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Nicolet Bankshares Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 July 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q2 net income increased significantly: Net income of $57 million compared to $15 million in first quarter 2026 and $36 million in second quarter 2025. Core net income was $65 million versus $52 million in Q1. Diluted EPS of $2.62 versus $0.81 in Q1, with core diluted EPS of $2.99 versus $2.75. Source
  • Return on tangible common equity strengthened: Return on average tangible common equity of 19.07% for Q2 versus 6.49% in Q1. Core return on average tangible common equity of 21.59% versus 19.30% in Q1. Return on average equity of 10.09% versus 3.44% in prior quarter. Source
  • Net interest margin expanded to 4.14 percent: Net interest margin increased to 4.14% from 3.98% in Q1, with loan purchase accounting accretion adding 23 basis points. Loan yield increased 8 basis points to 6.26%. Cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 7 basis points to 2.29%, benefiting from full quarter of lower core deposit costs from MidWest One. Source
  • Nonperforming assets declined sequentially: Nonperforming assets of $75 million representing 0.49% of total assets in Q2, down from $79 million or 0.51% in Q1. Nonperforming loans to total loans of 0.66% versus 0.68% in prior quarter. Trends remained solid with loan net charge-offs negligible. Source
  • Share repurchase program actively executed: Repurchased 267,310 common shares for $40 million during Q2, continuing the program restarted in Q1 after acquisition completion. Board authorized additional $150 million in repurchases, demonstrating confidence in capital position and valuation. Source
  • Integration proceeding on track: MidWest One acquisition closed February 13, 2026, adding $6.1 billion in total assets, $4.4 billion in loans, and $5.3 billion in deposits. Full quarter of MidWest One results reflected in Q2. Integration team executing integration plan with no material surprises reported. Source
  • Core conversion scheduled for late summer: Core conversion of combined company systems scheduled for late summer 2026 (Q3). Upon completion of conversion, company expects to fully realize planned cost savings from the MidWest One merger. Management anticipates these savings will enable return to historic profitability levels. Source

“I'm particularly pleased with the progress we've made integrating MidWest One. Throughout the process, our teams have remained focused on serving our clients while executing our integration plan.”

Mike Daniels, Chairman, President, and CEO of Nicolet

Net Income and Return Metrics

  • Q2 net income increased significantly: Net income of $57 million compared to $15 million in first quarter 2026 and $36 million in second quarter 2025. Core net income was $65 million versus $52 million in Q1. Diluted EPS of $2.62 versus $0.81 in Q1, with core diluted EPS of $2.99 versus $2.75. Source
  • Return on tangible common equity strengthened: Return on average tangible common equity of 19.07% for Q2 versus 6.49% in Q1. Core return on average tangible common equity of 21.59% versus 19.30% in Q1. Return on average equity of 10.09% versus 3.44% in prior quarter. Source
  • Return on average assets improved: Return on average assets of 1.47% for Q2 2026 versus 0.50% in Q1 2026. Core return on average assets of 1.69% versus 1.68% in prior quarter, showing underlying earnings power. Source

Net Interest Income and Margin Expansion

  • Net interest income increased 29 percent: Net interest income of $141 million in Q2 compared to $110 million in Q1, up $32 million or 29 percent. Increase reflected $43 million rise in interest income and $11 million rise in interest expense, driven by full quarter of MidWest One balances. Source
  • Net interest margin expanded to 4.14 percent: Net interest margin increased to 4.14% from 3.98% in Q1, with loan purchase accounting accretion adding 23 basis points. Loan yield increased 8 basis points to 6.26%. Cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 7 basis points to 2.29%, benefiting from full quarter of lower core deposit costs from MidWest One. Source
  • Loan yield increased on higher rates: Loan yield on average interest-earning assets increased 13 basis points to 5.86% in Q2. Loan yield specifically increased 8 basis points to 6.26%. Yield on investment securities increased from higher discount accretion on municipal bond early call and full quarter of purchase accounting accretion. Source
  • Deposit funding costs declined: Cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 7 basis points to 2.29% in Q2 from 2.36% in Q1. Decrease driven by full quarter of lower core deposit funding costs from the MidWest One acquisition, demonstrating improved deposit franchise economics. Source

“From a balance sheet perspective, we continued to improve the composition of both our loan and deposit portfolios during the quarter. While period-end balances were relatively stable, we continue to see a shift toward higher-yielding in-market commercial loans, supported by growth in lower-cost core deposits.”

Mike Daniels, Chairman, President, and CEO of Nicolet

Credit Quality and Asset Quality

  • Nonperforming assets declined sequentially: Nonperforming assets of $75 million representing 0.49% of total assets in Q2, down from $79 million or 0.51% in Q1. Nonperforming loans to total loans of 0.66% versus 0.68% in prior quarter. Trends remained solid with loan net charge-offs negligible. Source
  • Allowance for credit losses stable: Allowance for credit losses to loans held steady at 1.23% of total loans, unchanged from Q1. ACL of $134 million compared to $133 million in Q1. Methodology and coverage remain appropriate given portfolio composition and credit trends. Source
  • Net charge-offs remained negligible: Net loan charge-offs of $651 thousand in Q2 versus $833 thousand in Q1. Net charge-offs to average loans annualized at 0.02% in Q2. Minimal loss experience reflects quality of portfolio and credit management practices. Source

Capital Management and Shareholder Returns

  • Share repurchase program actively executed: Repurchased 267,310 common shares for $40 million during Q2, continuing the program restarted in Q1 after acquisition completion. Board authorized additional $150 million in repurchases, demonstrating confidence in capital position and valuation. Source
  • Quarterly dividend declared at $0.36: Quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per share declared on July 21, 2026, payable September 15, 2026. Maintained at level established in Q1 when dividend was increased 13 percent from prior level, reflecting management confidence in capital generation. Source
  • Tangible book value per share increased: Tangible book value per common share of $62.19 at June 30, 2026, up from $60.47 at March 31, 2026. Book value per common share increased to $107.85 from $105.87. Tangible common equity to tangible assets of 9.06% versus 8.82% in Q1. Source
  • Total capital increased modestly: Total capital of $2.3 billion at June 30, 2026, up $15 million from March 31, 2026. Increase reflected earnings offset by common stock repurchases and quarterly dividend payments. Stockholders' equity increased to $2.27 billion from $2.26 billion. Source

Balance Sheet Composition and Portfolio Shifts

  • Period-end assets relatively stable: Period-end assets of $15.4 billion at June 30, 2026, a decrease of $160 million from March 31, 2026, largely due to lower cash and cash equivalents. Relative stability despite having full quarter of MidWest One assets. Asset composition shifting toward core operating balances. Source
  • Loans decreased slightly quarter-over-quarter: Total loans decreased $32 million from Q1 to $10.8 billion at June 30, 2026. Period-end loan stability masked by organic outflows offset by integration of MidWest One portfolio. Commercial loans represented 78.9% of total loans. Source
  • Deposits declined with brokered reduction: Total deposits of $12.5 billion at June 30, 2026, decreased $101 million from March 31, 2026. Decline included $100 million decrease in brokered deposits and $1 million decrease in core deposits. Core deposits represented 96.1% of total deposits. Source
  • Portfolio shift to higher-yielding commercial: Management noted continued shift toward higher-yielding in-market commercial loans supported by growth in lower-cost core deposits. Improved composition of loan and deposit portfolios reflects disciplined portfolio management and market opportunities in Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota markets. Source

Merger Integration and Future Positioning

  • Integration proceeding on track: MidWest One acquisition closed February 13, 2026, adding $6.1 billion in total assets, $4.4 billion in loans, and $5.3 billion in deposits. Full quarter of MidWest One results reflected in Q2. Integration team executing integration plan with no material surprises reported. Source
  • Core conversion scheduled for late summer: Core conversion of combined company systems scheduled for late summer 2026 (Q3). Upon completion of conversion, company expects to fully realize planned cost savings from the MidWest One merger. Management anticipates these savings will enable return to historic profitability levels. Source
  • Denver branch sale progressing: Sale of Denver banking branches to Sunwest Bank proceeding with regulatory approval received. Transaction expected to close in Q3 2026 subject to standard closing conditions. Denver locations had approximately $402 million in loans and $388 million in deposits at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Market momentum supporting organic growth: Management noted momentum across Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota markets. Identified opportunities created in Iowa and Minnesota from MidWest One integration. Positioned well to deliver solid organic growth through balance of 2026 with supportive market conditions. Source

Noninterest Income and Operating Efficiency

  • Noninterest income increased 43 percent: Noninterest income of $36 million in Q2 compared to $25 million in Q1, up $11 million. Excluding net asset gains, noninterest income up $8 million. Increases included $1 million in wealth management fees, $2 million in card interchange income, and $1 million in service charges on deposits, mostly from MidWest One. Source
  • Asset gains improved from prior quarter: Net asset gains of $2 million in Q2 versus net asset losses of $1 million in Q1. Gains mostly due to favorable market valuations on an equity investment. Prior quarter included write-down on an equity investment. Source
  • Noninterest expense decreased from Q1: Total noninterest expense of $104 million in Q2 compared to $110 million in Q1, a $6 million decrease. Merger-related expenses decreased $33 million from $41 million to $7 million. Personnel expense increased $12 million reflecting larger post-acquisition employee base. Non-personnel expense decreased $18 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 21 July 2026

  • Core conversion completion expected: Company expects to complete core conversion of combined Nicolet-MidWest One platform later in summer 2026, specifically in Q3. Upon conversion completion, management expects to fully realize planned cost savings from the merger. Source
  • Return to historic profitability levels: After core conversion and cost savings realization, management expects to restore the high level of profitability and returns that have historically characterized Nicolet prior to the acquisition. Source
  • Denver branch sale closing expected: Sale of Denver branches to Sunwest Bank expected to close in Q3 2026 subject to standard closing conditions. Regulatory approval already obtained. Transaction involves approximately $402 million in loans and $388 million in deposits. Source
  • Third quarter earnings release timing: Company expects to issue third quarter 2026 earnings release on October 20, 2026, following completion of third quarter and providing full quarter results for post-conversion combined company. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source4.14%
Net interest income Source$141.5 million
Total loans Source$10.8 billion
Total deposits Source$12.5 billion
Nonperforming assets Source$75 million (0.49% of assets)
Allowance for credit losses to loans Source1.23%
Net charge-offs Source$651 thousand

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management committed in Q1 to complete core conversion in late summer, reinforced in Q2 with same timeline of late summer or Q3 2026.
  • On track: Management committed to realizing all anticipated cost savings after core conversion completion. In Q2, reaffirmed expectation to fully realize planned cost savings upon conversion.
  • On track: Management committed in Q1 to return to top decile core profitability. In Q2, reaffirmed commitment to restore high level of profitability and returns historically defining Nicolet.
  • On track: Sale of Denver branches to Sunwest Bank announced in Q1 with expected Q3 2026 close. In Q2, regulatory approval obtained and transaction progressing toward expected Q3 2026 close. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.