Great Southern Reports Q1 Net Interest Income of $48.3 Million
For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, annualized return on average common equity was 10.85%, annualized return on average assets was 1.24%, and annualized net interest margin was 3.71%, compared to 11.30%, 1.15% and 3.57%, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. Joseph W. Turner, President and CEO of Great Southern, commented, "Our first-quarter 2026 results reflect a solid start to the year, driven by disciplined execution across the business. Throughout the quarter, we remained committed to the fundamentals that have supported our performance over time, including careful balance sheet management, sound credit and expense discipline, and thoughtful capital allocation. Underlying performance remained strong in the quarter. We did have a few income and expense items, which we separately noted above, that impacted the Company's results in a positive manner. Net interest income was $48.3 million, reflecting a continued focus on both asset pricing and funding costs, alongside the successful management of our earning asset base. This diligence partially mitigated the absence of income from a previously terminated interest rate swap, which contributed $2.0 million of net interest income in the first quarter of 2025. Though we continue to focus on net interest income growth, credit and pricing discipline may serve as governors given our prioritization of long-term stockholder returns over near-term earnings. We believe Great Southern entered 2026 in a position of strength, and our priorities remain consistent: maintain strong credit quality, manage funding and expenses carefully, and continue building long-term value for our stockholders through disciplined execution and sound risk management."
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- Earnings Release Schedule: Great Southern Bancorp plans to report its preliminary Q2 2026 earnings after market close on July 15, 2026, followed by a conference call on July 16 at 2:00 PM Central Time, enhancing transparency for investors regarding financial performance.
- Conference Call Participation: Investors can listen to the call live via the company's Investor Relations website, with a recommendation to register 10 minutes early to ensure smooth participation, reflecting the company's commitment to investor communication.
- Information Disclosure Channels: The earnings results will be publicly announced through a news release and posted on both the company's Investor Relations website and the SEC's website, ensuring broad dissemination and compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Company Overview: Headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, Great Southern Bank offers a wide range of banking services and operates 87 retail banking centers across multiple states, demonstrating its extensive market presence and strategic business footprint.
- Stable Quarterly Dividend: Great Southern Bancorp has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.43 per share, consistent with previous announcements, indicating the company's stability in maintaining profitability, which is likely to attract more investor interest.
- Dividend Yield: The forward yield of 2.35% provides shareholders with a steady return, enhancing the company's appeal in the current market environment, particularly in a low-interest-rate scenario.
- Consistent Dividend Record: The company has now announced a dividend of $0.43 for four consecutive quarters, reflecting its strong financial health and ability to consistently reward shareholders, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Financial Performance Overview: While the GAAP EPS of $1.58 exceeded expectations by $0.29, the revenue of $48.33 million fell short by $6.42 million, highlighting the challenges the company faces in balancing profitability with revenue growth.
- Strong Financial Performance: Great Southern Bancorp reported a net income of $17.5 million for Q1 2026, translating to $1.58 per diluted share, with an annualized net interest margin of 3.71%, indicating robust financial health amidst a competitive landscape.
- Loan Growth and Asset Management: The bank's total assets stood at approximately $5.69 billion, with total deposits around $4.45 billion, while net loans increased by $99.8 million to $4.46 billion, reflecting effective asset management despite stable loan balances.
- Technology Investment and Expense Outlook: Management anticipates that IT-related initiatives will add $200,000 to $250,000 in monthly expenses over the next 3 to 6 quarters, aimed at enhancing data security and customer-facing technologies, which may exert short-term pressure on profits.
- Capital Buybacks and Dividend Policy: The company repurchased 268,664 shares at an average price of approximately $62.55 and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.43 per share, demonstrating confidence in its stock value and a commitment to ongoing capital deployment strategies.
- Earnings Beat: Great Southern Bancorp reported a Q1 GAAP EPS of $1.58, exceeding expectations by $0.29, indicating strong profitability despite market challenges.
- Decline in Net Interest Income: The net interest income for Q1 was $48.33 million, down 2.0% year-over-year, missing expectations by $6.42 million, reflecting pressure in the loan growth environment.
- Loan Growth: As of March 31, 2026, total net loans, excluding mortgage loans held for sale, increased by $99.8 million or 2.3% from $4.36 billion at December 31, 2025, demonstrating the company's ongoing efforts in loan expansion.
- Stable Capital Returns: The annualized return on average common equity was 10.85%, with an annualized return on average assets of 1.24% and a net interest margin of 3.71%, showing solid capital management despite slight declines from the previous year.
- Earnings Beat: Great Southern Bancorp reported quarterly earnings of $1.58 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.27, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.48% from $1.47, indicating sustained profitability improvements.
- Revenue Stability: The company posted revenues of $55.36 million for the quarter, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $54.80 million, although slightly down from $55.92 million a year ago, demonstrating resilience in a competitive market.
- Stock Performance: Since the beginning of the year, Great Southern Bancorp's shares have risen approximately 9.7%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.8%, reflecting market confidence in its growth potential.
- Cautious Outlook: While the current consensus EPS estimate stands at $1.31 with revenues expected at $55.6 million, the mixed trend in estimate revisions and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) suggest that the stock may perform in line with the market in the near term, prompting investors to monitor future earnings expectations closely.









