Every material Form 8-K FIRST MERCHANTS CORP has filed with the SEC since October 01, 2026, read and summarized by AI: what happened, the key figures, whether it reads positive or negative for shareholders, and how big a deal it is (impact 1-5). Newest first; each brief links to its own page and to the filing on SEC.gov.
First Merchants reported third-quarter 2026 net income available to common stockholders of $67.8 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, up from $56.3 million, or $0.98 per share, a year earlier and $43.5 million, or $0.70, in the second quarter. The company also announced that President Mike Stewart will succeed Mark Hardwick as chief executive upon Mr. Hardwick's retirement at year-end 2026.
Q3 2026 diluted EPS was $1.09 versus $0.98 in Q3 2025; adjusted EPS was $1.10 versus $0.99 a year earlier.
Net interest margin was 3.44%, up 6 basis points from the prior quarter and up 20 basis points from Q3 2025.
Nine-month 2026 diluted EPS was $2.24 versus $2.90 a year earlier, reflecting a $29.8 million first-quarter negative mortgage loan valuation adjustment.
Mike Stewart will succeed Mark Hardwick as CEO upon Mr. Hardwick's retirement at year-end 2026.
First Merchants Corporation declared a quarterly cash dividend on its 7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock Series A, payable November 16, 2026, to holders of record on October 30, 2026. The dividend is routine and recurring, and the filing reports no change to the company's common stock or earnings.
Dividend of $46.88 per preferred share, or $0.4688 per depositary share (NASDAQ: FRMEP)
Payment date is November 16, 2026; record date is October 30, 2026
Common stock trades on NASDAQ under the symbol FRME; the filing reports no financial statements
First Merchants announced on October 1, 2026 that CEO Mark Hardwick will retire at the end of 2026 after 29 years with the bank. The Board named President Mike Stewart, who has been with the bank for more than 18 years, to become President and CEO effective January 1, 2027, as part of the executive succession plan. The filing reports no new compensation arrangements for Stewart beyond existing ones, and it discloses no change to financial results.
Mark Hardwick, CEO, to retire; retirement effective January 1, 2027 per the 8-K
Mike Stewart, current First Merchants Bank President with more than 18 years at the bank, to become President and CEO effective January 1, 2027
Stewart's background is incorporated by reference from the April 3, 2026 proxy statement; no new compensation arrangements were entered into per the filing
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Only material 8-Ks get a brief: results, deals, executive changes, restructuring, impairments, delisting notices, restatements, cybersecurity incidents and other disclosed events. Routine filings (vote results, exhibits only) are skipped. Every FIRST MERCHANTS CORP filing is on SEC EDGAR ↗. 8-K briefs of other companies →