First Business Financial Services Reports Strong Earnings Growth
- Earnings Growth: First Business Financial Services reported a net income of $13.1 million for Q4 2025, translating to an EPS of $1.58, reflecting strong performance in deposit and loan growth despite a decrease from $14.2 million in Q3 2025.
- Dividend Increase: The company announced a 17% increase in its quarterly cash dividend to $0.34 per share, marking the 14th consecutive annual increase, demonstrating its commitment to shareholder returns amid strong profitability.
- Deposit and Loan Growth: Core deposits grew by $80.9 million, or 12.5% annualized, while total loans increased by $38.6 million, or 4.6% annualized, showcasing the company's competitive position and expansion of client relationships.
- Efficiency Ratio Improvement: The efficiency ratio improved to 56.61% from 57.44% in the prior quarter, indicating ongoing efforts in cost management and operational efficiency, which support future profitability growth.
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- Significant Earnings Growth: First Business Bank reported a 14% year-over-year increase in EPS for Q4 2025, exceeding the company's long-term growth target of 10%, indicating strong profitability and sustained market competitiveness.
- Strong Private Wealth Performance: The Private Wealth division generated $3.8 million in fee income, an 11% year-over-year increase, with service charges rising nearly 20%, demonstrating the company's successful expansion in high-end client services.
- Dividend Increase: The company announced a 17% increase in its quarterly cash dividend, reflecting its robust financial position and commitment to shareholder returns, while also enhancing its attractiveness to future investors.
- Credit Quality Concerns: While management emphasized that most of the loan portfolio is performing well, a $20.4 million downgrade in commercial real estate loans due to issues with a single borrower highlights challenges in credit quality management.
- Earnings Growth: First Business Financial Services reported a net income of $13.1 million for Q4 2025, translating to an EPS of $1.58, reflecting strong performance in deposit and loan growth despite a decrease from $14.2 million in Q3 2025.
- Dividend Increase: The company announced a 17% increase in its quarterly cash dividend to $0.34 per share, marking the 14th consecutive annual increase, demonstrating its commitment to shareholder returns amid strong profitability.
- Deposit and Loan Growth: Core deposits grew by $80.9 million, or 12.5% annualized, while total loans increased by $38.6 million, or 4.6% annualized, showcasing the company's competitive position and expansion of client relationships.
- Efficiency Ratio Improvement: The efficiency ratio improved to 56.61% from 57.44% in the prior quarter, indicating ongoing efforts in cost management and operational efficiency, which support future profitability growth.
- Conference Participation: First Business Bank will participate in the Janney 2026 CEO Forum on February 4-5, 2026, in Scottsdale, AZ, showcasing its leadership in the business banking sector.
- Executive Attendance: CEO Corey A. Chambas, President and COO David R. Seiler, and CFO Brian D. Spielmann will engage with institutional investors and analysts throughout the conference, enhancing investor confidence.
- Business Focus: First Business Bank specializes in business banking, specialty finance, private wealth, and bank consulting services, delivering specialized finance solutions through its subsidiary, First Business Specialty Finance, LLC, thereby strengthening its market competitiveness.
- Transparency Commitment: The company provides detailed information through its website, ensuring that investors and clients can access the latest updates, further enhancing transparency and trust in the financial services industry.
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- Conference Schedule: First Business Bank will participate in the Sidoti & Company Year End Virtual Investor Conference on December 11, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. EST, where executives will present an overview of operations, strategy, and financial results, aiming to enhance investor understanding of the company.
- Executive Participation: CEO Corey A. Chambas, President and COO David R. Seiler, and CFO Brian D. Spielmann will present during the conference and host one-on-one investor meetings, enhancing interaction and communication with investors.
- Registration Information: Registration for the conference is free, allowing investors to join the live webcast through the provided link, ensuring broad investor participation and information dissemination, which will further enhance the company's market visibility.
- Company Background: First Business Bank specializes in business banking, including commercial banking, specialty finance, private wealth, and bank consulting services, showcasing the company's expertise and responsiveness in the financial services sector.
Validea's Low PE Investor Model: Today's upgrades for Validea's Low PE Investor model, based on John Neff's strategy, highlight stocks like HCI Group Inc., SLR Investment Corp., Ellington Financial Inc., Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc., and First Business Financial Services Inc., with ratings improving significantly due to strong fundamentals and valuations.
HCI Group Inc. Overview: HCI Group Inc. operates in the property and casualty insurance sector and has seen its rating rise from 62% to 81%, indicating strong interest based on its financial performance and stock valuation.
SLR Investment Corp. Overview: SLR Investment Corp., a small-cap value stock in the financial services industry, improved its rating from 58% to 77%, reflecting positive changes in its underlying fundamentals and valuation metrics.
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