During Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.’s (MCB) fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call on January 23, 2026, Feddie Strickland, a Director in Equity Research at Hovde Group, questioned executives about the bank’s near-term financial outlook and lending pipeline. Strickland’s inquiries focused on the core margin, deposit integration following a recent acquisition, and the composition of the commercial loan portfolio.
Strickland, who covers the US Bank Sector for Hovde Group and previously worked at Janney Montgomery Scott and FIG Partners, specifically asked CFO David Rosato about the near-term outlook for the core margin, including the impact of deposit growth and the integration of deposits from HarborOne Bank. He followed up by inquiring about the current mix of loans in the pipeline, broken down by commercial and industrial (C&I), commercial real estate (CRE), and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). He also sought clarification on the typical seasonality of loan growth throughout the year.
Rosato responded that the core margin was expected to remain relatively flat in the near term, with potential for expansion later in the year, contingent on anticipated market interest rate cuts. CEO Denis Sheahan detailed the commercial pipeline, stating it was more than 50% comprised of CRE and community development lending, with the remainder in C&I loans. Sheahan anticipated continued growth following a strong fourth quarter. Regarding seasonal trends, Sheahan and Rosato both agreed that the first quarter typically experiences slower loan growth, with production accelerating in late Q1, Q2, and Q3.
Strickland’s research at Hovde Group focuses on mid-Atlantic/Northeast and Southeast banks, including First Northwest Bancorp (FNWB). He has been cited in publications including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg for his analysis of the banking industry. He joined Hovde Group in July 2024, according to his profile on the firm’s website, and holds an MBA in Finance and International Business from Georgia Tech.
Follow-up questions prompted by Strickland’s initial line of inquiry, as published by Fintool, remain unanswered: How did the actual core margin performance in the first and second quarters of 2026 compare to the initial flat outlook, considering deposit growth trends? What was the year-over-year change in the commercial lending pipeline mix (C&I versus CRE) for the past three quarters? What was the actual organic loan growth percentage in Q1 2026 compared to Q2 2026?
Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. Has not yet announced a date for its first-quarter 2026 earnings call.
