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Stellar Bancorp (STEL)
NYSE:STEL
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Stellar Bancorp (STEL) AI Stock Analysis

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STEL

Stellar Bancorp

(NYSE:STEL)

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Outperform 71 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$33.00
▲(9.16% Upside)
Stellar Bancorp's overall stock score is driven by its solid financial performance and fair valuation. While the earnings call highlighted some positive strategic developments, near-term pressures such as increased expenses and decreased net income weigh on the score. Technical analysis suggests a cautious outlook with mixed signals.

Stellar Bancorp (STEL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Stellar Bancorp Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionStellar Bancorp (STEL) is a financial services holding company based in the United States, primarily engaged in providing a wide range of banking and financial products. The company operates through its subsidiary, which offers personal and commercial banking services, including deposits, loans, mortgages, and wealth management solutions. Stellar Bancorp focuses on serving individuals, small to medium-sized enterprises, and corporate clients, emphasizing customer service and innovative financial solutions in its operations.
How the Company Makes MoneyStellar Bancorp generates revenue primarily through interest income from loans and mortgages, which are funded by customer deposits and other borrowings. Key revenue streams include interest on commercial and consumer loans, as well as fees from mortgage origination and servicing. Additionally, the company earns non-interest income from services such as wealth management, transaction fees, and investment services. Significant partnerships with fintech companies and other financial institutions enhance its service offerings and customer reach, contributing to overall earnings.

Stellar Bancorp Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 24, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jan 23, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflected a mixed performance, with positive developments in deposit growth, net interest income, and loan origination countered by challenges such as decreased net income, higher expenses, and increased loan payoffs. Overall, the company's strategic position remains strong, but near-term pressures are evident.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Deposit Growth
The company experienced strong deposit growth, with 51% of new deposits coming from new customers. This reflects increased brand awareness and effective market share gains.
Net Interest Income and Margin Increase
Net interest income increased from $98.3 million in the second quarter to $100.6 million in the third quarter, with the net interest margin improving from 4.18% to 4.2%.
Capital Position Strengthened
The company repurchased shares, paid down $30 million of subordinated debt, and maintained a total risk-based capital of 16.33%, up from 15.98% in the previous quarter.
Loan Origination Growth
Loan originations up 62% year-to-date, with a healthy pipeline and positive outlook for continued growth.
Negative Updates
Decrease in Net Income
Third quarter net income decreased to $25.7 million from $26.4 million in the second quarter, with EPS dropping from $0.51 to $0.50.
Higher Noninterest Expenses
Noninterest expenses increased to $73.1 million from $70 million in the second quarter, driven by higher salaries, benefits, professional fees, and advertising costs.
Loan Payoffs and Paydowns
Loan payoffs increased, with $330 million in the third quarter compared to $300 million in the previous quarter, impacting overall loan growth.
Decreased Noninterest Income
Noninterest income fell to $5 million from $5.8 million in the second quarter, largely due to $445,000 of write-downs on foreclosed assets.
Company Guidance
During the Stellar Bank Third Quarter Earnings Call for 2025, the management team provided guidance on several key financial metrics. The net interest income for the third quarter was reported at $100.6 million, an increase from $98.3 million in the second quarter, with a net interest margin of 4.2%, slightly up from 4.18% in the previous quarter. The bank's net income was $25.7 million or $0.50 per diluted share, compared to $26.4 million or $0.51 per share in the second quarter. The annualized Return on Average Assets (ROAA) was 0.97%, and the Return on Average Tangible Common Equity (ROATCE) was 11.45%. Stellar Bank also reported a provision for loan losses of $305,000, with net charge-offs totaling $3.3 million for the quarter. The allowance for credit losses on loans stood at $78.9 million, which is 1.1% of loans. The bank's noninterest income was $5 million, down from $5.8 million in the second quarter, primarily due to write-downs on foreclosed assets. Noninterest expenses increased to $73.1 million from $70 million, attributed to higher salaries, benefits, and professional fees. The tangible book value per share increased by 9.3% year-over-year to $21.08 per share, and the total risk-based capital ratio improved to 16.33%. The management expressed confidence in their liquidity, capital position, and the strength of their balance sheet, emphasizing a focus on disciplined growth and shareholder value enhancement.

Stellar Bancorp Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Stellar Bancorp demonstrates a solid financial position with strong profitability margins and a conservative balance sheet. While revenue growth has been a challenge, the company maintains operational efficiency and effective cash flow management. Continued focus on revenue growth and cash flow optimization will be crucial for sustaining long-term financial health.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Stellar Bancorp shows a stable income statement with a strong gross profit margin of 69.2% TTM, indicating efficient cost management. However, the net profit margin has slightly decreased to 16.9% TTM, reflecting a decline in profitability. Revenue growth has been negative at -1.26% TTM, which is a concern for future earnings potential. Despite this, the EBIT and EBITDA margins remain healthy at 21.3% and 26.3% TTM, respectively, showcasing operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
80
Positive
The balance sheet is robust with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.042 TTM, indicating conservative leverage. Return on equity is moderate at 6.3% TTM, suggesting decent profitability relative to shareholder equity. The equity ratio stands at 15.6%, reflecting a solid capital structure with a good proportion of equity financing.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Cash flow analysis reveals a positive free cash flow growth rate of 6.43% TTM, indicating improved cash generation. The free cash flow to net income ratio is strong at 97.7% TTM, suggesting efficient conversion of earnings into cash. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is low, highlighting potential issues in cash flow management.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue601.77M625.45M615.38M343.35M261.75M249.92M
Gross Profit416.54M433.92M452.38M258.60M239.45M183.47M
EBITDA158.18M176.99M196.35M76.78M107.44M63.61M
Net Income101.94M115.00M130.50M51.43M81.55M45.53M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets10.63B10.91B10.65B10.90B7.10B3.95B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments2.57B2.10B1.79B2.18B2.53B738.69M
Total Debt70.20M70.11M159.76M173.29M212.94M66.45M
Total Liabilities8.97B9.30B9.13B9.52B6.29B3.40B
Stockholders Equity1.65B1.61B1.52B1.38B816.47M546.45M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow85.54M127.96M161.36M105.25M104.45M53.88M
Operating Cash Flow87.58M132.62M168.22M109.07M107.38M61.06M
Investing Cash Flow244.04M246.09M295.25M73.76M-754.82M-961.10M
Financing Cash Flow-119.39M133.27M-435.94M-568.63M982.19M976.56M

Stellar Bancorp Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price30.23
Price Trends
50DMA
30.34
Positive
100DMA
30.05
Positive
200DMA
28.50
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.04
Negative
RSI
54.89
Neutral
STOCH
87.40
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For STEL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 30.23 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 29.77, below the 50-day MA of 30.34, and above the 200-day MA of 28.50, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of -0.04 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 54.89 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 87.40 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for STEL.

Stellar Bancorp Risk Analysis

Stellar Bancorp disclosed 57 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Stellar 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

Stellar Bancorp Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
71
Outperform
$1.51B14.816.38%1.84%-4.40%-8.80%
71
Outperform
$1.49B9.9712.65%2.48%5.09%15.78%
71
Outperform
$1.47B13.6810.75%2.94%30.45%3.13%
71
Outperform
$1.36B11.359.06%3.19%-2.46%-1.98%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
63
Neutral
$1.49B15.4113.50%3.40%-2.90%-1.47%
53
Neutral
$1.57B103.101.34%-3.60%-8.63%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
STEL
Stellar Bancorp
30.43
0.88
2.98%
SRCE
1St Source
61.47
-3.88
-5.94%
GABC
German American Bancorp
39.49
-5.42
-12.07%
LKFN
Lakeland Financial
58.74
-14.46
-19.75%
NBHC
National Bank Holdings
37.22
-10.56
-22.10%
CLBK
Columbia Financial
15.33
-3.50
-18.59%

Stellar Bancorp Corporate Events

Stellar Bancorp’s Mixed Q3 Earnings: Growth Amid Challenges
Oct 25, 2025

Stellar Bancorp Inc. recently held its earnings call, revealing a mixed performance for the third quarter. The company showcased positive developments in deposit growth, net interest income, and loan origination. However, these were countered by challenges such as decreased net income, higher expenses, and increased loan payoffs. Despite these near-term pressures, Stellar Bancorp’s strategic position remains robust.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Stellar Bancorp Reports Q3 2025 Financial Results
Neutral
Oct 24, 2025

Stellar Bancorp reported its third quarter 2025 financial results, showing a slight decrease in net income to $25.7 million from $26.4 million in the previous quarter. The company highlighted improved net interest income and margin, growth in deposits, and a strengthened balance sheet. Stellar has been repositioning its loan portfolio to reduce exposure to non-relationship real estate commitments and increase the mix of commercial and industrial (C&I) and real estate loans. The bank’s credit quality remains strong, and it is well-positioned to capitalize on merger-related disruptions in its Texas markets. The company’s total assets increased to $10.63 billion, supported by core deposit growth, while total loans decreased to $7.17 billion. Stellar also completed the redemption of $30 million of subordinated debt, further solidifying its capital position.

The most recent analyst rating on (STEL) stock is a Buy with a $33.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Stellar Bancorp stock, see the STEL Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Stellar Bancorp Announces Redemption of Subordinated Notes
Neutral
Sep 2, 2025

On August 29, 2025, Stellar Bancorp, Inc. announced its plan to redeem $30 million of its $60 million 4.70% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2029. The redemption is set for October 1, 2025, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus any accrued interest, impacting the company’s financial obligations and potentially its market positioning.

The most recent analyst rating on (STEL) stock is a Buy with a $35.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Stellar Bancorp stock, see the STEL Stock Forecast page.

Dividends
Stellar Bancorp Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
Positive
Aug 28, 2025

On August 27, 2025, Stellar Bancorp‘s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per share, payable on September 30, 2025, to shareholders recorded by September 15, 2025. This announcement underscores the company’s commitment to returning value to its shareholders and may positively impact investor sentiment and the company’s market positioning.

The most recent analyst rating on (STEL) stock is a Buy with a $33.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Stellar Bancorp stock, see the STEL 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.Date of analysis: Oct 30, 2025