Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (PEBK) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: PEBKAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

PEBK AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (PEBK) operates as the holding company for Peoples Bank, providing community banking, lending, and appraisal services across North Carolina. The bank delivered FY2025 revenue of $114.6M, marking a 17.2% annual increase, alongside diluted EPS of $3.63. As of June 30, 2026, the company held $14.7M in net cash and supported a 42-year track record of consecutive dividend payments.

Market cap
$235.8M
Revenue (TTM)
$90.2M
P/E
12.2x
fwd 12.7x
1Y return
61.3%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$13.00
-70.7% vs last close

Bull case

  • PEBK generated a 1-year share price return of 61.3%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.
  • The balance sheet maintains solid liquidity with $14.7M in net cash and a conservative debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12 as of June 30, 2026.
  • Shareholder returns are supported by 42 consecutive years of dividend payments alongside a sustainable payout ratio of 21.9%.

Bear case

  • The consensus analyst mean price target of $13.00 indicates potential downside of 70.7% from the last close of $44.32.
  • Top-line expansion slowed to 1.4% quarterly revenue growth year-over-year in the period ended June 30, 2026.
  • The stock's forward P/E of 12.7x trades at a premium to the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers of 10.8x.

What Peoples Bancorp NC does

Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. serves as the holding company for Peoples Bank, established in 1912 and based in Newton, North Carolina. Operating through a network of 17 banking offices, the company provides personal and commercial banking solutions, including checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. Its lending activities cover commercial real estate, commercial, construction, single-family residential, ITIN, and agricultural loans. The institution also offers investment counseling, non-deposit products like mutual funds and annuities, appraisal clearing-house operations, and real estate brokerage services.

Growth and profitability

Between FY2021 and FY2025, revenue increased from $63.9M to $114.6M, achieving a 5-year revenue compound annual growth rate of 12.2%. In FY2025, revenue expanded 17.2% year-over-year, while net income reached $19.8M, up from $16.4M in FY2024. Operating margins moved from 29.6% in FY2021 to 22.6% in FY2025, with gross margins standing at 77.7% in FY2025. Over the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $90.2M with a net profit margin of 22.1% and diluted EPS of $3.64. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 1.4% year-over-year and quarterly earnings grew 1.1%.

PEBK income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Peoples Bancorp reported $33.4M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $18.7M, resulting in a net cash position of $14.7M. Total assets stood at $1.76B against shareholders' equity of $161.3M, with a current ratio of 91.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. For FY2025, operating cash flow was $21.4M and free cash flow was $20.0M. Capital deployment in FY2025 included $1.4M in capital expenditures and $5.2M in dividends paid, while the 5-year share count decreased 3.1%.

PEBK balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

PEBK closed at $44.32 on October 16, 2026, positioned 8.8% above its 200-day moving average and near its 52-week high of $45.78. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 12.2x and a forward P/E of 12.7x, compared to the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers of 12.1x trailing and 10.8x forward. Its price-to-sales multiple of 2.6x sits below the peer median of 3.2x, with a price-to-book ratio of 1.4x. PEBK delivered a 1-year return of 61.3%, exceeding the S&P 500 return of 16.8%, while its 5-year return of 84.0% compares to 83.0% for the index.

PEBK key metrics →

PEBK dividend

Peoples Bancorp pays an annual forward dividend of $0.84 per share, representing a 1.90% dividend yield with a payout ratio of 21.9%. The dividend is paid quarterly and has been maintained for 42 consecutive years. The annualized 5-year dividend growth rate stands at 5.1%, with the last ex-dividend date recorded on September 3, 2026.

PEBK dividend history →

What analysts expect

The consensus analyst mean price target for PEBK stands at $13.00, reflecting a 70.7% variance below the closing price of $44.32 on October 16, 2026. Peoples Bancorp has beaten EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters. The company is next scheduled to report quarterly earnings on October 19, 2026.

Key risks and what to watch

  • Revenue growth decelerated to 1.4% year-over-year in the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026.
  • Gross margin declined from 96.8% in FY2021 to 77.7% in FY2025.
  • The stock trades near its 52-week high of $45.78, remaining 8.8% above its 200-day moving average.

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 PEBK AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (PEBK). 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: PEBK income statement, PEBK balance sheet, PEBK key metrics, PEBK chart. See the PEBK stock overview for the latest quote and news.

PEBK AI stock analysis FAQ

What does Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. do?

Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. is the bank holding company for Peoples Bank, offering consumer and commercial banking, residential and agricultural loans, appraisal clearing-house services, and non-deposit investment solutions across 17 branches.

What is PEBK's dividend yield and payment history?

PEBK provides an annual forward dividend of $0.84 per share, resulting in a 1.90% dividend yield. The company has distributed dividends for 42 consecutive years and holds a payout ratio of 21.9%.

How is PEBK valued compared to its peers?

PEBK trades at a trailing P/E of 12.2x and forward P/E of 12.7x, compared to the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers of 12.1x and 10.8x. Its price-to-sales ratio is 2.6x against a peer median of 3.2x.

When is PEBK's next earnings date?

Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. is scheduled to release its next earnings report on October 19, 2026.

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