Hilltop Holdings' Chief Accounting Officer Offloads 2,200 Shares for $77,000: Should Investors Worry?
Stock Sale by Executive: Hilltop Holdings' Chief Accounting Officer, Keith E. Bornemann, sold 2,200 shares, representing a fifth of his total holdings, which may indicate a lack of confidence in the stock's future appreciation.
Financial Performance Overview: Hilltop Holdings has experienced a decline in revenue and profits since 2020, but recent trends show a modest recovery in revenue and earnings per share (EPS) in the second half of 2023.
Challenges in Mortgage Origination: The cooling housing market, with the lowest U.S. home sales in 30 years, poses a risk to Hilltop's core lending business and may slow down net interest income growth in the coming quarters.
Market Valuation: The stock is currently valued at 0.98 times its book value and 14 times its trailing 12-month earnings, reflecting market skepticism about the company's future performance.
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- Customer Satisfaction Leader: PrimeLending has been recognized as the 2025 Best-in-Class Lender by MortgageCX, achieving the top overall satisfaction ranking based on verified borrower feedback, showcasing its exceptional performance in customer experience.
- Six Category Wins: The company ranked first in six out of ten customer experience categories, including Overall Borrower Satisfaction, Loan Originators, Processors, Net Promoter Score (NPS), Online Tools, and Application Process, indicating its strong competitive edge across multiple key touchpoints.
- Outstanding Individual Performance: Through STRATMOR Group's MortgageCX Program, 37 loan originators and 22 loan processors ranked among the top 200 individuals nationally in their respective roles for customer experience delivery, further validating PrimeLending's excellence in service.
- Technology and Expertise Integration: CEO Steve Thompson emphasized that the company's success stems from combining personal expertise with user-friendly digital tools, making the mortgage process simple and transparent, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and trust.

- Increased Shareholder Returns: Hilltop Holdings returned $229 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends in Q4 2025, with net income reaching $166 million, a 46% year-over-year increase, demonstrating strong financial performance amid economic uncertainty.
- Net Interest Income Growth: The company reported net interest income of $112.5 million for the quarter, with net interest margin expanding by 30 basis points to 302 basis points, indicating effective core loan growth and cost optimization strategies at PlainsCapital Bank that enhanced profitability.
- Optimistic Loan Growth Outlook: Management guided for an average bank loan growth of 4% to 6% for 2026, expressing confidence in the franchise's resilience despite competitive pressures, showcasing the company's potential for growth in a challenging environment.
- Strong Capital Levels: Hilltop maintained a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 19.7%, with tangible book value per share increasing by $0.60 to $31.83 compared to the prior quarter, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to capital management and shareholder returns.
- Grand Prize Winner Announced: Andrea B. from Las Vegas won $350,000 through her participation in PropQwiz, which not only funds her homeownership dream but also marks the successful launch of PropQwiz's first-ever grand prize giveaway.
- Innovative Game Mechanics: PropQwiz is a free mobile game where players guess the listing prices of real homes across the U.S. to win cash prizes, with its signature PQ Daily live game providing five clues and a 15-second guessing window, significantly enhancing interactivity and engagement.
- Community Building Success: Since its launch, PropQwiz has cultivated a growing community of players who engage daily to learn about home values nationwide and compete for cash prizes, thereby increasing user retention and brand loyalty.
- Ongoing Cash Rewards: PropQwiz also awards $2,500 in weekly rent to players across the country, having distributed over $75,000 so far, which not only boosts player engagement but also enhances brand recognition in the competitive gaming market.
- Dividend Increase: Hilltop has raised its quarterly dividend from $0.18 to $0.20 per share, marking an 11.1% increase, which reflects the company's commitment to enhancing shareholder returns based on stable earnings.
- Yield Metrics: Following this adjustment, Hilltop's forward yield stands at 2.17%, providing a relatively attractive income option for investors in the current market environment, potentially drawing in more income-seeking investors.
- Payment Schedule: The new dividend will be payable on February 27, with a record date of February 13 and an ex-dividend date also set for February 13, ensuring shareholders receive timely returns and bolstering investor confidence.
- Historical Performance: Hilltop has consistently paid a dividend of $0.18 over the past four quarters, and this increase reflects the company's ongoing profitability and confidence in future growth, which may enhance market recognition of its long-term investment value.
- Earnings Growth: Hilltop Holdings reported fourth-quarter earnings of $41.58 million, translating to $0.69 per share, which marks a significant increase from last year's $35.52 million and $0.55 per share, indicating robust performance in the market.
- Revenue Increase: The company's revenue for the fourth quarter reached $329.89 million, up 9.6% from $301.07 million last year, showcasing successful business expansion and strong market demand.
- Financial Health: With both earnings and revenue on the rise, Hilltop Holdings has further solidified its financial position, enhancing its competitiveness in the financial services sector.
- Market Outlook: The ongoing earnings growth and revenue increase lay a solid foundation for future investments and expansions, suggesting the company possesses strong adaptability and growth potential in a changing market environment.
- Earnings Highlights: Hilltop Holdings reported a Q4 GAAP EPS of $0.69, with revenue of $329 million, indicating the company's stability in the current economic environment despite not exceeding market expectations.
- Revenue Analysis: The $329 million revenue for Q4 reflects ongoing demand in the financial services sector, yet the limited growth compared to the previous year suggests increasing market competition.
- Investment Rating: Seeking Alpha's Quant Rating on Hilltop positions it as a reliable and conservative investment choice, although the current market conditions may not favor aggressive investment strategies.
- Historical Performance: Historical financial data for Hilltop indicates that despite facing challenges, the company maintains stable profitability, making it a focus for risk-averse investors.






