Camden National rises on solid Q4 earnings, expands dividend

Share Performance Shares of Camden National Corporation (NASDAQ: CAC) were up about 1.5% at $47.50 in early trade on Wednesday after the community bank holding company reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results that showed year-on-year profit growth and strengthened key margins. The stock is trading near its 52-week high around $48.60 and well above its low near $38.00 last spring, reflecting a broader uptrend in regional bank shares amid rising net interest margins. Quarterly Results For the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2025, Camden National reported net income of $22.6 million, up 6% from the third quarter of 2025, and diluted earnings per share of $1.33, also up 6% sequentially. Return on average assets was 1.28% and return on average equity was 13.01% for the period. The company said net interest margin expanded to 3.29%, up about 13 basis points from the prior quarter. Pre-tax, pre-provision income rose about 6% to $31.2 million. Total assets stood at approximately $7.0 billion after the acquisition of Northway Financial, Inc. earlier in 2025. Net interest income and loan growth supported revenue gains, while core efficiency metrics improved modestly despite elevated non-interest expenses related to technology and retirement costs. Loans declined 1% sequentially to about $5.0 billion, and net charge-offs were $3.2 million, including a one-time commercial real estate sale. Full-Year Context For the full year ended Dec. 31, 2025, Camden National posted net income of $65.2 million, up 23% from 2024, with diluted EPS of $3.84, a 6% increase year-over-year. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted net income for 2025 was $74.4 million, and adjusted EPS was $4.39, increases of 39% and 20%, respectively, over the prior year. Net interest margin expansion and integration of the Northway acquisition contributed to full-year performance. Dividend and Capital Returns The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.42 per share, payable Jan. 30 to holders of record Jan. 15, representing an annualized yield near 3.7% based on recent share prices. This continues a long history of consistent dividends for the bank. Camden National also announced a share repurchase program authorizing up to 850,000 shares (about 5% of outstanding stock), signaling confidence in its capital position. 52-Week Trend Over the past year, CAC stock has trended upward, with notable strength in the last six months as investor focus on net interest margin expansion among regional banks outweighed concerns about credit quality. The stock remains within its 52-week high range, supported by earnings momentum and dividend yield relative to peers. Sector and Macro Context Camden’s results come as the broader banking sector navigates rising interest rates and the potential for slower loan growth. Regional banks like Camden have generally benefited from net interest margin expansion as short-term rates rose, but continued deposit competition and cost pressures remain key factors. By contrast, high-growth SaaS and software stocks continue to face valuation challenges amid pressure on enterprise IT spending and higher discount rates, though such software-sector dynamics were not directly referenced in Camden’s report. Outlook Management has not issued formal 2026 guidance with the results but highlighted the continued focus on loan growth, margin management, and integration of Northway’s operations. Investors will monitor loan demand, credit quality trends, and margin sustainability in a rate environment that remains volatile.The post Camden National rises on solid Q4 earnings, expands dividend first appeared on AlphaStreet.