HBT financial executive chairman Fred Drake sells $125,100 in stock

Fred L. Drake, the Executive Chairman of HBT Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBT), recently sold 5,000 shares of the company’s common stock. The transaction, which took place on February 11, 2025, was executed at a price of $25.02 per share, amounting to a total sale value of $125,100. The sale comes as HBT’s stock has shown remarkable strength, delivering a 34.7% return over the past year. According to InvestingPro, the company maintains a healthy 3.4% dividend yield and has raised its dividend for three consecutive years.

Following this transaction, Drake holds 32,825 shares indirectly through the Fred L. Drake Revocable Trust. Additionally, there are 17,210,400 shares held by the Heartland Bancorp, Inc. Voting Trust, of which Drake is the trustee. He maintains sole voting and investment control over these shares, although he disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of his pecuniary interest. With HBT’s current market capitalization of $796 million and a P/E ratio of 11.1, InvestingPro analysis reveals 6 additional key insights about the company’s valuation and growth prospects.

In other recent news, HBT Financial has been the center of attention following a series of notable events. The company recently reported operating earnings of $0.62 per share, surpassing estimates by $0.04 per share, an achievement attributed to an overall performance improvement. This was coupled with an 11% quarter-over-quarter increase in loan growth and a 4% rise in deposit growth.

Analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reacted positively to these developments, upgrading the price target on HBT Financial shares to $28 from the previous $27, while maintaining an Outperform rating on the stock. The firm’s revised earnings per share estimates for HBT Financial have also increased by 3% for 2025 and 5% for 2026.

In addition to its commendable earnings performance, HBT Financial announced the initiation of a new stock repurchase program set to commence after the current authorization concludes on January 1, 2025. The program will allow the company to buy back up to $15 million of its common stock until January 1, 2026. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods analysts view this as a positive move, demonstrating the company’s commitment to capital return strategies and its potential for growth.

These are some of the recent developments that have shaped the narrative around HBT Financial.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.