First Merchants (FRME) Reports Q3 Earnings: What Key Metrics Have to Say

First Merchants (FRME) reported $166.14 million in revenue for the quarter ended September 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 6.5%. EPS of $0.99 for the same period compares to $0.95 a year ago.The reported revenue represents a surprise of -0.07% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $166.25 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.96, the EPS surprise was +3.13%.While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.Here is how First Merchants performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:Efficiency Ratio: 55.1% compared to the 54.6% average estimate based on three analysts.Net Interest Margin (FTE): 3.2% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 3.2%.Net Charge-offs (Recoveries) as % of Average Loans (Annualized): 0.2% compared to the 0.2% average estimate based on two analysts.Average Balance - Total Earning Assets: $17.28 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $17.32 billion.Total Non-Interest Income: $32.48 million compared to the $32.86 million average estimate based on three analysts.Net gains and fees on sales of loans: $4.98 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $5.9 million.Other income: $1.55 million versus $1.05 million estimated by two analysts on average.Net Interest Income: $133.67 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $133.49 million.Net Interest Income (FTE): $139.87 million compared to the $140.33 million average estimate based on two analysts.Fiduciary and wealth management fees: $8.84 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $9.06 million.Service charges on deposit accounts: $8.92 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $8.53 million.Derivative hedge fees: $1.1 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $0.75 million.View all Key Company Metrics for First Merchants here>>>Shares of First Merchants have returned -6.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.1% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is HereThe AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. Little-known AI firms tackling the world's biggest problems may be more lucrative in the coming months and years.See "2nd Wave" AI stocks now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report First Merchants Corporation (FRME): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks