PEBK

Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina (PEBK) reported Q3 2026 net earnings of $5.7 million, up 55.1% year-over-year, with EPS increasing 56.7% to $1.05. Net interest income rose 10.4% to $16.7 million, supported by higher loan income and lower funding costs, while the net interest margin improved to 3.85%.

Non-interest income declined 6.1% due to reduced appraisal management activity. Operating expenses decreased 6.9%, and the company increased its quarterly dividend to 21 cents per share. Total loans reached $1.30 billion and deposits grew to $1.57 billion.

Zacks Research Daily features analysis of 12 major stocks on October 20, 2026. SAP benefits from strong AI strategy and large deal bookings despite underperformance, while Accenture faces economic uncertainty but gains from enterprise transformation demand.

Moody's outperforms its industry with strong earnings, while Peoples Bancorp shows margin expansion but faces credit risks. Additional coverage includes Nucor, Tenet Healthcare, Toast, and other companies with mixed growth prospects.