As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q3. Today, we are looking at regional banks stocks, starting with Eastern Bank (NASDAQ:EBC).

Regional banks, financial institutions operating within specific geographic areas, serve as intermediaries between local depositors and borrowers. They benefit from rising interest rates that improve net interest margins (the difference between loan yields and deposit costs), digital transformation reducing operational expenses, and local economic growth driving loan demand. However, these banks face headwinds from fintech competition, deposit outflows to higher-yielding alternatives, credit deterioration (increasing loan defaults) during economic slowdowns, and regulatory compliance costs. Recent concerns about regional bank stability following high-profile failures and significant commercial real estate exposure present additional challenges.

The 87 regional banks stocks we track reported a softer Q3. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 2.3% on average since the latest earnings results.

Eastern Bank (NASDAQ:EBC)

Founded in 1818 as one of America's oldest mutual banks before converting to a public company in 2020, Eastern Bankshares (NASDAQ:EBC) operates as a bank holding company providing commercial and retail banking services primarily in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Eastern Bank reported revenues of $306.6 million, up 25.1% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 1.6%. Overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with a slight miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

“We are pleased with our third quarter performance, which reflects disciplined execution on our priorities of growing organically and returning capital to shareholders,” said Denis Sheahan, Chief Executive Officer. “CRE and C&I lending drove solid total loan growth, while CRE payoffs continued to be a headwind, despite moderating from the second quarter. Commercial loan pipelines remain strong, although the pace of closings has been somewhat slower than anticipated as some clients take a more measured approach to investment decisions amid interest rate uncertainty. Overall, customers remain resilient and business activity continues to generate demand for financing. On the funding side, period-end deposits grew modestly despite seasonal municipal outflows. While competition remains elevated, we are committed to gathering core deposits to support our growth strategy. Wealth Management further increased assets under management and administration, and our comprehensive, team-based approach continues to differentiate us. While we are in the early stages of capitalizing on the full potential of our Wealth Management business, we are generating meaningful momentum, and are encouraged about its long-term outlook.”

The market was likely pricing in the results, and the stock is flat since reporting. It currently trades at $21.92.

Read our full report on Eastern Bank here, it’s free.

Best Q3: Merchants Bancorp (NASDAQ:MBIN)

With a strategic focus on low-risk, government-backed lending programs, Merchants Bancorp (NASDAQCM:MBIN) is an Indiana-based bank holding company specializing in multi-family mortgage banking, mortgage warehousing, and traditional banking services.

Merchants Bancorp reported revenues of $224.9 million, up 31.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 22.3%. The business had a favorable quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates.

Merchants Bancorp scored the biggest analyst estimate beat of the whole group. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 9.1% since reporting. It currently trades at $53.62.

Is now the time to buy Merchants Bancorp? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q3: National Bank Holdings (NYSE:NBHC)

Operating under familiar local brands like Community Banks of Colorado, Bank Midwest, and Bank of Jackson Hole, National Bank Holdings (NYSE:NBHC) operates regional banks across Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Texas, and other western states, offering commercial, business, and consumer banking services.

National Bank Holdings reported revenues of $128.5 million, up 21.8% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.1%. It was an underwhelming quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 4.9% since the results and currently trades at $37.07.

Read our full analysis of National Bank Holdings’s results here.

Popular (NASDAQ:BPOP)

Founded in 1893 as the first bank in Puerto Rico to serve the working class, Popular (NASDAQ:BPOP) is a financial holding company that provides retail, mortgage, and commercial banking services primarily in Puerto Rico and the mainland United States.

Popular reported revenues of $874.6 million, up 7.4% year on year. This result lagged analysts’ expectations by 1.5%. It was a sluggish quarter as it also produced a significant miss of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

The stock is down 1.9% since reporting and currently trades at $159.23.

Read our full, actionable report on Popular here, it’s free.

Regions Financial (NYSE:RF)

Tracing its roots back to 1971 and operating in a region known as the "heart of Dixie," Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) is a financial holding company that provides banking services, wealth management, and specialty financial solutions across the South, Midwest, and Texas.

Regions Financial reported revenues of $2.00 billion, up 2.6% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates.

The stock is up 5.1% since reporting and currently trades at $28.71.

Read our full, actionable report on Regions Financial here, it’s free.

Market update

Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.

Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.

By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.