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Nicolet Bankshares Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 20 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Diluted EPS rose to $2.96: Net income was $63.7 million and diluted EPS $2.96, against $56.9 million and $2.62 in the second quarter and $42 million and $2.73 a year earlier. Non-core items were mostly merger-related expense. Source
  • Integration and conversion completed: Management said the MidWest One integration and core systems conversion are complete, and both wealth management platforms now run on a common operating system. Source
  • Net interest margin rose to 4.19%: Net interest margin was 4.19%, up from 4.14%. Yield on interest-earning assets rose 2 bps to 5.88%, with loan yield up 6 bps to 6.32%, partly offset by a 4 bps lower investment yield from smaller discount accretion. Source
  • Expenses fell on lower merger costs: Merger-related expense fell $3 million and other noninterest expense fell $5 million, which management attributed to the second-quarter loss on early redemption of junior subordinated debentures. Source
  • Core deposits rose $223 million: Core deposits rose $223 million to $12.26 billion. Management said the funding mix improved. Source
  • Total capital declined $37 million: Total capital was $2.2 billion, down $37 million. Tangible book value per common share was $61.14, down from $62.19. Source

“Our third quarter results are beginning to show what this combined company can produce”

Mike Daniels, Chairman, President, and CEO of Nicolet

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly cash dividend SourceDividend payable December 15, 2026, to holders of record December 1, 2026$0.36 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: MidWest One integration and core systems conversion reported as completed. Source
  • Ended: Denver branches divestiture closed on July 28, 2026. Source

Quarter results and earnings

  • Diluted EPS rose to $2.96: Net income was $63.7 million and diluted EPS $2.96, against $56.9 million and $2.62 in the second quarter and $42 million and $2.73 a year earlier. Non-core items were mostly merger-related expense. Source
  • Core earnings per share rose: Core diluted EPS was $3.15 against $2.99 in the second quarter. Core net income was $67.8 million versus $65.1 million. Source
  • Core tangible return rose slightly: Core return on average tangible common equity was 22.01%, against 21.59%. Return on average common equity was 11.16%, against 10.09%. Source

Integration and Denver branch sale

  • Integration and conversion completed: Management said the MidWest One integration and core systems conversion are complete, and both wealth management platforms now run on a common operating system. Source
  • Denver branches sale closed: The Denver branches divestiture closed July 28, 2026, which the company cited as the main reason total assets fell $350 million from June 30. Source
  • Teams credited for execution: Daniels said staff completed the systems conversion and integration while closing the Denver sale and bringing teams together around a shared culture. Source

“We expect a cleaner fourth quarter giving a clearer view of what this company can earn as we head into 2027.”

Mike Daniels, Chairman, President, and CEO of Nicolet

Net interest income and margin

  • Net interest income edged higher: Net interest income was $142.2 million, about $1 million (1%) higher than the second quarter. Average interest-earning assets fell $226 million to $13.6 billion, mostly on lower average loans from the Denver sale. Source
  • Net interest margin rose to 4.19%: Net interest margin was 4.19%, up from 4.14%. Yield on interest-earning assets rose 2 bps to 5.88%, with loan yield up 6 bps to 6.32%, partly offset by a 4 bps lower investment yield from smaller discount accretion. Source
  • Funding costs little changed: Cost of interest-bearing liabilities rose 1 bp to 2.30%. Average interest-bearing deposits fell $321 million, attributable to the Denver branch sale. Source

Costs and noninterest income

  • Expenses fell on lower merger costs: Merger-related expense fell $3 million and other noninterest expense fell $5 million, which management attributed to the second-quarter loss on early redemption of junior subordinated debentures. Source
  • Personnel costs fell with headcount: Personnel expense fell $4 million on lower salaries from fewer average full-time equivalent employees, partly offset by a $2 million deferred compensation valuation item. Source
  • Noninterest income fell on valuations: Noninterest income was $32 million, down $4 million, mainly from net asset losses of $3 million and deferred compensation valuations of $2 million. Excluding these, income rose $1 million, mainly wealth fees. Source

“We like where we are headed. Now we need to keep delivering.”

Mike Daniels, Chairman, President, and CEO of Nicolet

Loans and deposits

  • Loans were nearly flat: Total loans were $10.88 billion, up $34 million from June 30. Average loans fell $263 million, mostly from the Denver sale, partly offset by organic growth. Source
  • Core deposits rose $223 million: Core deposits rose $223 million to $12.26 billion. Management said the funding mix improved. Source
  • Brokered deposits declined again: Brokered deposits fell $150 million to $335 million at quarter end. Total deposits were $12.6 billion, up $73 million from June 30. Source

Asset quality and credit

  • Nonperforming assets rose slightly: Nonperforming assets were $78 million, or 0.52% of total assets, up from $75 million (0.49%). Net loan charge-offs were $754 thousand. Source
  • Allowance and provision edged up: Allowance for credit losses on loans was 1.24% of total loans, up from 1.23%. Provision for credit losses was $1.95 million, against $1.5 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Credit trends described as steady: Management said asset quality trends remained stable, and loan net charge-offs were negligible in the quarter. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Total capital declined $37 million: Total capital was $2.2 billion, down $37 million. Tangible book value per common share was $61.14, down from $62.19. Source
  • Buybacks continued in the quarter: The company repurchased 236,296 shares for $40.0 million in the quarter, and nine-month repurchases reached $102.7 million. Source
  • Quarterly dividend unchanged at $0.36: The board declared a $0.36 quarterly dividend on October 19, 2026, payable December 15, 2026, the same amount as in July. Source

Coming up, as management said on 20 October 2026

  • Fourth quarter and full year release: Earnings release for the fourth quarter and full year 2026 is expected on January 19, 2027. Source
  • Focus on relationships and discipline: Management said its focus is on growing customer relationships while staying disciplined on credit and expenses. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source4.19%
Net interest income Source$142.2 million
Loans Source$10.88 billion
Deposits Source$12.6 billion
Deposit costs Source2.27% interest-bearing deposit cost
Provision for credit losses Source$1.95 million
Net charge-offs Source$754 thousand
Nonperforming assets Source$77.7 million (0.52% of total assets)
Efficiency ratio Source51.72%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Investment portfolio valuations fell as interest rates rose, offsetting earnings in total capital. Source
  • Operational: Merger-related and other non-core items reduced third-quarter diluted EPS by $0.19, following the MidWest One merger. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Second-quarter release said conversion would complete later in summer; the third-quarter release reports the conversion as completed.
  • Met: Second-quarter release expected the Denver sale to close in the third quarter; the third-quarter release reports it closed July 28, 2026.
  • Not stated: Second-quarter release said the company would be in a stronger position to restore historical profitability after conversion and cost savings.

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.