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Ameris Bancorp (ABCB)
NYSE:ABCB
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Ameris Bancorp
(NYSE:ABCB)
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Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
$90.00
▲(7.49% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:01/30/26
The score is driven primarily by solid financial performance with strong growth but weaker profitability trends, supported by a constructive uptrend in technicals. Earnings call commentary reinforces strength in core banking metrics and capital returns, while valuation is reasonable but not meaningfully boosted by the low dividend yield.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Sustained revenue growth indicates strong market demand and effective business strategies, positioning Ameris Bancorp for continued expansion.
Share Repurchase Program
The share repurchase program reflects management's confidence in the company's financial health and commitment to enhancing shareholder value.
Strong Capital Position
A strong capital position provides financial stability and flexibility to pursue growth opportunities and withstand economic uncertainties.
Negative Factors
Margin Compression Concerns
Margin compression can impact profitability, as increased costs may not be fully offset by revenue growth, affecting long-term earnings potential.
Efficiency Ratio Increase
An increasing efficiency ratio suggests rising operational costs, which could reduce profitability and require strategic adjustments to maintain competitiveness.
Declining Profit Margins
Declining profit margins indicate challenges in cost management or pricing power, potentially affecting long-term financial performance and shareholder returns.
Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
Market Cap
$5.68B
Dividend Yield1.02%
Average Volume (3M)495.83K
Price to Earnings (P/E)13.9
Beta (1Y)1.01
Revenue Growth2.20%
EPS Growth20.88%
CountryUS
Employees2,045
SectorFinancial
Sector Strength70
IndustryBanks - Regional
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)1.59
Shares Outstanding68,315,150
10 Day Avg. Volume368,188
30 Day Avg. Volume495,834
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio0.36
Price to Book (P/B)1.15
Price to Sales (P/S)2.64
P/FCF Ratio30.60
Enterprise Value/Market Cap1.13
Enterprise Value/Revenue3.95
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit5.85
Enterprise Value/Ebitda11.44
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$89.42Price Target Upside6.80% Upside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering6
EPS Forecast (FY)6.5
Revenue Forecast (FY)$1.27B
Ameris Bancorp Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company DescriptionAmeris Bancorp operates as the bank holding company for Ameris Bank that provides range of banking services to retail and commercial customers primarily in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The company operates through five segments: Banking Division, Retail Mortgage Division, Warehouse Lending Division, SBA Division, and Premium Finance Division. It offers commercial and retail checking, regular interest-bearing savings, money market, individual retirement, and certificates of deposit accounts. The company also provides commercial real estate, residential real estate mortgage, agricultural, and commercial and industrial loans; consumer loans, including motor vehicle, home improvement, and home equity loans, as well as loans secured by savings accounts and small unsecured personal credit lines. In addition, it originates, administers, and services commercial insurance premium loans and small business administration loans. The company operates 165 full service domestic banking offices and 35 mortgage and loan production offices. Ameris Bancorp was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
How the Company Makes MoneyAmeris Bancorp generates revenue primarily through interest income and non-interest income. Interest income is derived from loans made to consumers and businesses, including commercial real estate loans, residential mortgages, and consumer loans. The interest earned on these loans is a significant portion of the company's revenue. Non-interest income comes from various sources, including service fees on deposit accounts, mortgage origination fees, and wealth management services. Additionally, Ameris Bancorp has strategic partnerships with other financial institutions and technology providers that enhance its service offerings and customer reach, contributing to its overall earnings. The bank's focus on expanding its footprint through acquisitions and new branches also plays a critical role in driving growth and profitability.
Ameris Bancorp Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Date:Jan 29, 2026
(Q4-2025)
| % Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 23, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call emphasized multiple strong positive operating and capital outcomes: record net income and EPS, margin and efficiency improvements, robust loan production and pipelines, tangible book value growth (~14.5%), and disciplined capital returns including buybacks. Near-term headwinds include deposit cost pressure that could compress margin (management expects a modest 5–10 bps decline), seasonal Q1 expense increases, mortgage revenue volatility, elevated Q4 CRE payoffs that temporarily reduced net loan growth, and a short-term uptick in quarterly net charge-offs. Overall, the positives around core profitability, asset quality and capital strength outweigh the transitory and manageable challenges called out.Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Annual Earnings and EPS Growth
Reported record net income for FY2025 of $412.2 million and diluted EPS of $6.00, a 15% increase in EPS year-over-year.
Strong Quarterly Results and Profitability Metrics
Q4 net income of $108.4 million ($1.59 diluted EPS); Q4 PPNR ROA of 2.38% and Q4 ROTCE of 14.5%; quarterly ROA approximately 1.57%.
Net Interest Income and Margin Expansion
Net interest income increased $87.7 million (+10.3%) for the year; Q4 NII up $7.3 million (12.2% annualized). Net interest margin expanded to 3.79% for FY2025 from 3.56% in 2024, and Q4 NIM was 3.85% (5 bps expansion quarter-over-quarter).
Revenue Growth with Expense Discipline
Reported 6% revenue growth for the year while total expenses declined ~1% year-over-year; positive operating leverage pushed full-year efficiency ratio to 50% (improved from 53.2% in prior year) and Q4 efficiency ratio of 46.6%.
Balance Sheet and Loan Production Momentum
Earning assets grew ~5.5% for the year and total assets grew 4.8% year-over-year. Q4 earning-asset growth was ~6%; loan production was the highest since 2022 at $2.4 billion for the quarter (16% increase vs Q3). Core loan growth nearly 5% in Q4 despite elevated CRE payoffs.
Capital Strength and Share Repurchases
Common Equity Tier 1 at 13.2% and tangible common equity ratio at 11.4%. Repurchased $77 million of stock for the year (~2% of company) at an average price under $67; Q4 buybacks totaled $40.8 million (~564k shares) at an average price of $72.36. Remaining buyback authorization ~$159.2 million.
Asset Quality and Allowance Position
Allowance for loan losses at 1.62% of loans (stable q/q). Full-year net charge-offs improved to 18 bps (from 19 bps prior year). Nonperforming assets, classified and criticized loans remained low.
Mortgage Servicing Scale and Other Fee Income
Unpaid principal balance of servicing portfolio approximately $8.7 billion (about 4% of Tier 1 capital). Adjusted noninterest income was roughly flat for the year (+$1.4 million).
Negative Updates
Pressure on Margin from Deposit Costs
Management expects slight margin compression over the next few quarters driven by rising deposit costs as loan growth accelerates; guidance calls for a 5–10 basis point decline from current NIM levels in the near term.
Elevated CRE Payoffs Impacting Loan Growth
Unusually high commercial real estate payoffs in Q4 exceeded $500 million; these payoffs reduced net loan growth (management said loan growth would have approached double digits absent these payoffs).
Mortgage Segment Volatility and Revenue Declines
Adjusted noninterest income decreased $10.5 million in Q4 primarily due to seasonal mortgage declines; mortgage revenue was down about $13 million (~8%) year-over-year, driven by mix shifts (heavier wholesale) and MSR valuation/transaction impacts.
Near-Term Expense Headwinds (Seasonality)
Q1 expected to see higher noninterest expense due to seasonally heavy payroll taxes and 401(k) contributions — management estimates a Q1 expense range of roughly $154–$155 million versus Q4’s $143 million (a ~$7.5 million seasonal swing).
Short-Term Rise in Quarterly Net Charge-Offs
Annualized net charge-offs in Q4 normalized to 26 basis points (above the full-year average of 18 bps); management guides for net charge-offs in the 20–25 bps range for 2026.
Deposit Mix Seasonality and Competitive Funding Environment
Noninterest-bearing deposit ratio dipped to ~28.7% at year-end due to seasonal escrow outflows and some customer movements (20–30 customers); management notes increasing competition for deposits and potential pricing pressure from new entrants offering high rates.
Company Guidance
Management guided to mid-single-digit loan and deposit growth in 2026, with net charge-offs expected in the 20–25 bps range and modest margin compression of roughly 5–10 bps from Q4’s 3.85% over the next few quarters; they also flagged that deposit pressure as loan growth funds could drive that compression. They expect Q1 noninterest expense to start around $154–155 million (reflecting a roughly $7.5 million seasonal payroll/401(k) swing), which should push the efficiency ratio back above 50% in Q1 (Q4: 46.6%; FY25: 50%). Credit and provision guidance included a Q4 provision of $23 million (with $6.3 million for unfunded commitments), an allowance at 1.62% of loans, and the stated NCO guidance above, while management emphasized a strong pipeline and production (citing record-quarter production and a $2.4 billion pipeline) despite Q4 CRE payoffs of over $500 million that left loans up ~5% and earning assets up ~6% in the quarter. Capital priorities remain organic growth then buybacks/dividends (remaining repurchase authorization ~$159.2 million after $40.8 million repurchased in Q4 and $77 million for the year), with year-end CET1 at 13.2% and tangible common equity ~11.4% and longer-term targets around CET1 ≈12% and TCE ≈10–10.5%.Ameris Bancorp Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Strong top-line momentum and improved leverage support the score, but profitability trends are mixed: net margin and ROE declined, and cash conversion signals are uneven despite better operating and free cash flow.Income Statement
Ameris Bancorp shows strong revenue growth with a TTM increase of 37.5%, indicating robust business expansion. The gross profit margin remains healthy at 63.7%, although slightly below the previous year's 64%. Net profit margin has decreased to 6.6% from 21.9% last year, suggesting increased costs or lower pricing power. EBIT and EBITDA margins are solid at 26% and 28.4%, respectively, but have declined from the previous year, indicating potential operational inefficiencies.78
Positive
Balance Sheet
The company's debt-to-equity ratio has improved significantly to 0.12, reflecting a strong reduction in leverage compared to prior years. Return on equity has decreased to 2.6% from 9.6% last year, indicating lower profitability relative to equity. The equity ratio remains stable, suggesting a solid capital structure. Overall, the balance sheet reflects improved leverage but reduced profitability.72
Positive
Cash Flow
Operating cash flow has increased significantly, indicating strong cash generation capabilities. Free cash flow growth is positive at 19.2%, recovering from negative growth in previous years. The free cash flow to net income ratio is high at 96.7%, suggesting efficient cash conversion. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is low, indicating potential issues in converting accounting profits into cash.65
Positive
| Breakdown | TTM | Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 | Dec 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | ||||||
| Total Revenue | 1.63B | 1.63B | 1.49B | 1.14B | 1.04B | 1.15B |
| Gross Profit | 1.10B | 1.05B | 899.85M | 976.89M | 1.03B | 912.86M |
| EBITDA | 560.60M | 522.59M | 402.87M | 506.72M | 544.04M | 395.36M |
| Net Income | 398.17M | 358.69M | 269.11M | 346.54M | 376.91M | 261.99M |
Balance Sheet | ||||||
| Total Assets | 27.10B | 26.26B | 25.20B | 25.05B | 23.86B | 20.44B |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 3.17B | 2.89B | 2.57B | 2.62B | 4.64B | 3.08B |
| Total Debt | 470.90M | 424.10M | 639.90M | 2.00B | 872.05M | 561.14M |
| Total Liabilities | 23.08B | 22.51B | 21.78B | 21.86B | 20.89B | 17.79B |
| Stockholders Equity | 4.02B | 3.75B | 3.43B | 3.20B | 2.97B | 2.65B |
Cash Flow | ||||||
| Free Cash Flow | 394.56M | 140.72M | 551.43M | 1.05B | -16.31M | 780.28M |
| Operating Cash Flow | 413.65M | 154.19M | 568.96M | 1.06B | 9.14M | 798.40M |
| Investing Cash Flow | -974.40M | -846.68M | -338.19M | -4.87B | -420.98M | -1.20B |
| Financing Cash Flow | 244.76M | 745.56M | -181.59M | 865.53M | 2.36B | 1.90B |
Ameris Bancorp Technical Analysis
Positive
83.73
Price Trends
79.80
Positive
76.68
Positive
71.79
Positive
Market Momentum
1.20
Positive
57.49
Neutral
21.79
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ABCB, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 83.73 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 82.75, above the 50-day MA of 79.80, and above the 200-day MA of 71.79, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.20 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 57.49 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 21.79 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ABCB.
Ameris Bancorp Risk Analysis
Ameris Bancorp disclosed 37 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Ameris Bancorp reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks
Ameris Bancorp Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
78 Outperform | $5.54B | 12.29 | 16.75% | ― | 1.66% | -9.31% | |
77 Outperform | $5.70B | 19.71 | 6.72% | 3.83% | 43.53% | -21.74% | |
75 Outperform | $5.68B | 13.87 | 10.53% | 1.02% | 2.20% | 20.88% | |
73 Outperform | $4.72B | 18.63 | 13.89% | 2.42% | 12.90% | 16.92% | |
73 Outperform | $5.92B | 12.44 | 11.28% | 2.74% | -0.78% | 25.39% | |
73 Outperform | $4.66B | 16.85 | 15.24% | 1.82% | 3.97% | 24.91% | |
68 Neutral | $18.00B | 11.42 | 9.92% | 3.81% | 9.73% | 1.22% |
* Financial Sector Average
ABCB
Ameris Bancorp
83.73
21.14
33.76%
AX
Axos Financial
97.32
31.57
48.02%
FFIN
First Financial Bankshares
33.33
-2.65
-7.35%
HWC
Hancock Whitney
71.18
16.81
30.91%
AUB
Atlantic Union Bankshares
40.65
6.98
20.72%
SFBS
ServisFirst Bancshares
86.77
0.66
0.77%
Ameris Bancorp Corporate Events
Stock BuybackFinancial Disclosures
Ameris Bancorp Posts Record 2025 Earnings and Profitability
Positive
Jan 29, 2026
On January 29, 2026, Ameris Bancorp reported strong fourth-quarter and record full-year 2025 results, highlighted by fourth-quarter net income of $108.4 million, or $1.59 per diluted share, and a return on average assets of 1.57%, supported by a higher net interest margin of 3.85%, solid loan and earning-asset growth, tighter expense control and an improved efficiency ratio. For the full year 2025, net income rose to $412.2 million, or $6.00 per diluted share, driven chiefly by a 10.3% increase in net interest income, while deposits and earning assets expanded, tangible book value per share grew 14.5%, credit quality improved with lower net charge-offs and a higher allowance ratio, and the company returned capital through increased share repurchases, underscoring stronger profitability, capital levels and operating efficiency that reinforce its competitive positioning in the Southeast banking market.
The most recent analyst rating on (ABCB) stock is a Hold with a $83.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Ameris Bancorp stock, see the ABCB Stock Forecast page.
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer
This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.