Seacoast Banking Raises Quarterly Dividend 5.3% to $0.20

Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida raised its quarterly dividend 5.3% to $0.20 a share from $0.19. The shares are scheduled to trade ex-dividend on December 15, 2026, with payment due December 31, 2026.

Why the dividend changed

The higher rate is an increase in Seacoast’s ordinary quarterly cash dividend, not a split adjustment, special dividend or distribution related to a merger or spin-off. The operating backdrop includes improved earnings, organic loan growth and capital that remained above regulatory requirements.

In its second-quarter report, Seacoast recorded net income of $59.5 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, compared with $31.9 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the preceding quarter. Net interest income grew 2% sequentially and 42% from a year earlier, while organic loan growth reached a 16% annualized rate. Deposits increased 4% on an annualized basis. Seacoast’s second-quarter results

The bank also reported a Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 11.5% and said it remained well capitalized under applicable regulatory standards. It repurchased 751,680 common shares during the quarter and 1,072,443 shares during the first half, showing that the dividend increase forms part of a broader capital-return program. Chief Executive Charles Shaffer said the bank’s capital and liquidity provided flexibility to invest in the franchise while maintaining a prudent risk posture. Seacoast’s second-quarter results

Recent acquisitions also changed the earnings base. Seacoast completed its purchases of Heartland Bancshares and Villages Bancorporation in 2025. The latter added a substantial deposit franchise in The Villages, and Seacoast completed the related customer systems conversion in July 2026. Management said the integration strengthened the franchise and earnings profile. Seacoast’s 2025 annual filing

Dividend track record

The increase extends Seacoast’s dividend-growth streak to 5 consecutive years. The last annual cut occurred in 2008, placing the current run within a longer record that includes a reduction during the financial crisis.

The recent payment pattern shows measured, stepwise increases. Seacoast paid $0.18 on each of the ex-dividend dates from December 13, 2024, through September 15, 2025. It then paid $0.19 for four consecutive quarters, beginning with the December 15, 2025, ex-dividend date and continuing through September 15, 2026. The new $0.20 rate represents the next step in that pattern.

Annual distributions rose from $0.39 across 3 payments in 2021 to $0.64 in 2022, an increase of 64.1%. The total then advanced 10.9% to $0.71 in 2023, followed by increases of 1.4% to $0.72 in 2024 and 1.4% to $0.73 in 2025. The progression shows that growth has continued, but at a more restrained pace following the larger increase in 2022.

Is the dividend covered?

The dividend consumes 48% of earnings. That leaves more than half of earnings outside the common dividend, providing room for retained capital, lending, acquisitions and other corporate uses.

SmarterDividends rates the dividend B, with a safety score of 78. That places it in the safe (66-79) range. The grade indicates that current earnings coverage and the payment record support the dividend, while recognizing that a regional bank’s capacity to distribute cash remains sensitive to credit costs, deposit funding, interest rates and regulatory capital requirements.

Seacoast’s June 2026 regulatory filing said both the holding company and its principal banking subsidiary exceeded the capital thresholds required to be classified as well capitalized. Those capital levels are relevant because bank dividends are constrained by regulatory requirements as well as reported earnings. Seacoast’s second-quarter regulatory filing

Yield and valuation

The $0.80 annual dividend produces a forward yield of 2.38% at a share price of $33.73. That is below the Financial Services sector median forward yield of 5.84%, so Seacoast offers less current income than the sector benchmark despite the latest increase. A holding of 100 shares produces $80.00 in annual dividend income at the new rate.

SmarterDividends’ fair-value estimate is $29.07, with a fair valuation verdict and 13% downside from the $33.73 share price. The shares have recorded a 6.3% gain over 1 year, and Seacoast’s market value is $3.3 billion.

What to watch

The immediate dates are December 15, 2026, when the shares are scheduled to trade ex-dividend, and December 31, 2026, when the payment is due. Investors must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive that distribution.

Operating items include loan growth, deposit costs, credit quality and the contribution from the integrated Villages Bancorporation franchise. Seacoast’s second-quarter loan pipeline reached $1.5 billion, while management highlighted healthy loan and demand-deposit growth and substantial liquidity. These measures will show whether the earnings and capital base supporting the higher dividend remains intact. Seacoast’s second-quarter results

Seacoast scheduled its third-quarter earnings discussion for October 28, 2026. That update is the next identified company checkpoint for business trends, including margins, funding, credit and post-integration performance. Seacoast’s earnings announcement