---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001473844-26-000023"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "STEL"
cik: "0001473844"
company_name: "Stellar Bancorp, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-04-28T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-15T02:50:28.918213+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.8
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Stellar Bancorp Q1 net income $27.0M, EPS $0.53; loan growth 16% annualized; merger with Prosperity on track

## Summary
- Net income $27.0M ($0.53 diluted EPS) vs Q4 $26.1M ($0.51); adjusted EPS $0.58 excluding merger costs.
- Loans held for investment rose $287.4M (3.94% linked-quarter, 16.0% annualized) to $7.59B.
- Net interest margin (tax-equivalent) expanded to 4.24% from 4.21%; net interest income up 2.5% to $105.9M.
- Merger with Prosperity: all regulatory approvals received; shareholder vote May 27, 2026; closing expected July 1.
- Nonperforming assets increased to $70.1M (0.64% of total assets) from $60.0M; provision for credit losses $2.5M.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001473844-26-000023
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: STEL
- cik: 0001473844
- company_name: Stellar Bancorp, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-04-28T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1473844/000147384426000023/0001473844-26-000023-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1473844/000147384426000023/stel-20260428.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001473844-26-000023
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001473844-26-000023.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001473844-26-000023.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  Stellar Bancorp, Inc. reported first quarter of 2026 results: net income $27.0 million, EPS $0.53 per diluted share.
  - Period: first quarter of 2026
  - Net income: $27.0 million
  - EPS: $0.53 per diluted share
  - Result: reported results
  source text: STELLAR BANCORP, INC. REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2026 RESULTS HOUSTON, April 28, 2026 - Stellar Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company” or “Stellar”) (NYSE: STEL) today reported net income of $27.0 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.53, for the first quarter of 2026, compared to net income of $26.1 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.51, for the fourth quarter of
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1473844/000147384426000023/0001473844-26-000023-index.htm

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