Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. (GSBC) Q1 2025 Earnings Conference Call April 17, 2025 03:00 PM ET Company Participants Call Operator - Conference Call ModeratorJeff Trika - Investor RelationsJoe Turner - President and CEORex Copeland - Chief Financial Officer Conference Call Participants Andrew Leach - Analyst, Piper Sandler CompaniesDamon Del Monte - Analyst, KBW Call Operator I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today, Jeff Trika, Investor Relations. Please go ahead. Jeff Trika Thank ...

Earnings Presentation April 2025 Great Southern Bancorp. Inc (NASDAQ: GSBC) First Quarter Ended March 31, 2025 Executive Management Team Joseph W. Turner President & Chief Executive Officer Forward-Looking Statements When used in this presentation and in other documents filed or furnished by Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in the Company's other press releases or other public or stockholder communications, and in oral statements made with ...

Financial Performance - For Q1 2025, Great Southern Bancorp reported earnings of $1.47 per diluted common share, up from $1.13 in Q1 2024, reflecting a net income increase to $17.2 million from $13.4 million[1]. - Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was $17,160,000, up from $13,407,000 for the same period in 2024, representing a 28% increase[54]. - Earnings per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2025, were $1.47, compared to $1.14 for the same period in 2024, representing an increase of 29.0%[60]. - The annualized return on average common stockholders' equity increased to 11.30% for the first quarter of 2025, up from 9.36% in the first quarter of 2024[54]. - The annualized return on average assets improved to 1.15% for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to 0.93% for the same period in 2024[54]. Income and Expenses - Net interest income increased by $4.5 million (10.1%) to $49.3 million in Q1 2025, driven by higher interest income on loans and lower interest expense on deposits[5]. - Non-interest income for Q1 2025 was $6.6 million, a decrease of $216,000 compared to Q1 2024, with no significant changes in individual components[12]. - Non-interest expense increased by $400,000 to $34.8 million in Q1 2025, with an efficiency ratio of 62.27%, improved from 66.68% in Q1 2024[13]. - Noninterest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was $34,822 million, slightly up from $34,422 million in the same period of 2024[60]. Asset and Capital Management - Total assets were approximately $5.99 billion at March 31, 2025, reflecting careful management of the loan portfolio and credit quality[6]. - Total stockholders' equity rose to $613.3 million as of March 31, 2025, up from $599.6 million at December 31, 2024, reflecting a $17.2 million net income[17]. - The Tier 1 Leverage Ratio was 11.3% and the Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 12.4% as of March 31, 2025, indicating a strong capital position[5]. - The tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio improved to 10.08% as of March 31, 2025, compared to 9.87% as of March 31, 2024[69]. Loans and Deposits - Total deposits increased by $152.5 million in Q1 2025, with brokered deposits rising by $123.3 million, or 16.0%[25]. - Total net loans remained flat at $4.69 billion as of March 31, 2025, with increases in multi-family and construction loans offset by declines in commercial real estate and one-to-four-family residential loans[27]. - Total loans receivable increased to $4,756,057 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, from $4,665,866 million in the same period of 2024[64]. Non-Performing Assets - Non-performing assets totaled $17.0 million at March 31, 2025, with non-performing assets at $9.5 million (0.16% of total assets), showing stability compared to previous quarters[5]. - Non-performing assets decreased to $9,518,000 as of March 31, 2025, compared to $9,566,000 on December 31, 2024[53]. - Non-performing loans decreased by $91,000 compared to December 31, 2024, totaling $3,482,000 as of March 31, 2025[34]. - Potential problem loans increased by $390,000 compared to December 31, 2024, reaching a total of $7,452,000 as of March 31, 2025[37]. Future Outlook and Plans - The Company expects its effective tax rate to be approximately 18.0% to 20.0% in future periods[16]. - The Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program in April 2025, authorizing the purchase of up to one million additional shares[21]. - The company plans to host a conference call on April 17, 2025, to discuss preliminary earnings for the first quarter of 2025[47]. Operational Developments - The company installed 10 ITM units in the St. Louis, Mo. market, enhancing customer service with live teller options[42]. - Construction of a new banking center in Springfield, Mo. began in March 2025, expected to be completed in Q4 2025[43]. - Technology updates are ongoing with the current core provider, with project completions expected to begin in Q3 2025[41].

Group 1 - Great Southern Bancorp (GSBC) reported quarterly earnings of $1.47 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.26 per share, and up from $1.13 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 16.67% [1] - The company posted revenues of $55.92 million for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.39%, compared to year-ago revenues of $51.62 million [2] - Over the last four quarters, Great Southern Bancorp has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times and topped consensus revenue estimates four times [2] Group 2 - The stock has underperformed the market, losing about 13.6% since the beginning of the year, compared to the S&P 500's decline of 8.3% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the coming quarter is $1.32 on revenues of $56.59 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $5.25 on revenues of $225.58 million [7] - The Zacks Industry Rank for Financial - Savings and Loan is currently in the top 36% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook for the industry [8]

Core Financial Performance - Great Southern Bancorp reported preliminary earnings of $1.47 per diluted common share for Q1 2025, up from $1.13 in Q1 2024, resulting in a net income of $17.2 million compared to $13.4 million in the previous year [1][6] - The annualized return on average common equity was 11.30% and the annualized return on average assets was 1.15% for Q1 2025, compared to 9.36% and 0.93% respectively for Q1 2024 [2] Net Interest Income - Net interest income increased by $4.5 million (10.1%) to $49.3 million in Q1 2025, driven by higher interest income on loans and lower interest expense on deposits [5][11] - The annualized net interest margin improved to 3.57% in Q1 2025 from 3.32% in Q1 2024 [5][7] Asset Quality - Non-performing assets totaled $9.5 million at March 31, 2025, a slight decrease from $9.6 million at December 31, 2024, representing 0.16% of total assets [5][33] - The allowance for credit losses was 1.36% of total loans, consistent with the previous quarter [32] Capital and Liquidity - The Company maintained a strong capital position with a Tier 1 Leverage Ratio of 11.3% and a Total Capital Ratio of 15.6% as of March 31, 2025 [16] - Total stockholders' equity increased to $613.3 million, representing 10.2% of total assets [16][17] Non-Interest Income and Expense - Non-interest income decreased by $216,000 to $6.6 million in Q1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 [12] - Non-interest expense increased by $400,000 to $34.8 million, primarily due to increases in net occupancy and equipment expenses [13][20] Stock Repurchase Program - The Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program for up to one million additional shares, succeeding the existing program [21][22] Deposits and Loans - Total deposits increased by $152.5 million, with brokered deposits rising by $123.3 million (16.0%) [25][26] - Total net loans remained flat at $4.69 billion, with increases in other residential and construction loans offset by decreases in commercial real estate and one- to four-family residential loans [28]

Core Insights - Great Southern Bancorp reported preliminary earnings of $1.47 per diluted common share for Q1 2025, an increase from $1.13 in Q1 2024, resulting in a net income of $17.2 million compared to $13.4 million in the previous year [1][6] - The annualized return on average common equity was 11.30% and the annualized return on average assets was 1.15% for Q1 2025, both showing improvement from 9.36% and 0.93% respectively in Q1 2024 [2] Financial Performance - Net interest income increased by $4.5 million (10.1%) to $49.3 million in Q1 2025, driven by higher interest income on loans and lower interest expense on deposits [5][11] - Non-interest income decreased by $216,000 to $6.6 million in Q1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 [13] - Non-interest expense rose by $400,000 to $34.8 million, with an efficiency ratio of 62.27%, improved from 66.68% in Q1 2024 [14] Asset Quality - Non-performing assets totaled $9.5 million at March 31, 2025, consistent with 0.16% of total assets, showing stability in asset quality [32] - The allowance for credit losses was 1.36% of total loans, indicating adequate coverage for potential losses [31] Capital and Liquidity - The capital position remained strong with a Tier 1 Leverage Ratio of 11.3% and a Total Capital Ratio of 15.6% as of March 31, 2025 [18] - The company had secured borrowing lines of $1.17 billion and $370.5 million from the FHLBank and Federal Reserve Bank respectively, along with unpledged securities valued at $337.4 million [25] Stock Repurchase and Dividends - The Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program for up to one million shares, succeeding the existing program [22] - The company repurchased approximately 175,000 shares at an average price of $58.38 during Q1 2025 and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.40 per share [23]

Core Viewpoint - Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. is set to report its preliminary earnings for the first quarter of 2025 on April 16, 2025, with a subsequent conference call scheduled for April 17, 2025 [1]. Company Overview - Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. operates Great Southern Bank, which has total assets of $6.0 billion and provides a wide range of banking services to both commercial and consumer customers [4]. - The company is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, and operates 89 retail banking centers across several states including Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Arkansas, and Nebraska, along with commercial loan production offices in various major cities [4]. - Great Southern Bancorp is publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol GSBC [4]. Earnings Release Information - The company will issue a news release to notify the public of its first quarter 2025 results, which will also be posted on its Investor Relations website and the SEC's website as part of a Current Report on Form 8-K [3]. - Participants interested in the conference call are encouraged to register in advance and join 10 minutes prior to the start time [2].

Core Viewpoint - Great Southern Bancorp (GSBC) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are closely correlated with stock price movements, particularly due to institutional investors adjusting their valuations based on these estimates [4][6]. - Rising earnings estimates for Great Southern Bancorp suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, which could lead to increased stock prices as investors respond positively [5][10]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - Great Southern Bancorp is projected to earn $5.25 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, reflecting a slight year-over-year decrease of -0.2% [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Great Southern Bancorp has increased by 1.2%, indicating a positive trend in earnings expectations [8]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with only the top 20% of stocks receiving a 'Strong Buy' or 'Buy' rating, highlighting their potential for market-beating returns [9][10]. - The upgrade of Great Southern Bancorp to a Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting a favorable outlook for the stock in the near term [10].

Financial Position - As of December 31, 2024, the Company's consolidated total assets were $5.98 billion, with consolidated net loans of $4.69 billion and consolidated deposits of $4.61 billion[12]. - Great Southern Bank had total assets of $5.98 billion, net loans of $4.70 billion, deposits of $4.69 billion, and equity capital of $616.3 million, representing 10.3% of total assets[15]. - The Company acquired assets with a fair value of approximately $499.9 million and $294.2 million in 2009 from TeamBank, N.A. and Vantus Bank, respectively, which accounted for approximately 18.8% and 8.8% of the Company's total consolidated assets at acquisition[17]. - In 2011, the Company acquired assets valued at approximately $248.9 million from Sun Security Bank, representing about 7.3% of total consolidated assets at acquisition[18]. - As of December 31, 2024, the Company's total deposits reached $4.61 billion, with $3.06 billion in Missouri, including $2.08 billion in Springfield and $544 million in St. Louis[45]. - Total loans receivable, net as of December 31, 2024, amounted to $4,697,330,000, an increase from $4,595,468,000 in 2023[61]. - The company’s total loans increased from $4.66 billion in 2023 to $4.76 billion in 2024, indicating growth in the loan portfolio[133]. Loan Portfolio - The Company continues to emphasize real estate lending while expanding its originations of commercial business loans[38]. - Commercial real estate loans accounted for approximately 33% of the total outstanding loan portfolio as of December 31, 2024[50]. - The largest relationship for loans-to-one borrower at December 31, 2024, consisted of 24 loans totaling $96.8 million, with an outstanding balance of $81.3 million[54]. - At December 31, 2024, loans secured by second liens on residential properties were $87.9 million, or 1.8% of the total loan portfolio[52]. - The Company retains substantially all adjustable-rate mortgage loans it originates, while most fixed-rate loans are sold in the secondary market[49]. - Real estate loans constituted 92.0% of total loans in 2024, up from 89.5% in 2023[61]. - Other residential loans increased significantly to $1,549,249,000 in 2024, representing 32.5% of total loans, compared to 20.2% in 2023[61]. - Commercial loans remained stable at $1,555,086,000, accounting for 32.6% of total loans in 2024, slightly down from 32.8% in 2023[61]. - Total consumer loans decreased to $170,128,000 in 2024, representing 3.6% of total loans, compared to 3.7% in 2023[61]. - Fixed-rate loans made up 37.3% of total loans in 2024, a decrease from 39.0% in 2023[61]. - Adjustable-rate loans increased to 62.7% of total loans in 2024, up from 61.0% in 2023[61]. Credit Quality and Risk Management - The allowance for credit losses was $64,760,000 in 2024, consistent with $64,670,000 in 2023[61]. - The total classified assets amounted to $16.6 million at December 31, 2024, with $10.6 million classified as loans and $5.99 million as foreclosed assets[108]. - Non-performing loans increased due to two related loans totaling $1.2 million and another unrelated loan of $510,000 added in 2024[106]. - The total past due loans as of December 31, 2024, were $7.06 million, compared to $25.18 million as of December 31, 2023[106]. - Loans categorized as "Watch" and "Special Mention" decreased from $26.7 million at December 31, 2023, to $1.5 million at December 31, 2024[110]. - Total gross non-performing loans decreased from $11.748 million in 2023 to $3.573 million in 2024, a decline of about 69.6%[115]. - The Problem Loan Committee meets at least quarterly to review classified assets and manage delinquent loans[105]. Deposits and Funding - Total deposits amounted to $4,605,549 as of December 31, 2024, a decrease from $4,721,708 in 2023[152]. - Brokered deposits increased to approximately $772.1 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $661.5 million in 2023, indicating a growth of about 16.7%[158]. - The Bank had outstanding overnight borrowings from the FHLBank of $333.0 million in 2024, up from $251.0 million in 2023, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 32.6%[165]. - The Bank borrowed $180.0 million under the Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP) in January 2024, with a fixed interest rate of 4.83%[167]. - Non-interest-bearing demand deposits decreased by $168 million in 2023, while interest-bearing demand and savings deposits increased by $28 million[150]. Investment Securities - The company held approximately $187.4 million in held-to-maturity investment securities and $533.4 million in available-for-sale investment securities as of December 31, 2024[138]. - The total available-for-sale securities amounted to $594.6 million at the end of 2024, up from $531.9 million in 2023, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 11.8%[145]. - The weighted average tax-equivalent yield for available-for-sale securities was 3.05% as of December 31, 2024, compared to 3.00% in 2023, indicating a slight improvement[145]. - The company reported unrealized losses of $61.3 million on available-for-sale securities as of December 31, 2024, compared to $54.2 million in 2023, representing an increase in losses of 13.1%[140]. Employee and Community Engagement - As of December 31, 2024, the Company employed a total of 1,108 employees, including 226 part-time employees[200]. - Great Southern associates donated over 7,400 hours to more than 300 organizations in 2024, along with monetary donations totaling nearly $59,000[203]. - The Company remains committed to employee development through annual performance conversations and customized training programs[201]. - The Company’s Community Matters program allows associates to volunteer up to 32 hours per year during work hours[203]. Regulatory Environment - The Company is subject to supervision by federal and state banking agencies, affecting its earnings and operations[204]. - The Company has chosen not to utilize the new Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR) of 9.0% due to its size and complexity[207]. - The Economic Growth Act maintains most of the regulatory structure established by the Dodd-Frank Act while modifying certain rules for small and large banks[206].

Core Points - Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. will hold its 36th Annual Meeting of Stockholders virtually on May 7, 2025, at 10 a.m. CDT [1] - Stockholders can vote during the live webcast or by proxy, with the record date set for March 4, 2025 [2] - Great Southern Bancorp has total assets of $6.0 billion and operates 89 retail banking centers across several states [3]