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Glacier Bancorp (GBCI - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.81 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.79 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.62 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +2.53%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this bank holding company would post earnings of $0.76 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.76, delivering no surprise.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.

Glacier Bancorp, which belongs to the Zacks Banks - West industry, posted revenues of $329.84 million for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.57%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $260.73 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Glacier Bancorp shares have added about 1.5% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 13.3%.

What's Next for Glacier Bancorp?While Glacier Bancorp has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Glacier Bancorp was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.85 on $337.06 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $3.10 on $1.29 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - West is currently in the top 27% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Another stock from the same industry, Avidbank Holdings Inc. (AVBH - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on October 26.

This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.88 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +22.2%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.8% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.

Avidbank Holdings Inc.'s revenues are expected to be $28.94 million, up 19.6% from the year-ago quarter.

Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Glacier Bancorp (GBCI - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 22. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis bank holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.79 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +27.4%.

Revenues are expected to be $327.98 million, up 25.8% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.16% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Glacier Bancorp?For Glacier Bancorp, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.25%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Glacier Bancorp will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Glacier Bancorp would post earnings of $0.76 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.76, delivering no surprise.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Glacier Bancorp doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAnother stock from the Zacks Banks - West industry, Cathay General (CATY - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $1.44 per share for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +27.4%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $228.21 million, up 8.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Cathay has been revised 13.1% up to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of +2.54%, reflecting a higher Most Accurate Estimate.

When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP indicates that Cathay will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

MarketBeat’s Top-Rated Dividend Stocks for 2026Glacier Bancorp NYSE: GBCI reported second-quarter net income of $97.9 million, up 19% from the prior quarter and 85% from a year earlier, as net interest income and margin expansion supported earnings growth.

Diluted earnings per share totaled $0.75, increasing 19% sequentially and 67% year over year. President and CEO Randall Chesler said the company’s tax-equivalent net interest margin expanded to 3.90%, up 10 basis points from the first quarter and 69 basis points from the second quarter of 2025.

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Net interest income rose 3% from the first quarter and 33% from the prior-year period to $276 million. Pretax, pre-provision net revenue was $130.8 million, rising 23% sequentially and 53% year over year.

Funding Costs Decline, Deposit Base Remains Stable Glacier’s total cost of funding declined to 1.33%, down 7 basis points from the first quarter and 30 basis points from a year ago. Core deposit costs, including noninterest-bearing deposits, were 1.18%, down 2 basis points sequentially. Noninterest-bearing deposits represented 30% of total deposits, unchanged from both the preceding quarter and the year-earlier period.

Treasurer Byron Pollan said the June 30 deposit cost was also 1.18% and said deposit costs should remain stable if the Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady.

“I think competition is strong. It always is. It’s rational,” Pollan said in response to a question about deposit competition. Chesler added that Glacier’s footprint is about 75% rural and 25% urban, and said the company’s emphasis on core customer relationships contributes to its lower-cost funding profile.

Average deposits were $24.5 billion during the second quarter, up $112 million from the first quarter on a 2% annualized basis. Period-end deposits were $24.7 billion, down slightly from the prior quarter. Chesler said deposit levels remained stable and continued to support the company’s liquidity and funding strategy.

Loan Growth Broad-Based Across Operating Regions Loans ended the quarter at $21.4 billion, increasing $330 million from the first quarter, or 6% on an annualized basis. Chesler described growth as broad-based and attributed it to disciplined production in attractive markets.

The company operates across Southwest and Mountain West regions. Chesler said the Southwest continued to perform well and was rebuilding its pipeline after a strong first quarter, while the Mountain West posted a strong second quarter.

Chief Credit Administrator Tom Dolan said the second and third quarters have generally been the company’s stronger seasonal lending periods. He said loan pipelines remained healthy, with continued pull-through and back-build activity, as well as tailwinds from construction draws and the agricultural growth season.

Glacier continued to generate new loan production yields above 6.5% during the quarter, Dolan said. He characterized pricing as the primary competitive factor, particularly in larger metropolitan markets, while saying the company had not observed substantial competitive pressure on underwriting discipline or loan structure.

Margin Expected to Reach 4% in Fourth Quarter Pollan said Glacier expects its net interest margin to continue expanding and anticipates reaching a 4% margin level early in the fourth quarter of 2026. He said the company expects to exit 2026 with a margin above 4%.

He noted that certain second-quarter headwinds, including nonaccrual interest reversals and lower accretion, appeared elevated and were not expected to persist at the same level. Pollan said the level of discount accretion reported in the second quarter was likely a more normal assumption going forward.

Over the longer term, Pollan said he views Glacier’s margin as potentially ranging between 4% and 4.5%, its more historical norm. He said a steeper yield curve and continued meaningful loan growth could help move the margin toward the upper end of that range, and he expects margin expansion to continue through 2027.

The company also resumed some investment securities purchases during the quarter, buying approximately $250 million of bonds. Pollan said Glacier expects to continue putting cash to work and anticipates average earning assets will increase in the third and fourth quarters following the completion of Federal Home Loan Bank advance paydowns.

Credit Remains Stable; Expense Guidance Unchanged Chesler said credit quality remained excellent. Early-stage delinquencies declined from the first quarter, while nonperforming assets increased modestly but remained low relative to subsidiary assets. The allowance for credit losses stood at 1.22% of total loans.

Dolan said credit trends were stable overall, with no particular industry, geography or asset class showing outsized risk. He said the company continues to monitor its agricultural portfolio, though 2025 performed better than anticipated and 2026 has started well.

Acquisition-related expenses declined meaningfully during the quarter, helping improve Glacier’s operating efficiency ratio to 56.21% from 63.05% in the first quarter. Chief Financial Officer Ron Copher maintained quarterly expense guidance of $187 million to $192 million for the second half, noting that some discretionary spending could return.

For the first half of 2026, Glacier reported net income of $180 million, up 68% from the prior-year first half, while diluted earnings per share increased 48% to $1.38. The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.33 per share, marking the company’s 165th consecutive quarterly dividend, according to Chesler.

On capital management, Pollan said the company’s capital position was strong and would continue to grow with earnings. He said management was evaluating its outlook for capital accumulation and retained flexibility regarding potential capital-return options.

About Glacier Bancorp (NYSE:GBCI)Glacier Bancorp, Inc is a bank holding company headquartered in Kalispell, Montana. Through its network of community banks, the company delivers commercial and retail banking services to individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, and agricultural clients. With a commitment to relationship-driven banking, Glacier Bancorp combines local market expertise with regional scale to offer customized financial solutions that address the unique needs of the communities it serves.

Established in 1955 as Glacier Bank, the company has expanded both organically and through targeted acquisitions to build a presence across the Mountain West and into the Upper Midwest and Southwest.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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