters.
See More
Amerant Bancorp Declares $0.09 Dividend and $40 Million Share Repurchase Program
- Dividend Declaration: Amerant Bancorp announced a cash dividend of $0.09 per share, payable on February 27, 2026, to shareholders of record as of February 13, 2026, reflecting the company's commitment to shareholder returns and enhancing investor confidence.
- Share Repurchase Program: The Board approved a new 2026 Repurchase Program allowing for the repurchase of up to $40 million of Class A common stock, which is expected to enhance earnings per share and optimize the capital structure through opportunistic buybacks.
- Capital Management Strategy: Interim CEO Carlos Iafigliola stated that the repurchase program is a key component of the company's capital management strategy aimed at creating long-term shareholder value, demonstrating confidence in the current stock price.
- Flexible Repurchase Mechanism: Repurchases will be conducted flexibly based on market conditions and regulatory requirements, potentially through open market purchases, block trades, or private negotiations, ensuring the company's capital operations remain adaptable in varying market environments.
See More
Amerant Bancorp Schedules Q4 2025 Earnings Release for January 22, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: Amerant Bancorp will release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results on January 22, 2026, after market close, allowing investors to access this information through the company's website, ensuring transparency and timely updates.
- Conference Call Details: On January 23, 2026, at 9:00 AM ET, Interim CEO Carlos Iafigliola and CFO Sharymar Calderón will host a conference call to discuss the financial and operating results, enhancing communication with investors and stakeholders.
- Webcast Access: The conference call will be webcast live on the company’s website, with access available under the “News & Events” section, ensuring broad participation and dissemination of information to interested parties.
- Company Background: Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida, Amerant Bancorp provides deposit, credit, and wealth management services through its 23 banking centers, primarily in South Florida, highlighting its market presence and operational scale in the region.
See More
Small-Cap Stocks Surge, Led by Financials
- Strong Small-Cap Performance: Year-to-date in 2026, small-cap stocks represented by the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) have surged 10.9%, significantly outperforming the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) which only rose 1.4%, indicating a robust rebound after years of underperformance.
- Top Financial Stocks: Amerant Bancorp (AMTB) leads with a last price percentage above its 200-day simple moving average (200D SMA) at 19.95%, followed closely by Plumas Bancorp (PLBC) and Ares Commercial Real Estate (ACRE), highlighting the strength of regional banks in the small-cap sector.
- Strong Buy Ratings: Columbia Financial (CLBK) and Capitol Federal Financial (CFFN) received strong buy Quant Ratings of 4.56 and 4.70 respectively, reflecting increased market confidence and potentially attracting more investor interest in these financial stocks.
- Regional Banks Dominate: With nine out of the top ten small-cap financial stocks being regional banks, this dominance underscores the sector's stability and growth potential, particularly as CRE loans stabilize, suggesting upside opportunities ahead.
See More
Amerant Bancorp (AMTB) Unveils 3-Year Strategic Plan Aiming for Near 1% ROA
- Strategic Plan Launch: Amerant Bancorp unveiled a three-year strategic plan in Q4 2025, focusing on credit transformation, balance sheet optimization, and operational efficiency to stabilize and grow the business.
- Financial Performance Overview: As of Q4, total assets decreased to $9.8 billion from $10.4 billion in Q3, primarily due to reduced wholesale funding and high-cost deposits, resulting in diluted earnings per share dropping to $0.07.
- Loan and Deposit Outlook: Management projects Q1 2026 loan balances to remain at Q4 2025 levels, with full-year loan growth estimated between 7% and 9%, and deposit growth expected to match loan growth.
- International Market Opportunities: The company has nearly $2 billion in deposits and close to 50,000 customers in Venezuela, with management expressing optimism about new opportunities arising from changes in U.S. oil extraction policy, which are expected to drive future business growth.
See More
Amerant Bancorp (AMTB) Reports Q4 Revenue of $112.2M, NIM Declines to 3.78%
- Earnings Highlights: Amerant Bancorp reported a Q4 GAAP EPS of $0.07, which may not be comparable to estimates, but revenue reached $112.2M, reflecting a 0.8% year-over-year increase and exceeding expectations by $5.7M, indicating the company's stability in the market.
- NIM Decline: The net interest margin (NIM) decreased to 3.78% from 3.92% in the previous quarter, highlighting the impact of changing interest rate environments on profitability, which may affect future profit growth.
- Loan Yield and Deposit Costs: The average yield on loans was 6.73%, down from 6.93%, while the average cost of total deposits improved to 2.34% from 2.41%, demonstrating the company's efforts in cost control amidst fluctuating rates.
- Executive Changes: Amerant Bancorp announced the resignation of CEO Jerry Plush, with COO Carlos Iafigliola appointed as interim CEO, a leadership change that may influence the company's strategic direction and market confidence.
See More
Amerant Bancorp (AMTB) Reports Q4 Earnings Decline but Beats Estimates
- Earnings Performance: Amerant Bancorp reported Q4 earnings of $2.70 million, or $0.07 per share, a significant decline from last year's $16.88 million and $0.40 per share, yet it surpassed analysts' expectations of $0.35, demonstrating resilience amid challenges.
- Adjusted Earnings: Excluding special items, the company reported adjusted earnings of $21.67 million, or $0.53 per share, indicating that its core operations remain profitable despite the overall earnings decline.
- Revenue Growth: The company's revenue for the fourth quarter rose 0.8% to $112.17 million from $111.32 million last year, reflecting stable revenue streams despite market challenges.
- Market Expectations: Although earnings declined, Amerant's performance exceeded market expectations, potentially boosting investor confidence and indicating the company's potential for improved profitability in future quarters.
See More
Amerant Bancorp Declares $0.09 Dividend and $40 Million Share Repurchase Program
- Dividend Declaration: Amerant Bancorp announced a cash dividend of $0.09 per share, payable on February 27, 2026, to shareholders of record as of February 13, 2026, reflecting the company's commitment to shareholder returns and enhancing investor confidence.
- Share Repurchase Program: The Board approved a new 2026 Repurchase Program allowing for the repurchase of up to $40 million of Class A common stock, which is expected to enhance earnings per share and optimize the capital structure through opportunistic buybacks.
- Capital Management Strategy: Interim CEO Carlos Iafigliola stated that the repurchase program is a key component of the company's capital management strategy aimed at creating long-term shareholder value, demonstrating confidence in the current stock price.
- Flexible Repurchase Mechanism: Repurchases will be conducted flexibly based on market conditions and regulatory requirements, potentially through open market purchases, block trades, or private negotiations, ensuring the company's capital operations remain adaptable in varying market environments.
See More
Amerant Bancorp Schedules Q4 2025 Earnings Release for January 22, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: Amerant Bancorp will release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results on January 22, 2026, after market close, allowing investors to access this information through the company's website, ensuring transparency and timely updates.
- Conference Call Details: On January 23, 2026, at 9:00 AM ET, Interim CEO Carlos Iafigliola and CFO Sharymar Calderón will host a conference call to discuss the financial and operating results, enhancing communication with investors and stakeholders.
- Webcast Access: The conference call will be webcast live on the company’s website, with access available under the “News & Events” section, ensuring broad participation and dissemination of information to interested parties.
- Company Background: Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida, Amerant Bancorp provides deposit, credit, and wealth management services through its 23 banking centers, primarily in South Florida, highlighting its market presence and operational scale in the region.
See More
