Investar Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: ISTR) announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, in a press release dated October 22, 2026. The company reported net income available to common shareholders of $11.1 million, or $0.74 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2026. This represents an increase from $8.9 million, or $0.61 per share, reported for the prior quarter ended June 30, 2026.
On a non-GAAP basis, core earnings per diluted common share were $0.77 for the third quarter of 2026, compared to $0.75 for the second quarter of 2026. The company reported a net interest margin of 3.73% for the third quarter, an increase of six basis points from the previous quarter. Return on average assets was reported at 1.21% for the third quarter, up from 0.98% in the prior quarter.
Total loans at Investar Bank stood at $3.07 billion as of September 30, 2026, a decrease of $6.9 million from the previous quarter but an increase of $916.3 million, or 42.6%, from the same period in 2025. The increase year-over-year is primarily attributed to the acquisition of Wichita Falls Bancshares, Inc., which closed on January 1, 2026. The business lending portfolio increased by $37.9 million, or 3.1%, to $1.25 billion during the quarter.
Regarding capital and liquidity, Investar’s regulatory tier 1 leverage capital ratio increased to 10.92% as of September 30, 2026, compared to 10.56% at the end of the second quarter. The company also repurchased 25,113 shares of its common stock during the third quarter at an average price of $29.44 per share.
Investar’s President and Chief Executive Officer, John J. D’Angelo, stated that the results reflect the impact of the acquisition of Wichita Falls Bancshares and the company's strategy of optimizing its balance sheet. The company noted that it originated and renewed loans during the quarter, with 59% of those loans being variable-rate loans at a blended interest rate of 7.0%.
