This Stock Offers a 2.96% Yield, Trades Below Book Value, and Insiders Are Purchasing Shares
Insider Buying Insight: The article highlights the significance of insider buying, noting that company officers and directors often invest in their own stocks when they believe the shares are undervalued or the company is progressing well.
ConnectOne Bancorp Investment: Director Stephen T. Boswell purchased 7,700 shares of ConnectOne Bancorp Inc (CNOB) for $22.24 each, and the stock is currently trading at $24.69, reflecting a 9.8% total return including dividends.
Valuation and Profitability: The DividendRank report indicates that CNOB shares exhibit attractive valuation and strong profitability metrics, making them appealing to dividend investors focused on value.
Dividend History Importance: The report emphasizes the importance of a company's past dividend history in assessing the likelihood of continued dividend payments, with CNOB currently offering an annualized dividend of $0.72 per share.
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- Asset Growth: ConnectOne Bancorp successfully scaled its assets from under $10 billion to nearly $15 billion in Q1 2026, demonstrating strong expansion capabilities in the New York City and South Florida markets, thereby enhancing its competitive position.
- Profitability Improvement: The company reported operating earnings per share of $0.79 for the first quarter, with a net interest margin expanding by 12 basis points to 3.39%, and loan originations showing an annualized growth of approximately 10%, indicating substantial profitability growth while maintaining cost control.
- Increased Shareholder Returns: In Q1, the company repurchased 90,000 shares at an average price of $26.21 per share and declared an 8.3% increase in its common dividend, reflecting management's confidence in future performance and commitment to shareholders.
- Risk Management Measures: Although delinquencies rose due to an isolated client relationship tied to 19 rent-stabilized multifamily properties, the company emphasized its support for affordable housing and addressed potential risks with over $80 million in reserves and marks as a buffer.
- Dividend Increase: ConnectOne Bancorp has declared a quarterly dividend increase from $0.180 to $0.195 per share, representing an 8.3% rise, which reflects the company's ongoing profitability improvements and may attract more investor interest.
- Stable Yield: The forward yield of 2.78% provides shareholders with a reliable cash return, enhancing the company's appeal in a competitive financial market environment.
- Payment Schedule: The new dividend will be payable on June 1, with a record date of May 15 and an ex-dividend date also on May 15, ensuring shareholders receive their earnings promptly and boosting shareholder confidence.
- Future Outlook: In its Q4 2025 earnings call, ConnectOne Bancorp outlined expectations for net interest margin growth in 2026 and plans for branch consolidation, aiming to optimize asset allocation to support future growth.
- Earnings Beat: ConnectOne Bancorp reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.79, exceeding expectations by $0.06, which reflects the company's ongoing improvement in profitability and strengthens investor confidence.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved revenue of $115.59 million in Q1, marking a 64.6% year-over-year increase, indicating its ability to maintain strong growth in a competitive market environment.
- NIM Improvement: ConnectOne anticipates continued growth in net interest margin (NIM) for 2026, alongside reaching a significant asset milestone of $14 billion, demonstrating successful strategies in optimizing asset-liability management.
- Branch Consolidation Plans: The company plans to consolidate branches to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs, a strategy that is expected to improve future profitability and strengthen its competitive position in the market.

- Quarterly Cash Dividend Announcement: ConnectOne Bancorp Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.195 per share.
- Dividend Increase: This dividend represents an increase of 8.3% compared to previous distributions.
- Share Reduction Details: According to an SEC filing dated February 17, 2026, PMC FIG Opportunities sold 143,724 shares of ConnectOne Bancorp in Q4 2025, with an estimated transaction value of $3.64 million, indicating a potential decrease in confidence in the company.
- Ownership Percentage Shift: Following this sale, PMC FIG's stake in ConnectOne Bancorp decreased from 8.8% to 3.8%, suggesting a reallocation of capital within its regional banking investments rather than a complete rejection of the business model.
- Financial Performance Overview: ConnectOne Bancorp reported a net income of $74.4 million in 2025, up from $67.8 million in 2024, although its stock price has only increased about 4% over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500's 16% gain.
- Future Outlook: Despite facing net interest margin pressures and credit quality risks, ConnectOne still demonstrates steady compounding potential, particularly supported by growth in commercial real estate and industrial loans, making it a point of interest for long-term investors focused on consistent loan growth and earnings stability.
- Share Reduction Details: PMC FIG Opportunities sold 143,724 shares of ConnectOne Bancorp in Q4 2025, with an estimated transaction value of $3.64 million, indicating a potential decrease in confidence towards the company.
- Position Value Decline: By quarter-end, PMC FIG Opportunities held 92,093 shares valued at $2.41 million, down $3.44 million from the previous period, reflecting the impact of market volatility on its investment portfolio.
- Financial Performance Insights: ConnectOne Bancorp reported a net income of $74.4 million in 2025, up from $67.8 million in 2024, with total loans increasing year-over-year, supported by commercial lending growth, while deposits remained stable, showcasing business resilience.
- Investor Considerations: Although ConnectOne Bancorp's shares gained about 4% over the past year, it was not included in Motley Fool Stock Advisor's top 10 stock recommendations, suggesting investors should carefully evaluate its long-term growth potential before investing.







