---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-26-007187"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "STEL"
cik: "0001473844"
company_name: "Stellar Bancorp, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-01-28T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T06:58:59.075812+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.9
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.9
confidence: "medium"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Stellar Bancorp enters merger with Prosperity; Q4 EPS $0.51, NIM expands

## Summary
- Merger agreement with Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. announced; conference call canceled, deal terms undisclosed.
- Q4 2025 net income $26.1M ($0.51 diluted EPS); full-year net income $102.9M ($1.99 EPS).
- Net interest income $103.4M; tax-equivalent NIM ex-PAA 4.06%, up from 4.00% in Q3.
- Nonperforming assets rose to 0.56% of assets; provision for credit losses $5.1M vs $305K in prior quarter.
- Repurchased 299,347 shares at avg $30.44; redeemed $30M subordinated debt in October.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-26-007187
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: STEL
- cik: 0001473844
- company_name: Stellar Bancorp, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-01-28T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.9
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.9
- confidence: medium
- sec_items: 2.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1473844/000110465926007187/0001104659-26-007187-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1473844/000110465926007187/tm264235d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-007187
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-007187.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-007187.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.