For the quarter ended March 2025, First Merchants (FRME) reported revenue of $160.32 million, up 4.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.94, compared to $0.85 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -4.52% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $167.9 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.91, the EPS surprise was +3.30%.

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: 54.5% compared to the 56% 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: $16.96 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $17.04 billion.
• Total Non-Interest Income: $30.05 million versus $30.12 million estimated by three analysts on average.
• Net gains and fees on sales of loans: $5.02 million versus $4.57 million estimated by three analysts on average.
• Other income: $0.79 million compared to the $1.85 million average estimate based on two analysts.
• Net Interest Income: $130.27 million compared to the $130.15 million average estimate based on two analysts.
• Other customer fees: $0.42 million compared to the $0.45 million average estimate based on two analysts.
• Net Interest Income (FTE): $136.40 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $138.54 million.
• Fiduciary and wealth management fees: $8.64 million compared to the $8.83 million average estimate based on two analysts.
• Service charges on deposit accounts: $8.07 million versus $8.05 million estimated by two analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for First Merchants here>>>

Shares of First Merchants have returned -10.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -5.1% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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