Equity Bancshares (EQBK) Achieves Nearly 50% Asset Growth, Targets Over $5 EPS in 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 22 2026
0mins
Should l Buy EQBK?
Source: seekingalpha
- Significant Asset Growth: Equity Bancshares reported assets of $6.4 billion at the end of Q4 2025, marking a nearly 50% increase from $5.3 billion at the start of the year, demonstrating rapid expansion through the Frontier acquisition and enhancing market competitiveness.
- Improved Profitability: The company reported net income of $22.1 million or $1.15 per diluted share, with adjusted earnings rising to $23.3 million from $22.4 million in the previous quarter, indicating a sustained improvement in profitability.
- Credit Quality Improvement: Nonaccrual loans decreased from $48.6 million to $40.3 million, a 17% decline, reflecting positive progress in credit management that helps reduce risk and enhance financial stability.
- Positive Future Outlook: Management set an ambitious target of over $5 per share in earnings for 2026 and anticipates a loan-to-deposit ratio of 88%, reflecting confidence in future growth and a robust strategic plan in a competitive market.
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Analyst Views on EQBK
Wall Street analysts forecast EQBK stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for EQBK is 49.67 USD with a low forecast of 45.00 USD and a high forecast of 57.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
3 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 47.550
Low
45.00
Averages
49.67
High
57.00
Current: 47.550
Low
45.00
Averages
49.67
High
57.00
About EQBK
Equity Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for Equity Bank, offering a full range of financial solutions, including commercial loans, consumer banking, mortgage loans, trust and wealth and treasury management services. The Company operates full-service locations in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. It also operates a loan production office in West Des Moines, Iowa. The Company's products and services include personal, business and mortgage. Its personal products include checking, lending, investing, savings and digital banking. Its business products include checking, savings, treasury management services, insurance, lending, trust and digital banking. Its mortgage loan products include first-time home buyer programs, government home loan programs and home equity line of credit. Its personal checking products include rewards checking, perks plus checking, and order checks. Its lending products include business credit card, commercial loans, and specialty loans.
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.
Equity Bancshares (EQBK) Achieves Nearly 50% Asset Growth, Targets Over $5 EPS in 2026
- Significant Asset Growth: Equity Bancshares reported assets of $6.4 billion at the end of Q4 2025, marking a nearly 50% increase from $5.3 billion at the start of the year, demonstrating rapid expansion through the Frontier acquisition and enhancing market competitiveness.
- Improved Profitability: The company reported net income of $22.1 million or $1.15 per diluted share, with adjusted earnings rising to $23.3 million from $22.4 million in the previous quarter, indicating a sustained improvement in profitability.
- Credit Quality Improvement: Nonaccrual loans decreased from $48.6 million to $40.3 million, a 17% decline, reflecting positive progress in credit management that helps reduce risk and enhance financial stability.
- Positive Future Outlook: Management set an ambitious target of over $5 per share in earnings for 2026 and anticipates a loan-to-deposit ratio of 88%, reflecting confidence in future growth and a robust strategic plan in a competitive market.
See More
Equity Bancshares Acquires Frontier Holdings, Reports $22.1 Million Net Income
- Acquisition Completed: Equity Bancshares completed its acquisition of Frontier Holdings LLC on January 1, 2026, marking its entry into Nebraska, which is expected to add approximately $1.34 billion in loan balances and $1.1 billion in deposits, significantly expanding its market share.
- Net Income Growth: For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, Equity reported net income of $22.1 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, a significant recovery from a net loss of $29.7 million in the prior quarter, demonstrating the company's success in integrating newly acquired assets.
- Interest Income Increase: Total net interest income for 2025 reached $226.1 million, a 21.4% increase from 2024, primarily driven by margin expansion and balance sheet growth, reflecting the company's adaptability in changing interest rate environments.
- Shareholder Returns: The company announced a $0.18 dividend per share and repurchased 172,338 shares at an average price of $41.69 per share during the quarter, indicating a strong commitment to shareholder returns and confidence in its financial health.
See More
Equity Bancshares (EQBK) Q4 EPS Beats Expectations, Revenue Grows 25.3% YoY
- Earnings Beat: Equity Bancshares reported a Q4 GAAP EPS of $1.15, exceeding expectations by $0.08, indicating a sustained improvement in profitability that could positively influence shareholder confidence.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q4 revenue of $73.03 million, reflecting a 25.3% year-over-year increase, although it fell short of market expectations, suggesting effective efforts in expanding market share.
- Market Expectation Gap: Despite the year-over-year revenue growth, the company missed the market expectation of $73.25 million by $0.62 million, which may raise investor concerns about future growth and impact stock performance.
- Financial Health Commitment: The ongoing release of financial information and dividend scorecards demonstrates the company's commitment to financial transparency and shareholder returns, which helps enhance investor trust.
See More
Equity Bancshares Reports $22.1M Net Income for Q4 2025, Optimistic Acquisition Outlook
- Net Income Growth: Equity Bancshares reported a net income of $22.1 million for Q4 2025, translating to $1.15 per diluted share, a significant recovery from a net loss of $29.7 million in the previous quarter, indicating a strong rebound in financial health and growth potential.
- Interest Income Increase: The net interest income reached $63.5 million, slightly up from $62.5 million in the prior quarter, demonstrating the company's stable performance in loan and asset management, which enhances its competitive position in the market.
- Improved Asset Quality: Nonperforming assets decreased to $46.7 million, or 0.7% of total assets, down from $52.6 million in the previous quarter, reflecting effective measures in asset management and risk control by the company.
- Capital Adequacy Ratio Improvement: As of December 31, 2025, the company's common equity tier 1 capital ratio stood at 13.1%, up from 12.9% in the prior quarter, indicating ongoing improvements in capital management and risk-bearing capacity.
See More
Empire Petroleum Extends Revolver Loan Maturity to 2028
- Credit Facility Extension: Empire Petroleum has entered into a third amendment with Equity Bank, extending the maturity of its existing $20 million revolving credit facility from December 29, 2026, to December 29, 2028, thereby providing additional financial flexibility to support the company's strategic growth initiatives.
- Strategic Partnership: CEO Mike Morrisett emphasized the strong relationship with Equity Bank and their continued confidence in the company's business strategy, indicating that the bank's deep industry knowledge has been a valuable resource throughout their partnership.
- Asset Optimization Opportunities: The extension of the credit facility enables Empire Petroleum to pursue greater flexibility in organic growth and targeted acquisitions, thereby optimizing its asset base and enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Market Outlook: Empire Petroleum focuses on existing assets in New Mexico, North Dakota, Montana, Texas, and Louisiana, with management planning to drive growth through the acquisition of proved developed assets that synergize with its current portfolio of wells.
See More
Equity Bancshares to Release Q4 Financial Results on January 21, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: Equity Bancshares is set to release its fourth-quarter financial results on January 21, 2026, after market close, which is expected to provide investors with the latest insights into the company's financial performance and future profitability.
- Conference Call Details: The company will hold a conference call on January 22, 2026, where CEO Brad Elliott and CFO Chris Navratil will discuss the earnings report, likely attracting investor attention and further bolstering market confidence in the company.
- Global Dial-In Information: To facilitate participation, Equity provides multiple dial-in options and an access code, ensuring that global investors can easily join the call, thereby enhancing the company's transparency and investor relations.
- Replay Availability: A replay of the call will be available two hours after its conclusion until February 5, 2026, ensuring that investors who cannot participate live can still access key information, thereby improving information accessibility and interaction between the company and its investors.
See More
Equity Bancshares (EQBK) Achieves Nearly 50% Asset Growth, Targets Over $5 EPS in 2026
- Significant Asset Growth: Equity Bancshares reported assets of $6.4 billion at the end of Q4 2025, marking a nearly 50% increase from $5.3 billion at the start of the year, demonstrating rapid expansion through the Frontier acquisition and enhancing market competitiveness.
- Improved Profitability: The company reported net income of $22.1 million or $1.15 per diluted share, with adjusted earnings rising to $23.3 million from $22.4 million in the previous quarter, indicating a sustained improvement in profitability.
- Credit Quality Improvement: Nonaccrual loans decreased from $48.6 million to $40.3 million, a 17% decline, reflecting positive progress in credit management that helps reduce risk and enhance financial stability.
- Positive Future Outlook: Management set an ambitious target of over $5 per share in earnings for 2026 and anticipates a loan-to-deposit ratio of 88%, reflecting confidence in future growth and a robust strategic plan in a competitive market.
See More
Equity Bancshares Acquires Frontier Holdings, Reports $22.1 Million Net Income
- Acquisition Completed: Equity Bancshares completed its acquisition of Frontier Holdings LLC on January 1, 2026, marking its entry into Nebraska, which is expected to add approximately $1.34 billion in loan balances and $1.1 billion in deposits, significantly expanding its market share.
- Net Income Growth: For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, Equity reported net income of $22.1 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, a significant recovery from a net loss of $29.7 million in the prior quarter, demonstrating the company's success in integrating newly acquired assets.
- Interest Income Increase: Total net interest income for 2025 reached $226.1 million, a 21.4% increase from 2024, primarily driven by margin expansion and balance sheet growth, reflecting the company's adaptability in changing interest rate environments.
- Shareholder Returns: The company announced a $0.18 dividend per share and repurchased 172,338 shares at an average price of $41.69 per share during the quarter, indicating a strong commitment to shareholder returns and confidence in its financial health.
See More
Equity Bancshares (EQBK) Q4 EPS Beats Expectations, Revenue Grows 25.3% YoY
- Earnings Beat: Equity Bancshares reported a Q4 GAAP EPS of $1.15, exceeding expectations by $0.08, indicating a sustained improvement in profitability that could positively influence shareholder confidence.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q4 revenue of $73.03 million, reflecting a 25.3% year-over-year increase, although it fell short of market expectations, suggesting effective efforts in expanding market share.
- Market Expectation Gap: Despite the year-over-year revenue growth, the company missed the market expectation of $73.25 million by $0.62 million, which may raise investor concerns about future growth and impact stock performance.
- Financial Health Commitment: The ongoing release of financial information and dividend scorecards demonstrates the company's commitment to financial transparency and shareholder returns, which helps enhance investor trust.
See More
Equity Bancshares Reports $22.1M Net Income for Q4 2025, Optimistic Acquisition Outlook
- Net Income Growth: Equity Bancshares reported a net income of $22.1 million for Q4 2025, translating to $1.15 per diluted share, a significant recovery from a net loss of $29.7 million in the previous quarter, indicating a strong rebound in financial health and growth potential.
- Interest Income Increase: The net interest income reached $63.5 million, slightly up from $62.5 million in the prior quarter, demonstrating the company's stable performance in loan and asset management, which enhances its competitive position in the market.
- Improved Asset Quality: Nonperforming assets decreased to $46.7 million, or 0.7% of total assets, down from $52.6 million in the previous quarter, reflecting effective measures in asset management and risk control by the company.
- Capital Adequacy Ratio Improvement: As of December 31, 2025, the company's common equity tier 1 capital ratio stood at 13.1%, up from 12.9% in the prior quarter, indicating ongoing improvements in capital management and risk-bearing capacity.
See More
Empire Petroleum Extends Revolver Loan Maturity to 2028
- Credit Facility Extension: Empire Petroleum has entered into a third amendment with Equity Bank, extending the maturity of its existing $20 million revolving credit facility from December 29, 2026, to December 29, 2028, thereby providing additional financial flexibility to support the company's strategic growth initiatives.
- Strategic Partnership: CEO Mike Morrisett emphasized the strong relationship with Equity Bank and their continued confidence in the company's business strategy, indicating that the bank's deep industry knowledge has been a valuable resource throughout their partnership.
- Asset Optimization Opportunities: The extension of the credit facility enables Empire Petroleum to pursue greater flexibility in organic growth and targeted acquisitions, thereby optimizing its asset base and enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Market Outlook: Empire Petroleum focuses on existing assets in New Mexico, North Dakota, Montana, Texas, and Louisiana, with management planning to drive growth through the acquisition of proved developed assets that synergize with its current portfolio of wells.
See More
Equity Bancshares to Release Q4 Financial Results on January 21, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: Equity Bancshares is set to release its fourth-quarter financial results on January 21, 2026, after market close, which is expected to provide investors with the latest insights into the company's financial performance and future profitability.
- Conference Call Details: The company will hold a conference call on January 22, 2026, where CEO Brad Elliott and CFO Chris Navratil will discuss the earnings report, likely attracting investor attention and further bolstering market confidence in the company.
- Global Dial-In Information: To facilitate participation, Equity provides multiple dial-in options and an access code, ensuring that global investors can easily join the call, thereby enhancing the company's transparency and investor relations.
- Replay Availability: A replay of the call will be available two hours after its conclusion until February 5, 2026, ensuring that investors who cannot participate live can still access key information, thereby improving information accessibility and interaction between the company and its investors.
See More
