FRESNO, Calif., Jan. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FFB Bancorp (the “Company”) (OTCQX: FFBB), the parent company of FFB Bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $3.21 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to $6.24 million, or $2.06 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2025, and $9.72 million, or $3.05 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2025, net income was $23.58 million, or $7.66 per diluted share, compared ...

Core Insights - Bonhoeffer Fund is strategically selling slower-growth firms while acquiring durable, faster-growing firms in temporarily depressed sectors, aligning with long-term growth themes [3] - The portfolio is diversified with a focus on banks, insurance, natural resource royalties, logistics, housing, and specialty finance, with new investments expected to yield a growth rate of 30-40% [3][6] - The fund's performance in Q3 2025 showed a gain of 1.3%, underperforming compared to major indices like MSCI World ex-US and S&P 500 [6][7] Portfolio Overview - As of September 30, 2025, the portfolio's largest country exposures are the United States (71%), Canada (11%), South Korea (7%), Peru (7%), and Greece (3%) [8] - The largest industry exposures include distribution (52%), real estate/infrastructure/finance (62%), and consumer products (7%) [8][11] Investment Themes - The distribution theme includes high-velocity firms in car dealerships and building product distributors, with a focus on inventory turns [11] - The real estate/construction/finance segment is driven by infrastructure programs and housing development, with banks meeting specific growth criteria [15][16] - Public leveraged buyouts (LBOs) focus on firms that create growth through acquisitions, benefiting from operational leverage [18][19] Case Study: Fairfax Financial - Fairfax Financial utilizes insurance float to finance a balanced portfolio, with a decentralized business model allowing for strategic acquisitions [38][39] - The company has shown significant improvement in underwriting discipline, with combined ratios declining from 107% to 91% since 2009 [38] - Fairfax's investment portfolio, valued at $67.4 billion, primarily consists of bonds (74%) and equities (26%), generating a historical return of 7.7% per year [40] Financial Metrics - Fairfax's return on equity (RoE) target is 15%, with a current cost of float at -3.2% per year [33][40] - The company has four levers for earnings growth: acquisitions, expanding underwriting, investment portfolio growth, and stock repurchases [41] - The expected growth rate for Fairfax is estimated at 7% per year, with a target share value of $3,225, representing an 88% upside from current prices [53][58]

Core Insights - FFB Bancorp reported a net income of $6.24 million for Q3 2025, a 3% increase from Q2 2025 but a 27% decrease from Q3 2024 [1][2] - For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, net income was $20.37 million, down 16% from $24.43 million in the same period of 2024 [2] - The company experienced growth in loan and deposit portfolios while focusing on strategic improvements in technology and processes [2] Financial Performance - Q3 2025 operating revenue decreased 14% to $23.49 million from Q2 2025 and 8% from Q3 2024 [5][6] - Net interest income increased 2% to $18.05 million compared to Q3 2024 but decreased slightly from Q2 2025 [7] - Total assets increased 2% to $1.50 billion from Q2 2025 but decreased 1% from Q3 2024 [5][26] - Total loans increased 3% to $1.12 billion from Q2 2025 and 12% from Q3 2024 [5][26] - Total deposits increased 2% to $1.26 billion from Q2 2025 but decreased 2% from Q3 2024 [5][32] Shareholder Actions - The company fully utilized a $15 million share repurchase program, repurchasing 194,049 shares at an average price of $77.21, representing approximately 7.73% of total shareholders' equity [3][4] Cost Management - Non-interest expense decreased 9% to $14.27 million from Q2 2025 but increased 12% from Q3 2024 [15] - Salaries and employee benefits increased 19% to $7.67 million compared to Q3 2024, attributed to an increase in full-time employees [16] - The efficiency ratio was 60.76% for Q3 2025, up from 50.16% in the same quarter a year ago [20][25] Asset Quality - Nonperforming assets increased 2.54% to $27.93 million, or 1.86% of total assets, at September 30, 2025 [39] - The provision for credit losses was $687,000 in Q3 2025, down from $762,000 in Q3 2024 [42] Market Position - FFB Bancorp is recognized as a leading SBA lender in California's Central Valley and has received various accolades for its performance [46]

Core Insights - The Bonhoeffer Fund focused on selling slower-growth firms and acquiring durable, faster-growing companies in depressed sectors, aligning with long-term growth themes such as consolidation and financial compounders [7][11] - The fund achieved a net gain of 8.7% in Q2 2025, underperforming compared to the MSCI World ex-US and S&P 500, which returned 12.1% and 10.8% respectively [9][10] - The portfolio's projected earnings/free cash flow growth is approximately 16%, with a weighted average earnings/free cash flow yield of 12.5% [10][11] Investment Themes - **Distribution (49% of Portfolio)**: The fund holds high-velocity distributors in various markets, focusing on car dealerships and building product distributors, which have shown a quarterly performance of 6% [14] - **Real Estate/Construction/Finance (58% of Portfolio)**: Investments in construction firms are expected to benefit from government infrastructure programs and affordable housing financing, with banks showing sustainable ROEs and EPS growth rates above 15% [18][19] - **Public Leverage Buyouts (31% of Portfolio)**: The strategy involves growth through acquisitions, with firms like Builders First Source (BFS) utilizing local economies of scale to generate high returns [22][24] - **Compound Mispricings (15% of Portfolio)**: Investments in Korean preferred stocks and Asian real estate are characterized by governance improvements and liquidity, with Vistry facing challenges but still focusing on affordable housing [31][32] - **Telecom/Transaction Processing (3% of Portfolio)**: Companies like Millicom are positioned to benefit from reduced competition and favorable market conditions, with a focus on cost-cutting and dividend yields [33][35] - **Consumer Products (3% of Portfolio)**: Defensive consumer product firms are expected to perform well, with Academy Sports facing challenges but retaining potential for recovery [36][37] Financial Metrics - The Bonhoeffer Fund's portfolio has an average EV/EBITDA of 3.2 and a growth rate of 16% [9][10] - Arrow Electronics is projected to have a 27% EPS growth rate through 2029, with a future share price estimated at $39 [17] - Builders First Source (BFS) is expected to see a recovery in share price with a projected value of around $505 per share based on a 32% IRR [30]

Core Viewpoint - FFB Bancorp reported a decline in net income for the second quarter of 2025, attributed to increased operating expenses and challenges related to compliance with a consent order, despite recognition as a top-performing bank in its asset category [1][2][46]. Financial Performance - Net income for Q2 2025 was $6.04 million, or $1.94 per diluted share, down from $8.08 million, or $2.54 per diluted share in Q2 2024 [1][2]. - For the first half of 2025, net income totaled $14.13 million, or $4.50 per diluted share, compared to $15.87 million, or $4.99 per diluted share for the same period in 2024 [2]. - Operating revenue increased by 11% to $27.35 million in Q2 2025, compared to $24.73 million in Q2 2024 [5][7]. Asset and Loan Portfolio - Total assets increased by 2% to $1.47 billion as of June 30, 2025 [27]. - The total loan portfolio grew by 13% to $1.09 billion, with commercial real estate loans representing 63% of total loans [28][29]. - Investment securities decreased to $254.18 million from $345.49 million a year earlier, due to sales aimed at generating liquidity [30]. Deposits and Equity - Total deposits rose by 6% to $1.23 billion, although they decreased from $1.32 billion at the end of Q1 2025 [31]. - Shareholders' equity increased by 17% to $173.91 million, with book value per common share rising by 22% to $56.87 [36]. Operating Expenses - Non-interest expenses increased by 19% to $15.77 million in Q2 2025, driven by higher salaries and employee benefits [16][17]. - Salaries and employee benefits rose by 19% to $8.00 million, reflecting an increase in full-time employees to 181 [17]. Compliance and Risk Management - The company is making progress on compliance matters outlined in a consent order, which is expected to impact near-term performance but aims to establish a robust compliance framework for long-term success [2][22]. - The efficiency ratio for Q2 2025 was 57.15%, compared to 52.74% for the same quarter a year ago, indicating increased operational costs relative to income [21][26]. Merchant Services and Revenue - Merchant services revenue increased by 9% to $6.61 million in Q2 2025, driven by higher volume across ISO partner sponsorship lines [10]. - The company anticipates replacing lost revenue from exited ISO partners through growth in FFB Payments and remaining partnerships [11].