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Dividend Kings underperformed SPY in 2025, up 4.47% vs. SPY's 17.7%, but select Kings outperformed the index. Twenty-two Dividend Kings are identified as both potentially undervalued and offering long-term expected annualized returns of at least 10%. Dividend growth for the Kings remains subdued at 5.81% for 2025, trailing the 2024 rate of 6.32%.
Farmers and Merchants Bancorp (OTCMKTS:FMCB - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Friday. The company traded as high as $1,144.9999 and last traded at $1,115.95, with a volume of 6 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $1,125.00. Farmers and Merchants Bancorp Stock Performance The
Farmers and Merchants Bancorp (OTCMKTS:FMCB - Get Free Report)'s share price crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $1,036.44 and traded as high as $1,085.00. Farmers and Merchants Bancorp shares last traded at $1,075.00, with a volume of 50 shares traded.
LODI, Calif., Nov. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (OTCQX: FMCB) (the “Company” or “FMCB”), the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California (the “Bank” or “F&M Bank”), has amended their record date for the fourth quarter dividend from December 15, 2025 to December 4, 2025. The quarterly cash dividend declared amount of $5.05 per share and the cash dividend pay date of January 2, 2026 both remain unchanged from the original announcement on November 12, 2025. The declaration of this quarterly dividend brings the total year to date cash dividends per share of common stock declared to $19.35 per share, up 6.9% compared to a total of $18.10 per share for 2024.
Like the broader small bank space, shares of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp have continued to tread water since my last update. In contrast, profits continue to grow, with Farmers reporting record nine-month earnings this year. Given sound credit quality, strong pre-provision earnings, and a large capital cushion, Farmers may be one of the safer banks to own if the economy does head south.
LODI, Calif., Nov. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (OTCQX: FMCB) (the “Company” or “FMCB”), the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California (the “Bank” or “F&M Bank”), announced today that it will temporarily offer a special voluntary program through which shareholders owning 99 shares or less of FMCB common stock, as of November 12, 2025, may sell all of their shares without paying any fees. This program allows eligible shareholders to easily sell all their shares in a convenient and efficient manner, while providing an opportunity to increase their liquidity and diversify their portfolio.
LODI, Calif., Nov. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (OTCQX: FMCB) (the “Company” or “FMCB”), the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California (the “Bank” or “F&M Bank”), declared a quarterly cash dividend of $5.05 per share. The cash dividend is payable on January 2, 2026, to shareholders of record on December 15, 2025. The declaration of this quarterly dividend brings the total year to date cash dividends per share of common stock declared to $19.35 per share, up 6.9% compared to a total of $18.10 per share for 2024.
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (FMAO) demonstrates strong profitability and prudent loan management, with minimal past-due loans and robust loan loss provisions. FMAO's net interest income grew nearly 20% year-over-year, supporting a well-covered dividend that was recently increased for the 31st consecutive time. About half of FMAO's $2.6B loan book is commercial real estate, but credit quality remains high, with negligible delinquencies in this segment.
Third Quarter 2025 Highlights Net income of $23.7 million, an increase of $1.6 million or 7.22% compared to the third quarter of 2024; Basic earnings per share of $34.24 and diluted earnings per share of $33.92; diluted earnings per share up 13.22% compared to the third quarter of 2024; Diluted earnings per share of $130.83 over the trailing twelve months, up 10.4% compared to $118.46 over the same trailing period a year ago and up 14.6% compared to $114.13 for the same period two years ago; Tangible book value per share increased 9.8% to $877.13 compared to $799.04 as of September 30, 2024; Achieved a return on average assets of 1.70% and a return on average equity of 15.10%; Net interest income of $55.4 million, up $3.4 million or 6.6% compared to $52.0 million in the third quarter of 2024; net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) of 4.16%, up from 4.07% in the third quarter of 2024; Continued cost discipline resulted in an efficiency ratio of 46.48%; Liquidity position remains strong with $172.6 million in cash, $1.6 billion in investment securities, of which $870.2 million are available-for-sale, no borrowings and a borrowing capacity of $2.1 billion as of September 30, 2025; Continued to grow our solid capital position with a preliminary total risk-based capital ratio of 15.76%, a common equity tier 1 ratio of 14.28%, a tier 1 leverage ratio of 11.60% and a tangible common equity ratio of 11.26%; Credit quality remains resilient with an allowance for credit losses on loans and leases of 2.10%; a net charge-off ratio of 0.03% for the quarter; and a non-accrual loan and leases ratio of 0.03% at quarter-end. LODI, Calif.
LODI, Calif., Aug. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (OTCQX: FMCB) (the “Company” or “FMCB”), the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California (the “Bank” or “F&M Bank”), announced that, effective immediately, the Company has authorized an increase of $45.0 million to the existing share repurchase program along with an extension of the program through December 31, 2027. The increase will bring the total of the share repurchase program to $57.6 million.
LODI, Calif., Aug. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (OTCQX: FMCB) (the “Company” or “FMCB”), the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California (the “Bank” or “F&M Bank”), announced today that the Company is changing its dividend policy related to the frequency of cash dividend payments from semi-annually to quarterly. The unanimous decision to change the frequency of the cash dividend was done after the Board of Directors completed a thorough analysis of the Company's overall financial condition and performance. This current decision only impacts the frequency of dividend payments, which is subject to change in the future, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board. Consistent with past dividends, the amount of each future cash dividend will be determined by the Board at each dividend period and is based on the Company's financial performance and many factors which can change from time to time for reasons both within and outside of the Company's control. There can be no assurance that the Company's Board of Directors, in fact, will declare a dividend in any future quarterly period. The decision to move to a quarterly dividend is also designed to align more closely with banking industry practices while providing a more frequent return to shareholders.
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp has been a typically quiet performer since my last update, with the shares unmoved by April's tariff drama and the subsequent rally. While loan growth is soft right now, credit quality remains pristine, and the bank's return on equity is high. The bank's stock price has not kept pace with its earnings and book value growth in recent years. This has left it trading on very depressed multiples.
14 Dividend Kings continue to outperform the S&P 500 in 2025. Dividend growth remains healthy, with one recent increase and a collective 2025 growth rate of 5.23%. Seventeen Dividend Kings currently appear undervalued with strong long-term return potential, using Dividend Yield Theory for valuation.
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp is a specialized, stable regional bank with a strong focus on agricultural lending and a long history of dividend growth. Q2 results were robust: record net income, rising loan demand, expanding margins, and strong asset quality despite macro risks for farmers. Shares trade at a relatively thin premium to tangible book value, making them attractive given the bank's consistent profitability and efficiency.
Second Quarter 2025 Highlights Net income of $23.1 million, an increase of $1.3 million or 5.9% compared to the second quarter of 2024; Basic earnings per share of $33.06 and diluted earnings per share of $32.94; diluted earnings per share up 12.1% compared to the second quarter of 2024; Diluted earnings per share of $126.87 over the trailing twelve months, up 7.8% compared to $117.73 over the same trailing period a year ago and 15.2% compared to $110.10 for the same period two years ago; Tangible book value per share increased 9.7% to $835.33 compared to $761.62 as of June 30, 2024; Achieved a return on average assets of 1.65% and a return on average equity of 15.09%; Net interest income of $53.9 million, up $3.1 million or 6.1% compared to $50.8 million in the second quarter of 2024; net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) of 4.07%, up from 3.91% in the second quarter of 2024; Continued cost discipline resulted in an efficiency ratio of 44.88%; Liquidity position remains strong with $291.8 million in cash, $1.3 billion in investment securities, of which $573.0 million are available-for-sale, no borrowings and a borrowing capacity of $2.1 billion as of June 30, 2025; Continued to grow our solid capital position with a preliminary total risk-based capital ratio of 15.35%, common equity tier 1 ratio of 13.87%, tier 1 leverage ratio of 11.18% and a tangible common equity ratio of 11.08%; Credit quality remains resilient with an allowance for credit losses on loans and leases of 2.09%; net charge-off ratio of 0.02% for the quarter and no non-accrual loans or leases at quarter-end. LODI, Calif.
LODI, Calif., May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (OTCQX: FMCB) (the “Company” or “FMCB”), the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California (the “Bank” or “F&M Bank”), the Board of Directors declared a mid-year cash dividend of $9.30 per share, an increase of 5.7% over the $8.80 per share paid in July of 2024. The cash dividend is payable on July 1, 2025, to shareholders of record on June 10, 2025. Net income over the trailing twelve months was $88.7 million compared with $87.5 million for the same trailing period a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share over the trailing twelve months totaled $123.32, up 5.97% compared with $116.37 for the same trailing period a year ago.
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp shows resilience with strong returns, asset quality, and efficiency despite short-term agricultural risks and seasonal loan demand declines. The bank's net interest margin increased to 4.20%, driving net interest income to $53.1 million and achieving record Q1 earnings per share of $32.88. With a 60-year streak of dividend hikes and a 7.5X FWD EPS valuation, the stock remains attractive for dividend growth investors.
First Quarter 2025 Highlights Net income of $23.0 million, or basic earnings per share of $32.88 and diluted earnings per share of $32.86; diluted earnings per share up 9.9% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 and up 7.6% compared to the first quarter of 2024; Basic earnings per share of $123.34 over the trailing twelve months versus $116.37 over the same trailing period a year ago and $105.65 for the same period two years ago; Tangible book value per share increased 13.49% to $843.33 compared to $743.08 as of March 31, 2024; Achieved return on average assets of 1.70% and return on average equity of 15.65%; Net interest income of $53.1 million up $0.95 million compared to in the fourth quarter of 2024; net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) of 4.20%, up from 4.09% in the fourth quarter of 2024; Strong liquidity position continues with $607.3 million in cash, $1.3 billion in investment securities of which $495.4 million are available-for-sale and a borrowing capacity of $2.1 billion as of March 31, 2025; Continue to grow our solid capital position with a total risk-based capital ratio of 15.23%, common equity tier 1 ratio of 13.75%, tier 1 leverage ratio of 11.32% and a tangible common equity ratio of 10.40%; Credit quality remains strong with a total allowance for credit losses of 2.17%; net charge-offs for the quarter of $160,000 and non-accrual loans or leases at quarter-end of $193,000. LODI, Calif.
2024 earnings were typically robust for agricultural bank Farmers & Merchants Bancorp. This bank has an excellent core deposit franchise, with that leading to very low funding costs and above-average profitability. While its net interest margin has been ticking up again, earning asset growth has been more challenging, putting some pressure on earnings.
The Dividend Kings are outperforming the S&P 500 in 2025, up 4% YTD versus 1.39% for SPY. Ten Dividend Kings have already achieved double-digit returns, led by National Fuel Gas (+22.08%) and Abbott Laboratories (+20.71%). 2025 Dividend growth is looking promising, with ABM Industries and Walmart leading with 17.78% and 15.69% increases, respectively.