HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT)

In the past six months, HBT Financial has experienced several stock-related events. A definitive agreement for CNB Bank Shares, Inc. to merge with and into HBT in a combined stock and cash transaction was announced on October 20, 2025, valued at approximately $170.2 million and expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. On December 18, 2025, HBT Financial announced a new stock repurchase program, authorizing the repurchase of up to $30 million of its common stock, effective from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027. HBT Financial declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share, payable on February 17, 2026. The company announced its Fourth Quarter 2025 financial results on January 26, 2026, reporting adjusted net income of $20.1 million, and also reported its First Quarter 2025 financial results with a net income of $19.1 million.

Specific information regarding the demand seasonality for HBT Financial, Inc.'s products and services is not explicitly detailed. Demand for certain services may align with general banking industry trends, such as mortgage loan demand influenced by housing market cycles, business loan demand correlated with economic cycles, deposit accounts seeing seasonal variations related to tax refunds, and agricultural loans tied to planting and harvest cycles.

HBT Financial, Inc., headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, is a bank holding company with roots dating back to 1920. It operates in the financial services sector, providing business, commercial, and retail banking products and services, including deposit accounts, lending products (commercial real estate, construction, agriculture, residential, etc.), wealth management services, and digital banking services.

HBT Financial, Inc. primarily operates throughout Illinois and Eastern Iowa, with 66 full-service branches as of September 30, 2025. The company plans to expand its presence through a proposed merger with CNB Bank Shares, Inc., expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, enhancing its footprint in central Illinois, the Chicago metropolitan area, and the St. Louis metropolitan area, while also providing access to new markets in central Illinois and Missouri. The combined entity is projected to have 84 branches across Illinois, Eastern Iowa, and Missouri.

HBT Financial, Inc. has demonstrated a strong brand reputation in the past year. In February 2026, Forbes ranked HBT Financial as No. 1 on its annual list of America's Best Banks, a significant improvement from its seventh-place ranking a year prior. This recognition is based on an analysis of the 200 largest publicly traded banks and thrifts, evaluating 11 equally-weighted metrics related to credit quality, profitability, and stock performance. The company's long-standing commitment to relationship-based lending and community focus are highlighted as key factors in its success and reputation.

HBT Financial, Inc. has a diverse ownership structure, with approximately 60.7% of shares held by individuals, including a trust controlled by the family members of Executive Chairman Fred Drake owning about 54% of the bank. Major institutional owners and shareholders include BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, Dimensional Fund Advisors Lp, and Manufacturers Life Insurance Company, The. As of January 12, 2026, institutional investors held a total of 9,567,760 shares.