Raymond James Reiterates Strong Buy on SmartFinancial, Raises Price Target to $44
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jul 24 2025
0mins
Should l Buy SMBK?
Source: Benzinga
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Analyst Views on SMBK
Wall Street analysts forecast SMBK stock price to fall
4 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 41.560
Low
37.00
Averages
40.13
High
44.00
Current: 41.560
Low
37.00
Averages
40.13
High
44.00
About SMBK
SmartFinancial, Inc. is the bank holding company for SmartBank (the Bank). The Bank is a full-service commercial bank with branches across Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida. The principal business of the Bank consists of attracting deposits from the general public and investing those funds, together with funds generated from operations and from principal and interest payments on loans, primarily in commercial loans, commercial and residential real estate loans, leases, consumer loans and residential and commercial construction loans. It also originates one to four family residential mortgage loans and generally enters into a commitment to sell these loans in the secondary market. The Bank provides a suite of commercial and consumer banking services to clients through about 42 full-service bank branches. SBK Insurance, Inc., a subsidiary of the Bank, provides insurance products in the property and casualty area, commercial, transportation, and life and health to their respective clients.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
SmartFinancial Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend and Stock Repurchase Plan
- Quarterly Cash Dividend: SmartFinancial's board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share on January 29, 2026, payable on March 2, 2026, aimed at enhancing shareholder returns and boosting market confidence.
- Stock Repurchase Plan: The company authorized a 2026 Repurchase Plan allowing up to $10 million in common stock buybacks from March 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027, demonstrating confidence in its stock value.
- Repurchase Flexibility: The plan permits repurchases through various methods including open market transactions and accelerated share repurchase programs, ensuring compliance with regulations while adapting to market conditions.
- Strategic Implications: The implementation of the dividend and repurchase plan reflects SmartFinancial's confidence in future growth and may attract more investor interest, thereby enhancing the company's competitiveness in the financial market.
See More
SmartFinancial (SMBK) Upgraded to Overweight with Price Target of $43.38
- Rating Upgrade: SmartFinancial's average rating has been upgraded to overweight, reflecting analysts' optimistic expectations for its future performance, which may attract more investor attention.
- Price Target Set: Analysts have set a price target of $43.38, indicating a positive outlook on the company's stock price growth potential, which could drive the stock closer to this target.
- Market Reaction: This rating upgrade may enhance market confidence in SmartFinancial, thereby increasing its stock liquidity and trading volume, which could strengthen the company's competitiveness in the financial services sector.
- Investor Strategy: With the rating upgrade, investors may reassess their portfolios and increase their holdings in SmartFinancial, aiming for capital appreciation in the future.
See More
SmartFinancial, Inc. (SMBK) Reports Record Q4 2025 Earnings of $0.81 per Share
- Significant Earnings Growth: SmartFinancial reported total operating revenue of $53.3 million in Q4 2025, a 44% year-over-year increase, with diluted earnings per share reaching $0.81, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of positive operating leverage and total annual earnings exceeding $51 million, reflecting strong profitability and market competitiveness.
- Loan and Deposit Growth: The company achieved a 13% annualized growth in loans and an 8% annualized growth in deposits, which not only strengthens the balance sheet but also lays the groundwork for future expansion, particularly as it prepares to enter the Columbus, Georgia market.
- Cost Control and Efficiency Improvement: Noninterest expenses remained flat at $32.5 million, with the efficiency ratio improving from 64% to 60%, demonstrating effective cost management, and the company anticipates maintaining high-single-digit loan growth in 2026, further enhancing profitability.
- Positive Future Outlook: Management set a target to achieve a $4 EPS run rate by the end of 2026, with projected net interest margins in the range of 3.4% to 3.45% for Q1 2026, indicating confidence in future growth and a prudent approach to capital allocation.
See More
SmartFinancial Reports Q4 2025 Net Income of $13.7 Million, Up 42% Year-Over-Year
- Net Income Growth: In Q4 2025, SmartFinancial reported net income of $13.7 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, representing a 42% increase from $9.6 million in Q4 2024, indicating a significant enhancement in the company's profitability.
- Loan and Deposit Growth: The company achieved net organic loan and lease growth of $141 million in Q4, with a 13% annualized quarter-over-quarter increase, alongside deposit growth of $102 million, or 8% annualized, showcasing the company's sustained competitive strength in the market.
- Net Interest Margin Expansion: The net interest margin for Q4 2025 was 3.38%, up from 3.25% in the prior quarter, primarily due to lower deposit and funding costs, which will further enhance the company's profitability.
- Increased Capital Adequacy: As of December 31, 2025, SmartFinancial's total shareholders' equity reached $552.5 million, an increase of $61 million from 2024, reflecting the company's success in sustained profitability and capital management.
See More
SmartFinancial (SMBK) Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations with $0.81 EPS and $53.31M Revenue
- Earnings Performance: SmartFinancial reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.81, exceeding market expectations by $0.03, which reflects the company's ongoing profitability enhancement and strengthens investor confidence.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q4 revenue of $53.31 million, representing a 13.9% year-over-year increase and surpassing analyst expectations by $1.92 million, indicating strong competitive positioning and growth potential in the market.
- Positive Market Reaction: The earnings beat is likely to positively impact SmartFinancial's stock price, attracting more investor interest and potentially driving the stock higher.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: With ongoing operational optimization and market share expansion, the company is expected to maintain robust performance growth in the coming quarters, bolstering market confidence in its long-term development.
See More
SmartFinancial Schedules Q4 2025 Earnings Release for January 20, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: SmartFinancial plans to release its Q4 2025 earnings on January 20, 2026, after market close, demonstrating the company's commitment to financial transparency and providing investors with critical performance data.
- Conference Call Timing: The company will host a conference call on January 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET, aimed at discussing the earnings report in depth with investors, thereby enhancing shareholder engagement and communication.
- Replay Availability: A replay of the conference call will be available until March 21, 2026, ensuring that investors who cannot participate live can still access important information, thus improving accessibility and transparency of information.
- Material Release: Earnings release and conference call materials will be published on the company’s website at 9:00 a.m. ET on the morning of the call, further enhancing the timeliness and accessibility of information to help investors make informed decisions.
See More
SmartFinancial Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend and Stock Repurchase Plan
- Quarterly Cash Dividend: SmartFinancial's board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share on January 29, 2026, payable on March 2, 2026, aimed at enhancing shareholder returns and boosting market confidence.
- Stock Repurchase Plan: The company authorized a 2026 Repurchase Plan allowing up to $10 million in common stock buybacks from March 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027, demonstrating confidence in its stock value.
- Repurchase Flexibility: The plan permits repurchases through various methods including open market transactions and accelerated share repurchase programs, ensuring compliance with regulations while adapting to market conditions.
- Strategic Implications: The implementation of the dividend and repurchase plan reflects SmartFinancial's confidence in future growth and may attract more investor interest, thereby enhancing the company's competitiveness in the financial market.
See More
SmartFinancial (SMBK) Upgraded to Overweight with Price Target of $43.38
- Rating Upgrade: SmartFinancial's average rating has been upgraded to overweight, reflecting analysts' optimistic expectations for its future performance, which may attract more investor attention.
- Price Target Set: Analysts have set a price target of $43.38, indicating a positive outlook on the company's stock price growth potential, which could drive the stock closer to this target.
- Market Reaction: This rating upgrade may enhance market confidence in SmartFinancial, thereby increasing its stock liquidity and trading volume, which could strengthen the company's competitiveness in the financial services sector.
- Investor Strategy: With the rating upgrade, investors may reassess their portfolios and increase their holdings in SmartFinancial, aiming for capital appreciation in the future.
See More
SmartFinancial, Inc. (SMBK) Reports Record Q4 2025 Earnings of $0.81 per Share
- Significant Earnings Growth: SmartFinancial reported total operating revenue of $53.3 million in Q4 2025, a 44% year-over-year increase, with diluted earnings per share reaching $0.81, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of positive operating leverage and total annual earnings exceeding $51 million, reflecting strong profitability and market competitiveness.
- Loan and Deposit Growth: The company achieved a 13% annualized growth in loans and an 8% annualized growth in deposits, which not only strengthens the balance sheet but also lays the groundwork for future expansion, particularly as it prepares to enter the Columbus, Georgia market.
- Cost Control and Efficiency Improvement: Noninterest expenses remained flat at $32.5 million, with the efficiency ratio improving from 64% to 60%, demonstrating effective cost management, and the company anticipates maintaining high-single-digit loan growth in 2026, further enhancing profitability.
- Positive Future Outlook: Management set a target to achieve a $4 EPS run rate by the end of 2026, with projected net interest margins in the range of 3.4% to 3.45% for Q1 2026, indicating confidence in future growth and a prudent approach to capital allocation.
See More
SmartFinancial Reports Q4 2025 Net Income of $13.7 Million, Up 42% Year-Over-Year
- Net Income Growth: In Q4 2025, SmartFinancial reported net income of $13.7 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, representing a 42% increase from $9.6 million in Q4 2024, indicating a significant enhancement in the company's profitability.
- Loan and Deposit Growth: The company achieved net organic loan and lease growth of $141 million in Q4, with a 13% annualized quarter-over-quarter increase, alongside deposit growth of $102 million, or 8% annualized, showcasing the company's sustained competitive strength in the market.
- Net Interest Margin Expansion: The net interest margin for Q4 2025 was 3.38%, up from 3.25% in the prior quarter, primarily due to lower deposit and funding costs, which will further enhance the company's profitability.
- Increased Capital Adequacy: As of December 31, 2025, SmartFinancial's total shareholders' equity reached $552.5 million, an increase of $61 million from 2024, reflecting the company's success in sustained profitability and capital management.
See More
SmartFinancial (SMBK) Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations with $0.81 EPS and $53.31M Revenue
- Earnings Performance: SmartFinancial reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.81, exceeding market expectations by $0.03, which reflects the company's ongoing profitability enhancement and strengthens investor confidence.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q4 revenue of $53.31 million, representing a 13.9% year-over-year increase and surpassing analyst expectations by $1.92 million, indicating strong competitive positioning and growth potential in the market.
- Positive Market Reaction: The earnings beat is likely to positively impact SmartFinancial's stock price, attracting more investor interest and potentially driving the stock higher.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: With ongoing operational optimization and market share expansion, the company is expected to maintain robust performance growth in the coming quarters, bolstering market confidence in its long-term development.
See More
SmartFinancial Schedules Q4 2025 Earnings Release for January 20, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: SmartFinancial plans to release its Q4 2025 earnings on January 20, 2026, after market close, demonstrating the company's commitment to financial transparency and providing investors with critical performance data.
- Conference Call Timing: The company will host a conference call on January 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET, aimed at discussing the earnings report in depth with investors, thereby enhancing shareholder engagement and communication.
- Replay Availability: A replay of the conference call will be available until March 21, 2026, ensuring that investors who cannot participate live can still access important information, thus improving accessibility and transparency of information.
- Material Release: Earnings release and conference call materials will be published on the company’s website at 9:00 a.m. ET on the morning of the call, further enhancing the timeliness and accessibility of information to help investors make informed decisions.
See More
