First Merchants Corporation reported third-quarter 2026 net income available to common stockholders of $67.8 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, compared with $56.3 million and $0.98 a year earlier. Net interest income was $161.1 million, up $27.4 million year over year, while fully taxable equivalent net interest margin was 3.44%, up 20 basis points. Loans grew $70.2 million and deposits $175.6 million on a linked-quarter basis.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2026, net income available to common stockholders was $139.0 million, compared with $167.5 million a year earlier; adjusted net income, a non-GAAP measure, was $178.0 million versus $168.2 million. Third-quarter net charge-offs were $29.4 million, and nonperforming assets were 0.57% of total assets. First Merchants completed a $100 million subordinated debt issuance in late September and repurchased 287,431 common shares for $12.0 million in the quarter. President Mike Stewart is planned to succeed CEO Mark Hardwick upon Hardwick’s retirement at year-end 2026.
First Merchants Corp, the institutional investment manager identified in the report, reported a Form 13F holdings report listing 497 information-table entries. Its information-table value total is $3,045,732,768, rounded to the nearest dollar. These figures summarize the count of reported entries and the aggregate value shown for the table.
First Merchants Corporation declared a quarterly cash dividend of $46.88 per share on its 7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, equivalent to $0.4688 per depositary share. The dividend is payable November 16, 2026, to stockholders of record October 30, 2026. Each depositary share represents a 1/100th interest in a Series A preferred share.
First Merchants Corp director Jean L. Wojtowicz acquired 785 shares of common stock through a grant or award on September 30, 2026, with a reported transaction price of $39.78 per share. Her direct holdings after the transaction were 68,026 shares. The reported post-transaction amount includes Restricted Stock Awards totaling 9,722 shares.
First Merchants Corp (FRME) director Jason R. Sondhi acquired 589 common shares on September 30, 2026, through a grant or award, with a reported price of $39.78 per share. This was a compensation-related acquisition, not a market purchase. His reported direct holdings after the transaction were 10,712 shares, including 7,390 restricted stock awards; the footnotes state he no longer has beneficial ownership of former spouse shares.
First Merchants Corp director Michael C. Rechin acquired 608 shares of common stock through a grant/award on September 30, 2026. The reported per-share amount was $39.78. His reported direct holdings after the transaction were 91,032 shares, including Restricted Stock Awards totaling 7,550 shares. He also held 5,120 shares indirectly through a 401(k).
First Merchants Corp (FRME) director Larry W. Myers received a grant of 569 common shares on September 30, 2026, at a reported $39.78 per share. His direct holdings after the grant were 90,838 shares, including Restricted Stock Awards totaling 1,087 shares. Reported indirect holdings were 71,983 shares in a Spousal IRA and 152,282 shares in a 401k.
First Merchants Corp director Clark C. Kellogg acquired 569 shares of common stock in a grant/award on September 30, 2026; the grant is reported at $39.78 per share. His directly held position following the transaction was 16,503 shares, including 7,142 restricted stock awards. He also reported indirect holdings of 409 shares through the Rosella Kellogg Revocable Trust and 1,115 shares through a 401(k) Plan.
Kevin D. Johnson, a director of First Merchants Corp. (FRME), acquired 549 shares of common stock through a grant or award on September 30, 2026, at a reported price of $39.78 per share. His reported direct holdings after the transaction were 10,068 shares, including restricted stock awards totaling 6,895 shares.
Howard Halderman, a director of First Merchants Corp, acquired 589 shares of common stock through a grant or award on September 30, 2026, at a reported price of $39.78 per share. His direct holdings after the transaction were 30,561 shares, including restricted stock awards totaling 7,390 shares. Separate indirect holdings listed as held by his son were 3 shares and 12 shares.