How did PEBO's Q4 2024 earnings surprise analysts?

**Peoples Bancorp Inc. (Marietta OH) (PEBO) exceeded analysts' expectations in its Q4 2024 earnings report**, as evidenced by the actual figures compared to the estimates and the bank's historical performance. 1. **Earnings Per Share (EPS)**: - The estimated EPS for Q4 2024 was $0.76. - The actual EPS was $0.76, which matched the estimate. - In the previous quarter, the EPS was $0.90, indicating a slight decline in earnings compared to the prior period. 2. **Revenue**: - The estimated revenue for Q4 2024 was $110 million. - The actual revenue was $113.65 million, surpassing the estimate by approximately 3.5%. - Revenue in the third quarter of 2024 was $107.0 million, indicating a slight increase in revenue compared to the previous quarter. 3. **Overall Performance**: - DA Davidson, an analyst, had forecasted an EPS of $0.73 for Q4 2024, which was slightly lower than the actual EPS. - The bank's performance in Q4 2024 showed resilience in net interest income, fee-based income growth, and a decline in non-interest expenses. In conclusion, while there were minor deviations from estimates, particularly in the EPS when compared to the previous quarter, PEBO's Q4 2024 earnings report reflected strong revenue exceeding expectations, improved efficiency ratios, and notable increases in total deposits and fee-based income. These factors, combined with a stable EPS, indicate a robust operational performance that surpassed analysts' forecasts.