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Waterstone Financial, Inc. Announces Results of Operations for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2024
ソース: Nasdaq GlobeNewswire / 30 4 2024 15:00:00 America/Chicago
WAUWATOSA, Wis., April 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Waterstone Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBF), holding company for WaterStone Bank, reported net income of $3.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 compared to net income of $2.2 million, or $0.10 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The current year reflects a $0.04 per share one-time charge related to a change in Wisconsin state tax law, as described below.
“We are pleased that the Mortgage Banking segment demonstrated improved performance, as volumes and margin have bounced off of the lows from the past two years,” said William Bruss, Chief Executive Officer of Waterstone Financial, Inc. "While our results of operations have improved form the prior year, the Mortgage Banking segment continues to face industry-wide headwinds in the form of low levels of housing inventory and affordability constraints driven by elevated mortgage rates. The Community Banking segment continues to contend with margin compression, driven by higher funding costs, as interest rates remain at recent high levels. In spite of the challenging environment, we continue to maintain strong asset quality and remained focused on returning capital to our shareholders through our dividend and share repurchases."
Highlights of the Quarter Ended March 31, 2024
Waterstone Financial, Inc. (Consolidated)
- Consolidated net income of Waterstone Financial, Inc. totaled $3.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to net income of $2.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
- Consolidated return on average assets was 0.56% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 compared to 0.43% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
- Consolidated return on average equity was 3.56% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 and 2.35% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
- Dividends declared during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 totaled $0.15 per common share.
- During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, we repurchased approximately 417,000 shares at a cost (including the federal excise tax) of $5.3 million, or $12.65 per share. This share repurchase activity was accretive to book value per share in the amount of $0.09 during the quarter ended March 31, 2024.
- Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets was 0.23% at March 31, 2024, 0.23% at December 31, 2023, and 0.22% at March 31, 2023.
- Past due loans as a percentage of total loans was 0.64% at March 31, 2024, 0.68% at December 31, 2023, and 0.64% at March 31, 2023.
- Book value per share was $16.98 at March 31, 2024 and $16.94 at December 31, 2023.
- In July 2023, Wisconsin’s Governor signed the Wisconsin state budget, retroactive to January 1, 2023, which included legislation that provides financial institutions with an exemption from state taxable income for interest, fees, and penalties earned on loans to existing Wisconsin-based business or agriculture purpose loans that are $5.0 million or less in balance on January 1, 2023, and to new loans that meet the criteria. On March 18, 2024, the State of Wisconsin Department of Revenue issued an emergency ruling with additional details of the law. This publication enabled us to estimate the impact on our Wisconsin state income tax expense. The impact moving forward should result in no Wisconsin state income taxes being expensed, resulting in a lower estimated effective tax rate. The elimination of Wisconsin state income tax expense resulted in the establishment of a valuation allowance for Wisconsin state income deferred tax assets, resulting in a one-time $1.1 million charge to state income tax expense in the first quarter. Partially offsetting the impact of the charge related to the valuation allowance the Company realized a one-time benefit of approximately $368,000 during the quarter to recognize a reduction in current state income tax provision. The net amount of these two items resulted in a a $0.04 reduction of earnings per share during the quarter ended March 31, 2024.
Community Banking Segment
- Pre-tax income totaled $4.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, which represents a $2.2 million, or 33.5%, decrease compared to $6.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
- Net interest income totaled $11.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, which represents a $2.4 million, or 17.2%, decrease compared to $14.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
- Average loans held for investment totaled $1.66 billion during the quarter ended March 31, 2024, which represents an increase of $133.0 million, or 8.7%, compared to $1.53 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to increases in the single-family, construction, and commercial real estate mortgages. Average loans held for investment increased $4.1 million compared to $1.66 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to an increase in construction mortgages.
- Net interest margin decreased 73 basis points to 2.15% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 compared to 2.88% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, which was a result of an increase in weighted average cost of deposits and borrowings as the federal funds rate increases resulted in increased funding rates. Net interest margin decreased 10 basis points compared to 2.25% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, driven by an increase in weighted average cost of deposits and borrowings as the federal funds rate increases resulted in increased funding rates.
- Past due loans at the community banking segment totaled $8.1 million at March 31, 2024, $7.9 million at December 31, 2023, and $7.5 million at March 31, 2023.
- The segment had a provision for credit losses related to funded loans of $35,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 compared to a negative provision for credit losses related to funded loans of $96,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The current quarter increase was primarily due to adjustments in the qualitative factors related to increases in treasury interest rates during the quarter offset by a decrease to historical loss rates. The provision for credit losses related to unfunded loan commitments was $70,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 compared to a provision for credit losses related to unfunded loan commitments of $484,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The provision for credit losses related to unfunded loan commitments for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was due primarily to an increase of construction loans that are currently waiting to be funded compared to the prior quarter end.
- The efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP ratio, was 65.17% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to 54.53% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
- Average deposits (excluding escrow accounts) totaled $1.19 billion during the quarter ended March 31, 2024, an increase of $16.5 million, or 1.4%, compared to $1.17 billion during the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Average deposits decreased $19.0 million, or 6.3% annualized, compared to $1.21 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.
Mortgage Banking Segment
- Pre-tax income totaled $369,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to $3.7 million of pre-tax loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
- Loan originations increased $42.4 million, or 9.6%, to $485.1 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to $442.7 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Origination volume relative to purchase activity accounted for 93.0% of originations for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 compared to 96.5% of total originations for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
- Mortgage banking non-interest income increased $2.4 million, or 13.2%, to $20.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to $18.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
- Gross margin on loans sold totaled 4.10% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to 3.78% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
- Total compensation, payroll taxes and other employee benefits decreased $343,000, or 2.3%, to $14.8 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 compared to $15.1 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The decrease primarily related to decreased salary expense and health insurance expense driven by reduced employee headcount and lower claims to start the 2024 year.
- Total other noninterest expense decreased $1.8 million, or 74.4%, to $616,000 during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 compared to $2.4 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The decrease primarily related to decreased provision for branch losses, branch overhead, provision for loan sale losses, and reversal of mortgage servicing rights impairment.
About Waterstone Financial, Inc.
Waterstone Financial, Inc. is the savings and loan holding company for WaterStone Bank. WaterStone Bank was established in 1921 and offers a full suite of personal and business banking products. The Bank has branches in Wauwatosa/State St, Brookfield, Fox Point/North Shore, Franklin/Hales Corners, Germantown/Menomonee Falls, Greenfield/Loomis Rd, Milwaukee/Oklahoma Ave, Oak Creek/27th St, Oak Creek/Howell Ave, Oconomowoc/Lake Country, Pewaukee, Waukesha, West Allis/Greenfield Ave, and West Allis/National Ave, Wisconsin. WaterStone Bank is the parent company to Waterstone Mortgage, which has the ability to lend in 48 states. For more information about WaterStone Bank, go to http://www.wsbonline.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements or information that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding expected financial and operating activities and results that are preceded by, followed by, or that include words such as “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” or “believes.” Any such statements are based upon current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include changes in interest rates; demand for products and services; the degree of competition by traditional and nontraditional competitors; changes in banking regulation or actions by bank regulators; changes in tax laws; the impact of technological advances; governmental and regulatory policy changes; the outcomes of contingencies; trends in customer behavior as well as their ability to repay loans; changes in local real estate values; changes in the national and local economies; and other factors, including risk factors referenced in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Waterstone’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and as may be described from time to time in Waterstone’s subsequent SEC filings, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect only Waterstone’s belief as of the date of this press release.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management uses non-GAAP financial information in its analysis of the Company's performance. Management believes that this non-GAAP measure provides a greater understanding of ongoing operations and enhance comparability of results of operations with prior periods. The Company’s management believes that investors may use this non-GAAP measure to analyze the Company's financial performance without the impact of unusual items or events that may obscure trends in the Company’s underlying performance. This non-GAAP data should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, and is not a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risks that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items included in this measure and that different companies might calculate this measure differently.
Contact: Mark R. Gerke
Chief Financial Officer
414-459-4012
markgerke@wsbonline.comWATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 (In Thousands, except per share amounts) Interest income: Loans $ 24,484 $ 19,885 Mortgage-related securities 1,098 943 Debt securities, federal funds sold and short-term investments 1,323 1,062 Total interest income 26,905 21,890 Interest expense: Deposits 8,970 4,088 Borrowings 6,798 4,007 Total interest expense 15,768 8,095 Net interest income 11,137 13,795 Provision (credit) for credit losses 67 460 Net interest income after provision (credit) for loan losses 11,070 13,335 Noninterest income: Service charges on loans and deposits 424 430 Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance 348 325 Mortgage banking income 20,068 16,770 Other 408 1,029 Total noninterest income 21,248 18,554 Noninterest expenses: Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits 19,876 20,052 Occupancy, office furniture, and equipment 2,108 2,263 Advertising 914 889 Data processing 1,206 1,122 Communications 226 251 Professional fees 743 416 Real estate owned 13 1 Loan processing expense 1,046 1,018 Other 1,418 3,095 Total noninterest expenses 27,550 29,107 Income before income taxes 4,768 2,782 Income tax expense 1,730 627 Net income $ 3,038 $ 2,155 Income per share: Basic $ 0.16 $ 0.10 Diluted $ 0.16 $ 0.10 Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 19,021 20,890 Diluted 19,036 20,980 WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION March 31, December 31, 2024 2023 (Unaudited) Assets (In Thousands, except per share amounts) Cash $ 41,325 $ 30,667 Federal funds sold 4,123 5,493 Interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions and other short-term investments 266 261 Cash and cash equivalents 45,714 36,421 Securities available for sale (at fair value) 204,701 204,907 Loans held for sale (at fair value) 175,084 164,993 Loans receivable 1,664,817 1,664,215 Less: Allowance for credit losses ("ACL") - loans 18,549 18,549 Loans receivable, net 1,646,268 1,645,666 Office properties and equipment, net 19,936 19,995 Federal Home Loan Bank stock (at cost) 21,983 20,880 Cash surrender value of life insurance 68,207 67,859 Real estate owned, net 206 254 Prepaid expenses and other assets 52,625 52,414 Total assets $ 2,234,724 $ 2,213,389 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Liabilities: Demand deposits $ 182,093 $ 187,107 Money market and savings deposits 270,513 273,233 Time deposits 747,288 730,284 Total deposits 1,199,894 1,190,624 Borrowings 634,158 611,054 Advance payments by borrowers for taxes 14,051 6,607 Other liabilities 48,618 61,048 Total liabilities 1,896,721 1,869,333 Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock - - Common stock 199 203 Additional paid-in capital 98,610 103,908 Retained earnings 269,827 269,606 Unearned ESOP shares (11,572 ) (11,869 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes (19,061 ) (17,792 ) Total shareholders' equity 338,003 344,056 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 2,234,724 $ 2,213,389 Share Information Shares outstanding 19,910 20,315 Book value per share $ 16.98 $ 16.94 WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited) At or For the Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30, March 31, 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023 (Dollars in Thousands, except per share amounts) Condensed Results of Operations: Net interest income $ 11,137 $ 11,756 $ 11,989 $ 12,675 $ 13,795 Provision (credit) for credit losses 67 (435 ) 445 186 460 Total noninterest income 21,248 16,876 22,230 23,525 18,554 Total noninterest expense 27,550 29,662 30,021 30,922 29,107 Income (loss) before income taxes (benefit) 4,768 (595 ) 3,753 5,092 2,782 Income tax expense (benefit) 1,730 (555 ) 500 1,085 627 Net income (loss) $ 3,038 $ (40 ) $ 3,253 $ 4,007 $ 2,155 Income (loss) per share – basic $ 0.16 $ (0.00 ) $ 0.16 $ 0.20 $ 0.10 Income (loss) per share – diluted $ 0.16 $ (0.00 ) $ 0.16 $ 0.20 $ 0.10 Dividends declared per common share $ 0.15 $ 0.15 $ 0.15 $ 0.20 $ 0.20 Performance Ratios (annualized): Return on average assets - QTD 0.56 % (0.01 )% 0.58 % 0.74 % 0.43 % Return on average equity - QTD 3.56 % (0.05 )% 3.63 % 4.41 % 2.35 % Net interest margin - QTD 2.15 % 2.25 % 2.26 % 2.47 % 2.88 % Return on average assets - YTD 0.56 % 0.44 % 0.59 % 0.59 % 0.43 % Return on average equity - YTD 3.56 % 2.62 % 3.46 % 3.37 % 2.35 % Net interest margin - YTD 2.15 % 2.46 % 2.53 % 2.67 % 2.88 % Asset Quality Ratios: Past due loans to total loans 0.64 % 0.68 % 0.53 % 0.50 % 0.64 % Nonaccrual loans to total loans 0.29 % 0.29 % 0.25 % 0.26 % 0.29 % Nonperforming assets to total assets 0.23 % 0.23 % 0.20 % 0.19 % 0.22 % Allowance for credit losses - loans to loans receivable 1.11 % 1.11 % 1.12 % 1.14 % 1.14 % WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY AVERAGE BALANCES AND YIELD/COSTS (Unaudited) At or For the Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30, March 31, 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023 Average balances (Dollars in Thousands) Interest-earning assets Loans receivable and held for sale $ 1,805,102 $ 1,797,988 $ 1,797,233 $ 1,759,001 $ 1,654,942 Mortgage related securities 172,077 172,863 174,202 171,938 170,218 Debt securities, federal funds sold and short-term investments 110,431 106,504 132,935 123,195 115,962 Total interest-earning assets 2,087,610 2,077,355 2,104,370 2,054,134 1,941,122 Noninterest-earning assets 103,815 105,073 105,714 108,320 107,009 Total assets $ 2,191,425 $ 2,182,428 $ 2,210,084 $ 2,162,454 $ 2,048,131 Interest-bearing liabilities Demand accounts $ 87,393 $ 91,868 $ 90,623 $ 69,147 $ 68,564 Money market, savings, and escrow accounts 281,171 302,121 306,806 305,576 322,220 Certificates of deposit 739,543 735,418 719,708 695,310 648,531 Total interest-bearing deposits 1,108,107 1,129,407 1,117,137 1,070,033 1,039,315 Borrowings 602,724 549,210 584,764 551,545 441,716 Total interest-bearing liabilities 1,710,831 1,678,617 1,701,901 1,621,578 1,481,031 Noninterest-bearing demand deposits 92,129 102,261 106,042 130,291 143,296 Noninterest-bearing liabilities 45,484 56,859 46,805 46,446 51,840 Total liabilities 1,848,444 1,837,737 1,854,748 1,798,315 1,676,167 Equity 342,981 344,691 355,336 364,139 371,964 Total liabilities and equity $ 2,191,425 $ 2,182,428 $ 2,210,084 $ 2,162,454 $ 2,048,131 Average Yield/Costs (annualized) Loans receivable and held for sale 5.46 % 5.36 % 5.26 % 5.05 % 4.87 % Mortgage related securities 2.57 % 2.48 % 2.41 % 2.26 % 2.25 % Debt securities, federal funds sold and short-term investments 4.82 % 4.94 % 4.45 % 3.67 % 3.71 % Total interest-earning assets 5.18 % 5.10 % 4.97 % 4.73 % 4.57 % Demand accounts 0.11 % 0.11 % 0.11 % 0.09 % 0.08 % Money market and savings accounts 1.79 % 1.64 % 1.54 % 1.42 % 1.26 % Certificates of deposit 4.19 % 3.76 % 3.43 % 2.80 % 1.92 % Total interest-bearing deposits 3.26 % 2.90 % 2.64 % 2.23 % 1.60 % Borrowings 4.54 % 4.83 % 4.71 % 4.08 % 3.68 % Total interest-bearing liabilities 3.71 % 3.53 % 3.35 % 2.86 % 2.22 % COMMUNITY BANKING SEGMENT SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited) At or For the Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30, March 31, 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023 (Dollars in Thousands) Condensed Results of Operations: Net interest income $ 11,598 $ 12,056 $ 12,431 $ 13,238 $ 14,008 Provision (credit) for credit losses 105 (550 ) 445 158 388 Total noninterest income 990 894 966 1,540 987 Noninterest expenses: Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits 5,360 5,397 4,618 4,683 5,168 Occupancy, office furniture and equipment 1,000 916 852 873 1,031 Advertising 174 363 200 230 184 Data processing 693 626 672 602 601 Communications 65 75 70 72 78 Professional fees 208 186 176 146 218 Real estate owned 13 1 1 1 1 Loan processing expense - - - - - Other 691 628 703 1,641 896 Total noninterest expense 8,204 8,192 7,292 8,248 8,177 Income before income taxes 4,279 5,308 5,660 6,372 6,430 Income tax expense 1,639 1,234 1,121 1,182 1,600 Net income $ 2,640 $ 4,074 $ 4,539 $ 5,190 $ 4,830 Efficiency ratio - QTD (non-GAAP) 65.17 % 63.26 % 54.43 % 55.81 % 54.53 % Efficiency ratio - YTD (non-GAAP) 65.17 % 56.86 % 54.94 % 55.17 % 54.53 % MORTGAGE BANKING SEGMENT SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited) At or For the Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30, March 31, 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023 (Dollars in Thousands) Condensed Results of Operations: Net interest loss $ (541 ) $ (367 ) $ (550 ) $ (622 ) $ (282 ) Provision for credit losses (38 ) 115 - 28 72 Total noninterest income 20,328 16,028 21,452 23,041 17,951 Noninterest expenses: Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits 14,756 14,881 17,186 17,929 15,099 Occupancy, office furniture and equipment 1,108 1,105 1,141 1,173 1,232 Advertising 740 667 716 714 705 Data processing 508 583 551 480 516 Communications 161 194 173 153 173 Professional fees 520 704 564 466 188 Real estate owned - - - - - Loan processing expense 1,046 756 722 932 1,018 Other 617 2,701 1,935 1,914 2,403 Total noninterest expense 19,456 21,591 22,988 23,761 21,334 Income (loss) before income taxes (benefit) 369 (6,045 ) (2,086 ) (1,370 ) (3,737 ) Income tax expense (benefit) 71 (1,827 ) (657 ) (126 ) (1,002 ) Net income (loss) $ 298 $ (4,218 ) $ (1,429 ) $ (1,244 ) $ (2,735 ) Efficiency ratio - QTD (non-GAAP) 98.33 % 137.86 % 109.98 % 105.99 % 120.74 % Efficiency ratio - YTD (non-GAAP) 98.33 % 116.99 % 111.63 % 112.49 % 120.74 % Loan originations $ 485,109 $ 458,363 $ 597,562 $ 623,342 $ 442,710 Purchase 93.0 % 95.7 % 95.4 % 96.4 % 96.5 % Refinance 7.0 % 4.3 % 4.6 % 3.6 % 3.5 % Gross margin on loans sold(1) 4.10 % 3.51 % 3.62 % 3.73 % 3.78 %
(1) Gross margin on loans sold equals mortgage banking income (excluding the change in interest rate lock value) divided by total loan originations