Hilltop Q1 Net Interest Margin Rises to 3.13%
Reports Q1 net interest margin 3.13% vs. 3.02% in 4Q25. Book value per common share increased to $36.63 at March 31, 2026, compared to $36.42 at December 31, 2025. Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 19.08% from 19.70% in the previous quarter. CEO Jeremy Ford said, "Amid a volatile quarter, Hilltop delivered strong operating results with all three lines of business reporting improved year-over-year financial results. At PlainsCapital Bank, loan and deposit growth, combined with meaningful net interest margin expansion, generated a 1.2% return on average assets. PrimeLending further reduced its operating losses in the quarter by capitalizing on higher origination volumes and an expanded gain on sale margin. HilltopSecurities produced a 12.7% pre-tax margin on $116M of net revenues driven by relative strength across its business lines. For the quarter, Hilltop produced a 1.0% return on average assets and returned $59M to stockholders through dividends and share repurchases."
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- Company Growth: Since its inception in 1986, PrimeLending has transformed from a small Dallas-based mortgage lender into a nationally recognized company serving homebuyers across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, successfully helping countless families achieve their homeownership dreams and solidifying its significant role in the industry.
- Customer Satisfaction: PrimeLending boasts an impressive 97% customer satisfaction rating and a 4.9-star Google rating, reflecting its ongoing commitment to personalized service and expert advice, which enhances customer trust and loyalty in a competitive market.
- Evolution of Technology and Service: Despite significant changes in the mortgage industry, PrimeLending remains dedicated to simplifying the loan process by leveraging new technologies to improve service quality while maintaining trusted relationships with clients, ensuring they feel confident in making major financial decisions.
- Future Outlook: As PrimeLending celebrates its 40th anniversary, it not only reflects on its journey with team members, business partners, and customers but also looks forward to continuing its mission of helping families build brighter futures through homeownership, reinforcing its leadership position in the industry.
- Loan Originator Honors: Four loan originators from PrimeLending have been recognized as 2026 Top Latino Mortgage Originators by NAHREP, highlighting the company's commitment to diversity and inclusion, which enhances brand image and market competitiveness.
- Core Team Value: EVP Al Velasco emphasized that loan originators are the heart of PrimeLending, and their expertise and genuine care for customers directly impact clients' lives, boosting customer loyalty and satisfaction.
- Accessibility Commitment: PrimeLending is dedicated to ensuring that more families can achieve homeownership by offering a wide range of mortgage solutions and Spanish-language support, thereby driving economic development and wealth accumulation in communities.
- 40th Anniversary Celebration: Celebrating its 40th year as a mortgage lender, PrimeLending has achieved a 97% customer satisfaction rating by simplifying the mortgage process and providing a best-in-class experience, further solidifying its leadership position in the industry.
- Insider Trading Overview: According to the latest SEC filing, Hilltop Holdings Director Rhodes R Bobbitt sold 20,000 shares in multiple open-market transactions on May 26 and 27, 2026, totaling approximately $758,000, indicating a trend of reducing his stake in the company.
- Transaction Scale Analysis: This 20,000-share sale marks Bobbitt's largest sell transaction in the past year, following a 10,000-share sale two weeks prior, reflecting a total of 30,000 shares sold over the past year, which indicates a significant decrease in his ownership percentage.
- Ownership Proportion Change: The transaction accounted for 17.09% of Bobbitt's direct holdings prior to the sale, leaving him with 97,016 shares, or about 76.4% of his original position, demonstrating that he still maintains a relatively high ownership stake.
- Company Financial Performance: Hilltop Holdings' recent financial data shows a 32.5% increase in stock price over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500's 29.6% return, although its long-term performance remains below the benchmark, indicating an improvement in the company's market performance in the short term.
- Insider Trading Overview: Director Rhodes R Bobbitt sold 20,000 shares of Hilltop Holdings between May 26 and 27, 2026, for approximately $758,000 at an average price of $37.88 per share, reducing his direct holdings by 17.09%.
- Impact of Holdings Change: Following this transaction, Bobbitt's direct ownership decreased from 117,016 shares to 97,016 shares, indicating a cautious outlook on the company's future, which may affect market perceptions of its stability.
- Performance Comparison: While Hilltop Holdings has only increased by 14% over the past five years with a CAGR of 2.6%, it has shown strong performance in the last year with a 32.5% rise, slightly outperforming the S&P 500's 29.6% return, indicating robust short-term growth.
- Valuation and Yield: Hilltop Holdings trades at a P/E ratio of 14.5x, below the market average of 30x but within a reasonable range for financial services, and offers a dividend yield of approximately 2.1%, reflecting its competitive position in the industry.
- Executive Stock Sale: Keith Bornemann, Chief Accounting Officer at Hilltop Holdings, sold 2,000 shares of common stock on May 5, 2026, for a total value of $76,000, indicating his ongoing liquidity management strategy regarding company shares.
- Ownership Reduction: Following this transaction, Bornemann's direct ownership decreased by 20.18%, from 9,912 shares to 7,912 shares, suggesting a gradual reduction in his stake, which may reflect uncertainties about future market conditions.
- Historical Trading Consistency: The sale aligns with Bornemann's historical trading patterns, where previous sales ranged from 2,000 to 2,500 shares, demonstrating a stable and predictable selling strategy.
- Company Financial Performance: Hilltop Holdings reported earnings per diluted share of $0.64 for Q1 2026, exceeding market expectations, and the stock has risen 11.26% year-to-date, indicating strong relative performance in the regional banking sector.
- Executive Stock Sale: Keith Bornemann, CFO of Hilltop Holdings, sold 2,000 shares on May 5, 2026, for approximately $76,000 at $38 per share, representing 20.18% of his direct holdings, reducing his ownership to 7,912 shares, indicating a potential lack of confidence in the stock's future performance.
- Financial Performance Overview: Hilltop reported earnings per diluted share of $0.64 for Q1 2026, flat year-over-year but exceeding the Zacks consensus estimate of $0.50, driven by increased net interest income and significantly lower provisions for credit losses, showcasing resilience amid market uncertainties.
- Dividend Distribution: The board declared a cash dividend of $0.20 per share, reflecting the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders while maintaining stable earnings, despite the ongoing complexities in the overall market environment.
- Market Performance Analysis: Hilltop's stock has risen 11.26% year-to-date, with a total return of 11.82% including dividend reinvestment, outperforming the State Street SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF's 8.5% return, indicating a relatively strong position within the regional banking sector.










