Nicolet Bankshares has followed the market’s trajectory closely, rising in tandem with the S&P 500 over the past six months. The stock has climbed by 21.2% to $136.61 per share while the index has gained 16.8%.
Is now the time to buy NIC? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Why Are We Positive On Nicolet Bankshares?
Starting as Green Bay Financial Corporation in 2000 before rebranding in 2002, Nicolet Bankshares (NYSE:NIC) is a regional bank holding company that provides commercial, agricultural, and consumer banking services primarily in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota.
1. Net Interest Income Skyrockets, Fueling Growth Opportunities
Net interest income commands greater market attention due to its reliability and consistency, whereas one-time fees are often seen as lower-quality revenue that lacks the same dependable characteristics.
Nicolet Bankshares’s net interest income has grown at a 18.4% annualized rate over the last five years, much better than the broader banking industry and faster than its total revenue.
2. Increasing Net Interest Margin Juices Financials
Net interest margin (NIM) represents the unit economics of a bank by measuring the profitability of its interest-bearing assets relative to its interest-bearing liabilities. It's a fundamental metric that investors use to assess lending premiums and returns.
Over the past two years, Nicolet Bankshares’s net interest margin averaged 3.4%. On the bright side, it climbed by 40.3 basis points (100 basis points = 1 percentage point) over that period.
This expansion was a tailwind for its net interest income, and while prevailing interest rates matter the most for industry net interest margins, banks that consistently increase this figure generally boast higher-earning loan books (all else equal such as the risk of those loans) or provide differentiated services that give them the ability to charge higher rates (pricing power).
3. Outstanding Long-Term EPS Growth
Analyzing the long-term change in earnings per share (EPS) shows whether a company's incremental sales were profitable – for example, revenue could be inflated through excessive spending on advertising and promotions.
Nicolet Bankshares’s EPS grew at an astounding 12.3% compounded annual growth rate over the last five years. This performance was better than most banking businesses.
Final Judgment
These are just a few reasons Nicolet Bankshares is a rock-solid business worth owning, but at $136.61 per share (or 1.6× forward P/B), is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More Than Nicolet Bankshares
When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.
Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.