Primis Financial Q4 Earnings Call Highlights

Core Insights - Primis Financial reported a fourth-quarter net interest income of approximately $31 million, an increase from $26 million year-over-year, with a net interest margin (NIM) of 3.28%, up from 2.90% a year earlier [2][4] - The company anticipates further margin improvements in 2026 due to an investment portfolio restructuring and the redemption of $27 million in subordinated debt, which could have increased NIM by about 11 basis points if fully implemented in Q4 [1][6] - Management projects run-rate earnings of roughly $8 million per quarter, equating to an 80-basis-point return on assets (ROA) on approximately $4 billion of average assets, with a target of achieving a 1% ROA in 2026 [3][19] Financial Performance - The fourth-quarter earnings per share (EPS) were reported at $1.20, driven by a substantial gain from a sale-leaseback transaction [4][6] - The company experienced a 10% annualized increase in gross loans held for investment from September 30 to December 31, with average earning assets rising 13% annualized in Q4 [6][8] - Non-interest-bearing deposits improved to 16% of total deposits by the end of 2025, up from 14% at the end of 2024, indicating a positive shift in deposit mix [7][9] Growth Drivers - Primis plans to scale its mortgage warehouse from approximately $175 million to around $500 million in 2026, with retail mortgage production targeted between $1.6 billion and $2 billion [5][11] - The mortgage warehouse business is expected to generate over 2% ROA, contributing positively to overall earnings as it scales [12][14] - Retail mortgage closed loans increased to approximately $1.2 billion in 2025, a 50% increase from 2024, with expectations for continued growth in 2026 [13][14] Expense Management - The company has controlled operating expenses, targeting a go-forward level of approximately $22 million, with expectations to maintain this as revenue grows [15][17] - Core expenses, excluding volatility from the mortgage and Panacea divisions, were approximately $28 million, with management aiming for a normalized level of $21 million [16][17] - The provision for credit losses was reported at $2.4 million, reflecting loan growth and specific reserving for impaired loans [18] Strategic Outlook - Management emphasized the importance of operational leverage and expects stronger performance in the second half of 2026, despite potential seasonality affecting the first quarter [19] - The company believes it has the capital and fundamentals necessary to pursue its goals, entering 2026 with positive momentum from recent restructuring efforts [19]