First Financial reports Q3 2026 EPS of $0.77, or $0.84 adjusted, up from $0.73 in Q2
First Financial Bancorp reported third-quarter 2026 net income of $81.2 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, up from $76.5 million and $0.73 in the second quarter. Adjusted net income, a non-GAAP measure, was $87.8 million, or $0.84 per share, which the company said was the highest adjusted EPS in its history. The filing was an investor presentation furnished under Regulation FD, and it also says the pending Finward Bancorp acquisition is expected to close on 1/1/27, subject to state regulatory and Finward shareholder approvals.
Key points
- Net income of $81.2 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, versus $76.5 million, or $0.73, in 2Q26; adjusted net income of $87.8 million, or $0.84 per share
- Net interest income of $196.3 million; net interest margin of 4.05% on a GAAP basis, up 9 basis points from the linked quarter on a fully tax-equivalent basis to 4.07%
- Finward acquisition expected to close 1/1/27; federal regulatory approval received, with state regulatory and Finward shareholder approvals still required
- Board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.26 per share, to be paid in 4Q26
The filing
Written by AI on Nov 7, 2026, 11:17 PM ET, from this filing only.
Briefs are written by AI from the filing text and can contain mistakes — open the filing before acting on anything. Impact (1-5) and tone are the AI's reading of the filing for shareholders, not a price forecast. Not investment advice.