Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. (ESQ) AI Stock Analysis
ESQ AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchEsquire Financial Holdings, Inc. (ESQ) is a bank holding company for Esquire Bank, specializing in commercial banking and tailored lending solutions for the legal industry and small businesses. In FY2025, the company delivered revenue of $164.5M and net income of $50.9M, capping a 5-year revenue CAGR of 25.3%. Operating margin stood at 49.8% over the trailing twelve months, reflecting sustained high profitability across its specialized lending operations.
- Market cap
- $1.44B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $149.3M
- P/E
- 19.6x
- 1Y return
- 21.7% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $135.00 13.6% vs last close
Bull case
- Revenue expanded at a 25.3% CAGR from FY2020 to FY2025, reaching $164.5M.
- Profitability remains strong, evidenced by a trailing twelve-month operating margin of 49.8% and return on equity of 18.3%.
- Analyst consensus projects 43.2% revenue growth next fiscal year to $262.2M, alongside a mean price target of $135.00.
Bear case
- Trailing price-to-earnings of 19.6x represents a premium over the US-listed Financial Services median of 12.1x.
- Short interest represents 11.4% of the float, reflecting meaningful negative sentiment.
- The company has beat EPS estimates in only 2 of the past 4 quarters, highlighting recent volatility against forecasts.
What Esquire Financial does
Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. serves as the bank holding company for Esquire Bank, National Association. Headquartered in Jericho, New York, with an administrative office in Boca Raton, Florida, it provides commercial banking services primarily to the legal industry, small businesses, and retail clients across the United States. Deposit solutions include checking, savings, money market, and time deposits, alongside certificates of deposit. Lending operations encompass short-term financing for inventory, receivables, and operating expenses, as well as commercial lines of credit. For individuals, Esquire offers structured settlement loans, post-settlement consumer loans, and personal loans for debt consolidation and medical expenses.
Growth and profitability
Top-line expansion has maintained steady momentum, with revenue rising from $65.6M in FY2021 to $164.5M in FY2025, achieving a 5-year revenue CAGR of 25.3%. Over the same period, net income grew from $17.9M to $50.9M, while diluted EPS increased from $2.42 to $5.73. FY2025 revenue grew 19.0% year-over-year with a net margin of 30.9% and an operating margin of 41.7%. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue totaled $149.3M with an operating margin of 49.8% and a profit margin of 35.3%. In the latest quarter, quarterly revenue expanded 21.4% year-over-year, and earnings increased 8.0%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Esquire held $541.6M in cash and short-term investments, supported by total assets of $2.51B and shareholders' equity of $313.9M. The current ratio stood at 0.25. During FY2025, operating cash flow reached $59.8M, yielding free cash flow of $56.7M after capital expenditures of $3.2M. Cash deployment included $5.9M in dividends paid, while the company's share count expanded by 7.5% over the trailing five-year period.
Valuation and performance
Esquire trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 19.6x and a price-to-sales multiple of 9.6x, compared to medians of 12.1x and 3.2x, respectively, for US-listed Financial Services peers. The stock's price-to-book ratio is 4.7x, while enterprise value to revenue sits at 9.2x. Over the past year, the stock has gained 21.7%, outperforming the S&P 500 benchmark return of 16.8%. Over a five-year timeframe, ESQ rose 282.2%, surpassing the benchmark return of 83.0%.
ESQ dividend
Esquire Financial provides an annual forward dividend of $0.80 per share, yielding 0.67% as of October 16, 2026. The company maintains a payout ratio of 12.9% and has distributed quarterly dividends for 5 consecutive years. The most recent ex-dividend date occurred on August 14, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage includes 3 analysts, consisting of 1 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, and 1 Hold rating. The mean price target is $135.00, representing a 13.6% premium over the last close of $118.89. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus expectations project revenue of $183.1M and EPS of $7.07, indicating 20.4% earnings growth. For the following fiscal year, analysts anticipate revenue of $262.2M and EPS of $8.52. The company exceeded EPS expectations in 2 of the trailing 4 quarters, with next earnings slated for October 27, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- The balance sheet shows a current ratio of 0.25 as of June 30, 2026, which warrants ongoing monitoring.
- Quarterly earnings growth slowed to 8.0% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, despite 21.4% revenue expansion.
- Share count has grown 7.5% over 5 years, diluting per-share equity participation.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this ESQ AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. (ESQ). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: ESQ income statement, ESQ balance sheet, ESQ key metrics, ESQ analyst forecast, ESQ chart. See the ESQ stock overview for the latest quote and news.
ESQ AI stock analysis FAQ
What does Esquire Financial Holdings do?
Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for Esquire Bank, National Association. It provides specialized commercial banking and lending services designed for legal professionals, small businesses, and consumers nationwide.
What dividend does ESQ pay?
ESQ pays a quarterly dividend totaling $0.80 annually per share, which equates to a forward yield of 0.67%. Its payout ratio is 12.9%, backed by 5 consecutive years of dividend payments.
How fast is Esquire Financial growing?
Esquire achieved a 5-year revenue CAGR of 25.3% between FY2020 and FY2025, reaching $164.5M in annual revenue. In the quarter ended June 30, 2026, revenue increased 21.4% year-over-year.
What are analysts forecasting for ESQ stock?
Analysts maintain a mean price target of $135.00, implying a 13.6% upside from its closing price of $118.89 on October 16, 2026. EPS for the current fiscal year is estimated at $7.07, representing 20.4% year-over-year growth.