Exploring Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?

You're looking at Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO) and asking the right question: who's really buying this regional bank, and why are they stepping up now? The truth is, the big money is already there; institutional investors hold a dominant 59.50% of the shares, which tells you this isn't just a retail play. We're talking about giants like BlackRock, Inc. and The Vanguard Group, Inc., who are defintely interested in a bank that just reported a strong Q3 2025 net income of $29.5 million and manages $9.6 billion in total assets. Plus, you've got insiders showing Net Buying over the last three months, which is a powerful signal. So, are these sophisticated players betting on the bank's 10.06% return on average stockholders' equity, or are they seeing a near-term catalyst that the market is missing? Let's break down the shareholder registry to see what their moves mean for your portfolio.

Who Invests in Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO) and Why?

If you're looking at Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO), you're not alone; the investor base is a mix of massive passive funds and dedicated value-seeking individuals. The direct takeaway is that institutional money drives the majority of ownership, attracted primarily by the bank's consistent, high dividend yield and solid regional market position.

Key Investor Types: The Ownership Breakdown

The ownership structure of Peoples Bancorp Inc. is typical for a stable, regional bank, with a clear dominance from institutional players. These are the large asset managers, pension funds, and endowments that hold shares for their clients.

Institutional investors, including mutual funds and hedge funds, own a commanding portion of the company's stock, holding between 60.68% and 61.26% of outstanding shares as of late 2025. This high percentage means the stock price is heavily influenced by the buy/sell decisions of a few major players. For instance, the top holders include BlackRock, Inc., which holds the largest stake at 8.70% of shares, followed by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and The Vanguard Group, Inc.

But it's not all institutional. Retail investors-that's you and me, the individual buyers-still account for a significant portion, owning about 33.37% of the company. Plus, company insiders, like executives and directors, own a small but meaningful stake, around 3.41% to 7.13%, which aligns their interests with shareholders.

• Institutional: The big money, controlling over 60%.
• Retail: Individual investors hold about a third.
• Insiders: Management's skin in the game is roughly 7%.

Investment Motivations: Yield, Value, and Growth

Investors are drawn to Peoples Bancorp Inc. for a few clear reasons, which boil down to a mix of high income and a stable, undervalued regional franchise.

The biggest draw is the dividend. Peoples Bancorp Inc. has maintained dividend payments for 52 consecutive years, a sign of defintely strong financial stability. The quarterly cash dividend is currently set at $0.41 per common share, which translates to an attractive annualized yield of around 5.68% to 5.83% based on recent 2025 stock prices.

Beyond the yield, the bank's recent financial performance provides a solid foundation for growth. In the third quarter of 2025, the company reported net income of $29.5 million, or $0.83 per diluted common share. The return on average stockholders' equity (ROE), a key measure of profitability, was a healthy 10.06% for the quarter. The CEO has also highlighted 'high loan growth,' which is the engine for future revenue.

Here's the quick math on the bank's market position: Peoples Bancorp Inc. reported total assets of approximately $9.6 billion as of September 30, 2025, operating 145 locations across six states and Washington D.C. This regional scale, combined with its valuation, leads some analysts to view the stock as currently undervalued, making it a target for value investors. You can read more about the company's long-term philosophy here: Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO).

Investment Strategies: The Long-Term and Passive Play

The dominant strategies for holding Peoples Bancorp Inc. stock fall into two main camps: passive index tracking and active value/income investing.

1. Passive and Index Investing: The presence of index fund behemoths like BlackRock and Vanguard means a huge chunk of shares are held passively. These funds buy and hold Peoples Bancorp Inc. because it's a component of indices like the Russell 2000. Their buying isn't based on a deep dive into the financials, but on tracking the index. This provides a constant, stable demand for the stock, but it also means the price can move with broader market sentiment toward small-cap regional banks.

2. Value and Income Investing: Active investors, particularly value funds, are attracted to the combination of a high dividend yield and the bank's solid fundamentals. They see the stock as a 'value play' because its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is often below the industry average, especially when considering the consistent profitability, as demonstrated by the Q3 2025 net income of $29.5 million. The strategy here is simple: buy an undervalued stock with a high, sustainable dividend and hold it for the long term to collect income while waiting for the market to correct the valuation.

What this estimate hides is that while the dividend is reliable, its growth potential is only moderate, meaning the stock is less attractive to pure growth investors. The focus is on capital preservation and income generation.

Institutional Ownership and Major Shareholders of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO)

If you're looking at Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO), the direct takeaway is that institutional investors-the large money managers-control the majority of the stock, holding approximately 61% of the outstanding shares. This high concentration means their investment decisions and governance priorities are the primary drivers of the stock's long-term trajectory, especially for a regional bank.

As of the most recent filings (Q3 2025), a total of 401 institutional owners and shareholders hold 26,929,875 shares of Peoples Bancorp Inc.. This is a significant stake, reflecting a belief in the bank's community-focused model across its core markets in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia, even amid broader market concerns about the regional banking sector.

Top Institutional Investors and Their Holdings

The investor profile of Peoples Bancorp Inc. is dominated by the usual suspects of passive and active management firms. These firms are fiduciaries, meaning they are legally obligated to act in the best long-term economic interest of their own clients, which in turn influences Peoples Bancorp Inc.'s strategy.

Here's a quick look at the largest institutional owners and their holdings as of the September 30, 2025, reporting period, with values based on the approximate stock price near that time:

BlackRock, Inc., Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, and Vanguard Group Inc. collectively own a substantial block, giving them considerable voting power on key matters like board elections and executive compensation. This is defintely a concentrated ownership profile for a bank with $9.5 billion in total assets as of June 30, 2025.

Recent Shifts: Have the Big Players Been Buying or Selling?

The third quarter of 2025 showed a slight net selling trend among institutional holders, but the activity was mixed. Overall, institutional shares (Long) decreased by about -1.23% month-over-quarter. Still, the individual movements tell a more nuanced story about which firms are actively re-evaluating the regional bank's risk-reward profile.

• BlackRock, Inc.: Increased its stake by 2.27%, adding to its position as the largest shareholder.
• State Street Global Advisors, Inc.: Showed the most significant increase among the top five, boosting its holding by 6.46%.
• Dimensional Fund Advisors LP: Decreased its shares by -1.48%.
• Franklin Resources, Inc.: Saw a notable reduction, cutting its position by -30.8%.

Here's the quick math: the passive index funds (like BlackRock, Inc. and State Street Global Advisors, Inc.) generally bought or maintained their positions, while some active managers (like Franklin Resources, Inc.) trimmed their exposure. This suggests a divergence in opinion on the near-term outlook, which is common when a regional bank's valuation is compelling, but credit quality concerns-like the US$6.83 million in net charge-offs reported for Q3 2025-still persist.

For a deeper dive into the bank's fundamentals, you should check out Breaking Down Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

The Role of Large Investors in Peoples Bancorp Inc.'s Strategy

The influence of these large institutional shareholders extends far beyond simply buying or selling stock; they play a critical role in corporate governance. As a regional bank, Peoples Bancorp Inc.'s strategy is directly affected by their engagement.

These firms, especially BlackRock, Inc. and Vanguard Group Inc., use their massive voting power to push for long-term value creation, focusing on board composition, executive pay alignment, and risk oversight. For Peoples Bancorp Inc., this translates into pressure to maintain a disciplined capital management strategy and a focus on digital adoption to improve the efficiency ratio. They want to see the board accountable for managing the balance between loan growth and credit risk, especially with the uptick in criticized loans. The recent insider buying by the CEO and a Director in November 2025 is a strong signal of management confidence that these large investors will appreciate, as it aligns management's interests with long-term shareholder value.

Your action item is clear: monitor the next round of 13F filings to see if the net selling trend reverses, and watch for any announcements regarding board changes or new capital allocation plans. That's where the real power of the institutional owners is exercised.

Key Investors and Their Impact on Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO)

You're looking at Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO) and wondering who the big players are and what they're doing. The direct takeaway is that PEBO is heavily owned by major institutional money managers, with over 60% of the company held by institutions, which signals strong passive confidence in its long-term stability. Plus, recent insider buying by executives suggests management sees the stock as undervalued right now.

The investor profile for Peoples Bancorp Inc. is dominated by the giants of the asset management world. These aren't activist hedge funds looking for a quick breakup; they are primarily passive index and quantitative funds. Their influence is less about demanding immediate strategic shifts and more about long-term governance, capital allocation, and stability. They hold their stakes for years, so their presence acts as a defintely solid floor for the stock price.

Here's the quick math on the top holders based on their filings from the 2025 fiscal year:

BlackRock, Inc. and The Vanguard Group, Inc. are essentially the cornerstones of institutional ownership here. They are massive index fund managers, meaning they buy Peoples Bancorp Inc. because it's a component of indices like the Russell 3000, which the company is a member of. This mechanical buying is a steady source of demand, but it also means they won't typically push for a massive corporate overhaul. They care most about responsible governance and consistent performance.

Their sheer size, however, gives them significant voting power on matters like executive compensation and board elections. You can learn more about the foundation of the company and its structure at Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Big institutions own more than half the company.

Recent Investor Moves: Insider Confidence is High

The near-term action is focused on insider buying, which is a powerful signal. When the people running the company put their own cash on the line, it suggests they believe the stock is cheap relative to its intrinsic value. We've seen a clear trend of management purchases following the third-quarter 2025 earnings release.

Specifically, we saw a director, Kevin R Reeves, acquire 1,250 shares on November 11, 2025, for a total of $36,381. Just days before, Director W. Glenn Hogan purchased 1,000 shares on November 7, 2025, at $28.49 per share. These moves, especially when clustered, are a concrete indication of internal confidence despite any short-term market volatility or concerns over credit quality, like the reported net charge-offs of US$6.83 million for Q3 2025.

What this insider buying tells us is simple:

• Management believes the stock is undervalued, especially since analysts expect a fair value around $34.17.
• The purchases signal confidence in the company's core strategy of driving earnings growth through lending and stable deposit relationships.
• It's a strong counter-signal to any bearish technical trends the stock has experienced in 2025.

So, while the large funds provide stability, the insiders are providing the near-term catalyst by voting with their wallets. Your action here is to look closely at the valuation models-like the consensus fair value estimate which suggests the stock is potentially 15.3% undervalued-and see if your own analysis supports management's conviction.

Market Impact and Investor Sentiment

You're looking at Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO) and wondering who's buying, who's selling, and what that signals for the stock. The short answer is that institutional investors hold the majority, and recent sentiment is a cautious 'Hold' from analysts, but with a strong signal of confidence from the people who know the company best: the insiders.

As of the third quarter of 2025, the institutional ownership (mutual funds, pensions, etc.) sits at approximately 60.68% of the float, which is typical for a stable regional bank. This high level of institutional backing-where big players like BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, and Dimensional Fund Advisors Lp are among the largest holders-suggests a belief in the long-term stability of the core community banking model. That's a huge vote of confidence, but it doesn't mean the stock is without its near-term challenges.

• Institutional Ownership: Approximately 60.68%
• Largest Holders: BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, Dimensional Fund Advisors Lp
• Insider Confidence: CEO and a Director bought shares in November 2025

Recent Market Reactions to Key Investor Moves

The market has been seesawing on Peoples Bancorp Inc. throughout 2025. The year-to-date return was still a dip of -7.3% as of early November 2025, which shows the broader caution around regional banks. But, the stock saw a modest recovery, gaining over 3% in the month leading up to mid-November 2025, following two key developments: strong Q3 2025 earnings and a flurry of insider buying.

Insider buying, specifically the purchase of shares by the CEO and a Director in November 2025, is a powerful signal. You don't see management putting their own cash on the line unless they defintely think the stock is undervalued. For instance, Director Glenn Hogan purchased 1,000 shares following the Q3 earnings release. This move, coupled with the Q3 2025 net income of $29.5 million and an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of $0.83, suggests the market is starting to reassess the bank's value proposition.

One thing to track is the dividend. The board's decision to maintain the quarterly dividend at $0.41 per share underscores management's confidence in the company's financial resilience, especially since Peoples Bancorp Inc. has a 52-year unbroken dividend streak. This stability is a huge draw for income-focused investors, even with the stock's recent volatility. For a deeper dive into the company's history and financial structure, you can check out Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Analyst Perspectives: Mapping Near-Term Risks and Opportunities

The Wall Street consensus is currently a 'Hold' rating, based on four hold ratings and two buy ratings from six analysts. This isn't a ringing endorsement, but it's not a sell-off either. The average 12-month price target is $33.13, which suggests a forecasted upside of about 17.01% from the current price near $28.31. Here's the quick math: the analysts believe the stock is undervalued by roughly 15%.

What this estimate hides, though, are the risks. Analysts are focused on the persistent credit quality concerns, particularly the uptick in criticized loans and net charge-offs (the loans the bank doesn't expect to collect). For the third quarter of 2025, net charge-offs were $6.83 million, an increase from the prior year. The efficiency ratio (a measure of a bank's overhead costs relative to its revenue) for Q3 2025 was 57.1%, an improvement from the linked quarter, which is a positive sign of operational discipline.

The opportunity is in the valuation. The consensus fair value estimate of $34.17 is notably above the current share price, suggesting the market might be underestimating the bank's earnings potential. The core investment narrative is simple: a belief that community-driven lending and stable deposit growth can support consistent returns, despite the broader industry headwinds for regional banks.

Your action item is to track the next quarterly report's provision for credit losses (money set aside for bad loans). If that number stabilizes or declines, the market will likely reward the stock and move it closer to that $33.13 price target.