Stellar Bancorp, Inc.

0001473844 FALSE 0001473844 2026-04-28 2026-04-28 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ____________________________________________ Form 8-K ____________________________________________ CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event Reported): April 28, 2026 Stellar Bancorp, Inc. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) Texas 001-38280 20-8339782 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 110 Houston , Texas 77046 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) ( 713 ) 210-7600 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: S Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) £ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) £ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) £ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common stock, par value $0.01 per share STEL New York Stock Exchange NYSE Texas Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company £ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. £ Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On April 28, 2026 Stellar Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the first quarter of 2026. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference. In accordance with General Instruction B.2 to Form 8-K, the information furnished in this Item 2.02, Exhibit 99.1 of this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and such information shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the ”Securities Act”), except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing. Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure The earnings release will be posted on the Company’s website. The earnings release and presentation materials are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. In accordance with General Instruction B.2 to Form 8-K, the information furnished in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.2 of this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and such information shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing. Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits. Exhibits . The following are furnished as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K: Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit 99.1 Q 1 202 6 Earnings Release 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements regarding the proposed transaction between Prosperity and Stellar; future financial and operating results; benefits and synergies of the proposed transaction; future opportunities for Prosperity; the issuance of common stock of Prosperity contemplated by the Merger Agreement; the expected timing of the closing of the proposed transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement; the ability of the parties to complete the proposed transaction considering the various closing conditions and any other statements about future expectations that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. From time to time, oral or written forward-looking statements may also be included in other information released to the public. Such forward-looking statements are typically, but not exclusively, identified by the use in the statements of words or phrases such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intend,” “is anticipated,” “is expected,” “is intended,” “objective,” “plan,” “projected,” “projection,” “will affect,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will decrease,” “will grow,” “will impact,” “will increase,” “will incur,” “will reduce,” “will remain,” “will result,” “would be,” variations of such words or phrases (including where the word “could,” “may,” or “would” is used rather than the word “will” in a phrase) and similar words and phrases indicating that the statement addresses some future result, occurrence, plan or objective . Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact, including forecasts or trends, and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates, and projections about Prosperity, Stellar and their respective subsidiaries or related to the proposed transaction between Prosperity and Stellar and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in such statements. These forward-looking statements may include information about Prosperity’s and Stellar’s possible or assumed future economic performance or future results of operations, including future revenues, income, expenses, provision for loan losses, provision for taxes, effective tax rate, earnings per share and cash flows and Prosperity’s and Stellar’s future capital expenditures and dividends, future financial condition and changes therein, including changes in Prosperity’s and Stellar’s loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses, future capital structure or changes therein, as well as the plans and objectives of management for Prosperity’s and Stellar’s future operations, future or proposed acquisitions, the future or expected effect of acquisitions on Prosperity’s and Stellar’s operations, results of operations, financial condition, and future economic performance, statements about the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, and statements about the assumptions underlying any such statement. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on expectations and assumptions Prosperity and Stellar currently believe to be valid. Because forward-looking statements relate to future results and occurrences, many of which are outside of the control of Prosperity and Stellar, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many possible events or factors could adversely affect the future financial results and performance of Prosperity, Stellar or the combined company and could cause those results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertaintie