Southern Missouri Bancorp Inc

Southern Missouri Bancorp reported diluted earnings per share of $6.43 for fiscal 2026, up from $5.18 a year earlier, driven by stronger net interest income, lower expenses, and tax credit investments. Gross loans grew 7.1% year over year in the fourth quarter, but management expects mid-single-digit growth in fiscal 2027 that may moderate as the bank prioritizes core deposits over wholesale funding. Credit costs rose due to two problem relationships, including a commercial real estate and equipment loan and an agricultural borrower bankruptcy, pushing net charge-offs to $4.3 million and the provision for credit losses to $3.2 million. The net interest margin held steady at 3.67% in the June quarter, though the CFO cautioned that core margin pressure could build from higher short-term rates and elevated deposit competition. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 8% to $0.27 per share and repurchased 317,000 shares during the fiscal year.