BANNER CORP. NEW DL-,01

The Federal Reserve has agreed to waive the application process for the merger of Banner and Pacific Financial, meaning all regulatory approvals are in place. The companies are targeting completion of the merger on September 1, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. The transaction will consolidate the regional banks under Banner’s umbrella, with Banner possessing a significantly larger balance sheet than Pacific Financial. » More on de.investing.com

The stock of Banner Corporation rose to a new 52-week high of $72.66 and is up 16.7% year-to-date. An InvestingPro analysis currently rates the stock as undervalued. For Q2 2026 Banner reported earnings of $1.44 per share and revenue of $172 million, both slightly below analysts' expectations, but showed higher profits and revenues year-over-year, strong loan growth and stable margins. The company has paid consecutive dividends for 32 years and currently offers a yield of 2.91%; Banner also points to an upcoming acquisition as a positive sign. » More on de.investing.com

The board of directors of Banner Corporation has approved a repurchase program for up to 1.7 million common shares, representing about 5% of outstanding shares. Repurchases are expected to be made through open-market purchases; timing and size will depend on market conditions and business considerations. CEO Mark J. Grescovich said the stock is attractively valued and views the buyback as a means to create long-term shareholder value. Banner Corporation is the parent company of Banner Bank, with total assets of $16.59 billion and operations in four western U.S. states. » More on de.investing.com

Banner Corporation’s stock rose to a 52-week high of $69.43; it is currently trading at $69.05 with a P/E ratio of 11.62. Banner reported strong Q1 results with EPS of $1.59 (expectation $1.37) and revenue slightly below expectations, and announced a planned stock transaction to acquire Pacific Financial Corporation valued at about $177 million (0.2633 Banner shares per Pacific share). Analysts then raised price targets to roughly $74–75; Banner has paid dividends for 32 years and currently offers a yield of 3%. » More on de.investing.com

At Banner Corp’s annual meeting, all 12 nominated board candidates were elected for one year and the advisory vote on executive compensation was approved. Shareholders also confirmed Baker Tilly US as auditor and achieved the required quorum. Banner had earlier reported strong Q1 results with EPS of $1.59 and announced the acquisition of Pacific Financial Corporation in a stock transaction worth roughly $177 million, after which analysts raised their price targets. » More on de.investing.com