First Busey (NASDAQ:BUSE) Stock Price Breaks Below Fifty Day Moving Average Following Weak Earnings

Key Points

• First Busey’s third-quarter results missed expectations: EPS came in at $0.63 versus the $0.67 consensus, while revenue reached $194.25 million compared with estimates of $195.77 million. Shares fell below their 50-day moving average, trading as low as $28.99.
• Credit and margin pressures increased: The provision for credit losses rose to $9.6 million from $2.2 million, and net interest margin narrowed to 3.58% from 3.72%, despite deposits increasing to $15.54 billion.
• The company maintained its dividend and share-repurchase support: First Busey declared a quarterly dividend of $0.26 per share, representing a 3.6% annualized yield, and repurchased approximately 1.97 million shares for $59.6 million. Analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” rating with a $31 price target.

First Busey Corporation (NASDAQ:BUSE - Get Free Report) crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday following a weaker than expected earnings announcement. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $29.91 and traded as low as $28.99. First Busey shares last traded at $29.24, with a volume of 1,901,820 shares traded.

The bank reported $0.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.67 by ($0.04). First Busey had a return on equity of 10.48% and a net margin of 21.00%. The business had revenue of $194.25 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $195.77 million.

First Busey Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 23rd will be paid a dividend of $0.26 per share. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 23rd. First Busey's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 42.98%.

First Busey News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting First Busey this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Deposits increased to $15.54 billion from $15.13 billion in the previous quarter, while First Busey repurchased approximately 1.97 million shares for $59.6 million—both supportive of funding stability and per-share value. Nonperforming assets remained relatively contained at $83.6 million, or 0.45% of total assets. First Busey Q3 Net Income Falls to $55.8 Million
• Neutral Sentiment: First Busey reported third-quarter net income of $55.8 million. Net interest income edged up to $153.1 million, but total noninterest income declined 8.8% from the second quarter. First Busey Corporation Announces 2026 Third Quarter Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Quarterly earnings were $0.63 per share, below the $0.67 analyst consensus, while revenue of $194.25 million also missed the $195.77 million estimate. Earnings were below the $0.64 per share reported a year earlier, increasing concerns about near-term growth. First Busey Q3 Earnings and Revenues Miss Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Provision for credit losses rose sharply to $9.6 million from $2.2 million in the second quarter, while net interest margin narrowed to 3.58% from 3.72%. The company’s separate report of third-quarter net charge-offs is adding to investor focus on credit quality and potentially higher loan-loss costs. First Busey Reports Third-Quarter Net Charge-Offs

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have issued reports on BUSE. Zacks Research lowered First Busey from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Wall Street Zen raised shares of First Busey from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 1st. DA Davidson lifted their price target on shares of First Busey from $30.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Piper Sandler lowered shares of First Busey from an "overweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $35.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "buy (b)" rating on shares of First Busey in a report on Friday, August 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, First Busey presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $31.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other First Busey news, Director Michael Cassens sold 1,441 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.12, for a total transaction of $41,961.92. Following the transaction, the director owned 128,571 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,743,987.52. This trade represents a 1.11% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 4,323 shares of company stock worth $130,627. Company insiders own 3.77% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Busey

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Allworth Financial LP raised its position in shares of First Busey by 61.4% during the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 881 shares of the bank's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 335 shares in the last quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in First Busey by 6.8% in the second quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 8,972 shares of the bank's stock worth $265,000 after purchasing an additional 571 shares during the period. Inspire Investing LLC increased its stake in First Busey by 3.7% during the first quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 20,335 shares of the bank's stock valued at $514,000 after purchasing an additional 725 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new stake in First Busey during the second quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in shares of First Busey by 13.1% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 8,373 shares of the bank's stock worth $212,000 after purchasing an additional 971 shares during the period. 56.49% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

First Busey Stock Down 3.1%

The company has a market capitalization of $2.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.08 and a beta of 0.75. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $29.91 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $27.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.90.

About First Busey

First Busey Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Through its banking and wealth management businesses, the company serves individuals, families, businesses and institutions with a range of financial products and services.

Its principal banking subsidiary, Busey Bank, provides consumer and commercial checking and savings accounts, loans, mortgages, treasury management and other deposit and lending services. First Busey also offers investment management, trust, retirement planning, financial planning and brokerage services through its wealth management operations.

First Busey traces its banking roots to 1868 and primarily serves customers in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Florida, with additional markets following its combination with CrossFirst Bankshares.

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