Stock Yards Caps Historic Year with Record Profits and Strategic Acquisition

Stock Yards has concluded its 2025 fiscal year by posting record-breaking financial results while simultaneously laying the groundwork for its next phase of growth. The company's impressive profit surge was accompanied by a major strategic move: the announced acquisition of Field & Main Bancorp. This combination of strong performance and expansion raises a key question for investors regarding the tangible value of this latest deal.

For the full year 2025, the company achieved a historic net income of $140.2 million, representing a significant 22% increase. Earnings per share for the year stood at $4.75. A primary driver was net interest income, which climbed 18% to $300.3 million, fueled by consistent loan growth and improved interest margins across its Midwestern markets.

The fourth quarter alone saw net profit advance to $36.6 million, or $1.24 per share, up from $31.7 million in the same period a year earlier. Another area of notable strength was the Wealth Management and Trust division. Assets under management closed the year at a record $7.64 billion, marking a third consecutive quarter of growth powered by robust new client business. The company's efficiency ratio remained solid at 52.46% for Q4.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Stock Yards?

A Strategic Move to Scale Operations

In a significant expansion announced in late January 2026, Stock Yards' management finalized an agreement to acquire Field & Main Bancorp. The all-stock transaction carries an approximate value of $105.7 million. Under the terms, shareholders of the target company will receive 0.6550 shares of Stock Yards common stock for each share they own.

This merger is projected to create a combined institution with a total asset base of roughly $10.4 billion. Company leadership anticipates the deal will be accretive to earnings per share by approximately 5.7% once all planned synergies are fully realized. The integration strategy and recent financial achievements are currently being presented to institutional investors at the Janney CEO Forum in Scottsdale.

Finalization of the acquisition is targeted for the second quarter of 2026, pending the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and the consent of shareholders from both institutions.