Community Banks' Margins Expanding, Credit Quality Holding Up For Now

Community bank margins have expanded as the benefit from fixed-rate assets repricing has overshadowed modest increases in funding costs. Most regional and community banks, in a variety of geographies, reported little to no deterioration in their credit quality in the quarter.

Seeking Alpha • Nov 29, 2025

U.S. Banks Maintain Favorable Earnings While Confronting Economic Uncertainty

US banks' net interest margins are poised to expand, but higher-for-longer interest rates and uncertainty created by tariffs will push credit costs higher and limit earnings growth in 2025. Banks' earnings should remain healthy through the first half of the year, buoyed by continued margin expansion, steady loan growth and benign credit quality.

Seeking Alpha • Jul 26, 2025

Small Community Banks Are The Focus Of QABA

QABA offers exposure to small community banks with attractive valuations, higher yields, and potential acquisition upside versus larger peers. Despite some compelling individual bank stories, QABA's historical returns have been erratic, and the fund has lagged broader benchmarks recently. The ETF carries higher risks due to its sensitivity to interest rates and concentrated exposure to smaller banks, which may be depending heavily on commercial real estate.

Seeking Alpha • Jun 6, 2025

QABA: Small-Bank ETF Lagging Competitors

First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund ETF holds 154 small and micro-cap banks and thrifts. The QABA ETF is well-diversified in states and holdings, and shows growth characteristics within the banking industry. QABA has a lackluster track record, lagging the banking industry benchmark and the small-cap benchmark.

Seeking Alpha • Mar 7, 2025

5 Best-Performing Sector ETFs Midway in Q4

After reaching a record high, all three bourses lost momentum on sticky inflation and the Fed's hawkish comments.

Zacks Investment Research • Nov 15, 2024

5 Sector ETFs That Outperformed With Double-Digit Gains in July

July witnessed the "Great Rotation" in the U.S. stock market as investors shunned the hot technology stocks in favor of smaller companies and other sectors, which are the bigger beneficiaries of the Fed rate cuts.

Zacks Investment Research • Aug 1, 2024

Best ETFs of Last Week

Wall Street offered a mixed performance last week.

Zacks Investment Research • Jul 29, 2024

5 Top-Performing ETF Areas of Last Week

Wall Street was mixed last week with the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq losing 1.9%, adding 0.7% and retreating 3.7% last week. The small-cap index Russell 2000 advanced 1.7% last week as “Trump Trade” gained momentum.

Zacks Investment Research • Jul 23, 2024

5 Top-Performing ETFs of Last Week

Wall Street delivered mixed performance last week. Here are some top-performing ETF areas.

Zacks Investment Research • Jul 22, 2024

Bank ETFs Soar on Trump Trade, September Rate Cut Bets

Bank ETFs soared to a new one-year high as the probability of Donald Trump returning to the White House has risen significantly along with a Fed rate cut in September.

Zacks Investment Research • Jul 18, 2024