HBT Financial Inc (NASDAQ:HBT) Reports Q3 2025 Earnings Beat, Announces Strategic Acquisition

HBT Financial Inc (NASDAQ:HBT) reported its third-quarter 2025 financial results, delivering earnings that surpassed analyst expectations while revenue fell slightly short of consensus estimates. The market reaction has been cautiously positive, with the stock showing modest pre-market gains following the announcement.

Earnings and Revenue Performance

The company's third-quarter performance presented a mixed picture relative to analyst forecasts. HBT Financial reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.65, exceeding the consensus estimate of $0.6254. This represents the highest quarterly adjusted diluted earnings per share since the company became publicly traded.

However, the company reported revenue of $59.84 million, which came in below the analyst estimate of $60.91 million. The earnings beat was driven by several factors:

• Adjusted net income of $20.5 million, compared to $19.8 million in the previous quarter
• Net interest income of $50.0 million, showing a slight increase from the second quarter
• Noninterest income of $9.8 million, marking a 7.8% increase from the previous quarter

Market Reaction and Strategic Developments

The market responded positively to the earnings release, with shares rising approximately 0.64% in pre-market trading. This reaction suggests investors are focusing more on the earnings beat and the company's forward-looking strategic initiatives rather than the slight revenue miss.

The earnings announcement was accompanied by significant corporate news, as HBT simultaneously revealed a definitive agreement to acquire CNB Bank Shares, Inc. in a transaction valued at approximately $170.2 million. This strategic move is expected to create a combined entity with approximately $6.9 billion in total assets, $4.7 billion in total loans, and $5.9 billion in total deposits across 84 branch locations.

Financial Health and Operational Metrics

Beyond the headline earnings figures, HBT demonstrated strong underlying financial health across several key areas:

• Profitability Ratios:

  • Return on average assets: 1.56%
  • Return on average tangible common equity: 15.28%
  • Adjusted return on average tangible common equity: 15.81%

• Asset Quality:

  • Nonperforming assets to total assets: 0.17%
  • Net charge-offs to average loans: 0.02% (annualized)
  • Allowance for credit losses to total loans: 1.23%

• Capital Strength:

  • Total capital to risk-weighted assets: 16.77%
  • Tangible book value per share increased to $16.64, up 3.9% for the quarter

Forward Outlook and Analyst Expectations

Looking ahead, analysts have established expectations for the coming periods that provide context for HBT's future performance. For the fourth quarter of 2025, the consensus estimates project revenue of $61.38 million and earnings per share of $0.63327. For the full year 2025, analysts are forecasting sales of $241 million and revenue of $2.49 billion.

J. Lance Carter, President and Chief Executive Officer of HBT Financial, commented on the results, stating, "During the third quarter of 2025, we continued to produce consistently strong earnings while we maintained a solid balance sheet and saw loan growth return. Our credit discipline, strong profitability and solid balance sheet give us confidence that we are prepared for a variety of economic environments."

The company's performance this quarter, combined with the strategic CNB Bank acquisition, positions HBT for potential growth in the expanding Illinois, Eastern Iowa, and Missouri markets. The market's positive reaction to the earnings beat, despite the revenue shortfall, indicates investor confidence in the company's strategic direction and profitability metrics.

For more detailed earnings information and analyst estimates, visit the HBT earnings and estimates page.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, financial analysis, or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Investors should conduct their own research and consult with financial advisors before making investment decisions.