Analysts Offer Predictions for HBT Financial Q1 Earnings

HBT Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBT) – Equities researchers at DA Davidson issued their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for HBT Financial in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, January 23rd. DA Davidson analyst J. Rulis forecasts that the company will earn $0.58 per share for the quarter. The consensus estimate for HBT Financial’s current full-year earnings is $2.15 per share. DA Davidson also issued estimates for HBT Financial’s FY2025 earnings at $2.35 EPS.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on HBT Financial from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Piper Sandler cut their price target on HBT Financial from $25.00 to $24.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $24.40.

HBT Financial Stock Performance

Shares of HBT stock opened at $22.77 on Friday. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $22.85 and its 200 day simple moving average is $22.35. HBT Financial has a one year low of $17.75 and a one year high of $25.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $718.62 million, a PE ratio of 10.08 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.82.

HBT Financial (NASDAQ:HBT) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The company reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.58 by $0.04. HBT Financial had a return on equity of 14.57% and a net margin of 24.99%.

HBT Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be issued a $0.21 dividend. This is a boost from HBT Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.19. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.69%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 4th. HBT Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 33.63%.

HBT Financial announced that its board has approved a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, December 18th that authorizes the company to repurchase $15.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to repurchase up to 2.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Chairman Fred L. Drake sold 2,200 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.86, for a total value of $52,492.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 91,470 shares in the company, valued at $2,182,474.20. This trade represents a 2.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders have sold a total of 14,498 shares of company stock worth $351,985 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 59.80% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On HBT Financial

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of HBT Financial by 70.1% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,329 shares of the company’s stock worth $95,000 after purchasing an additional 1,784 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in HBT Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at $122,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new stake in HBT Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at $251,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in HBT Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at $295,000. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC raised its position in HBT Financial by 3.8% in the 2nd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 14,605 shares of the company’s stock valued at $287,000 after buying an additional 541 shares during the last quarter. 78.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

HBT Financial Company Profile

HBT Financial, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company that provides business, commercial, and retail banking products and services to individuals, businesses, and municipal entities in Central and Northeastern Illinois, and Eastern Iowa. The company's deposits accounts consist of noninterest-bearing demand deposits, interest-bearing transaction accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposits, health savings accounts, and individual retirement accounts.