If you are looking for the Bank of the Ozarks stock ticker on your brokerage app today, you might think you’ve got the wrong company. You haven’t. In 2018, the bank officially rebranded to Bank OZK, shedding its regional-sounding name for something a bit punchier as it grew into a national powerhouse.
It’s a funny thing. People still search for the old name constantly, even though the bank is now more likely to be financing a skyscraper in Miami or a luxury condo in San Diego than a small-town storefront in Arkansas.
Basically, the bank outgrew its backyard.
The Identity Crisis That Paid Off
George Gleason, the chairman and CEO, bought a tiny bank in Jasper, Arkansas, back in 1979. He was only 25. Since then, he’s turned a $28 million asset base into a $41 billion empire.
Why change the name?
The "Ozarks" part felt too local. When you are trying to win over developers in Manhattan or Los Angeles, you don't necessarily want to sound like a small community lender from the mountains. But for investors, the Bank of the Ozarks stock—now trading under the ticker OZK—has remained one of the most interesting stories in the regional banking sector.
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As of early 2026, the stock is hovering around $48.51. It’s been a wild ride. The bank has carved out a niche that makes other bankers nervous: high-concentration lending in commercial real estate (CRE).
What’s Actually Happening with Bank OZK Stock Right Now?
Honestly, the market is obsessed with Bank OZK’s Real Estate Specialties Group (RESG). This is the division that writes the big checks. We are talking about $112.6 million senior secured financing deals for projects like The Piazza at Ardmore in Pennsylvania.
Most regional banks are running away from commercial real estate because they’re scared of a "doom loop." Bank OZK? They’re leaning in.
- Net Interest Margin (NIM): It’s consistently high, around 4.36%.
- Efficiency Ratio: They spend about 35 cents to make a dollar. Most peers spend 60.
- Dividend Streak: They just hiked the quarterly dividend to $0.46 per share in January 2026. That is 62 consecutive quarters of increases.
Think about that. They haven't missed a quarterly dividend hike in 15 years.
The Big CRE Risk (And Why Management Doesn't Care)
Critics love to point at the bank’s concentration. Over 70% of their loan portfolio is tied up in these massive real estate projects. If the luxury condo market in Miami craters, isn't Bank OZK in trouble?
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Gleason's argument has always been about the "capital stack." They are usually the first-money-in, senior secured lenders. This means the developer has to lose their entire shirt before the bank loses a single dime.
Still, net charge-offs hit 0.41% recently. It's a small number, but it's higher than it used to be. The bank is being more selective, especially with the Fed’s rate path remaining a bit of a question mark heading into 2026.
Earnings Are Just Around the Corner
The bank is scheduled to report its full-year 2025 and Q4 results on January 20, 2026. Analysts are looking for an EPS of about $1.56.
If they beat that, expect the stock to pop. If they miss, or if they mention "softness" in the Manhattan office market, things could get bumpy. The market cap is sitting around $5.46 billion, which is relatively small for a bank that has such a massive impact on the skylines of American cities.
Is the Stock Undervalued?
You've got a stock trading at a P/E ratio of roughly 7.8. That is cheap. Most of the S&P 500 is trading way higher.
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The reason it stays cheap is the "CRE Discount." Investors are worried about a crash. But if you look at the Tangible Common Equity ratio—which is about 12.33%—the bank has a massive cushion. They have more "real" money in the vault compared to their debt than almost any other regional competitor.
Why Most People Get the Story Wrong
Everyone thinks of Bank OZK as an "Arkansas bank." It's not.
They have 240+ offices, but their heart is in the high-yield, complex lending space. They aren't just taking deposits and giving out car loans. They are a specialized lending machine that happens to have a banking license.
What You Should Do Next
If you're holding Bank OZK stock or thinking about it, here is the move:
- Check the 10-K: When the full 2025 annual report drops in late January, look specifically at the "Life Science" and "Multifamily" segments. These are their new growth engines.
- Watch the Dividend: If the quarterly hike ever stops, that is your "get out" signal. Until then, the bank is signaling massive confidence.
- Monitor the "Provision for Credit Losses": If this number jumps significantly in the upcoming January 20 report, it means they are worried about borrowers defaulting.
Keep an eye on the ticker OZK. Whether you call it Bank of the Ozarks or Bank OZK, the math is what matters, and the math says this is a high-risk, high-reward outlier in a very boring industry.
For those tracking the long-term trend, the 52-week high is $53.66. Breaking past that will require a very clean earnings call on Wednesday, January 21, when management takes questions.