First Merchants reports Q4 adjusted EPS $1.00, consensus 90c

“The fourth quarter was a strong finish to the year and showed the momentum we have built with healthy increases in core earnings, NIM and ROA,” said Mark Hardwick, Chief Executive Officer of First Merchants (FRME) Bank. “We restructured a portion of our securities portfolio and completed the Illinois branch sale to help prioritize our core markets. These actions and the completion of multiple technology initiatives in 2024 have positioned First Merchants to deliver strong results in 2025.”