Core Viewpoint - First Guaranty Bancshares reported a loss in the third quarter due to an impairment charge and increased reserves for bad loans related to an auto parts manufacturer bankruptcy [1] Financial Performance - The company experienced a third-quarter loss, indicating a significant financial setback [1] - The impairment charge and increased reserves for bad loans were the primary contributors to this loss [1] Industry Context - The situation reflects broader challenges in the lending industry, particularly concerning sectors like auto parts manufacturing that may face financial instability [1]

Core Viewpoint - Southern First (SFST) reported quarterly earnings of $1.07 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.89 per share, and showing a significant increase from $0.54 per share a year ago, indicating strong financial performance [1][2] Financial Performance - The company achieved revenues of $31.13 million for the quarter ended September 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.25% and up from $23.77 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Southern First has consistently exceeded consensus EPS estimates, achieving this four times [2] Stock Performance - Southern First shares have increased approximately 6.2% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 16.9%, indicating underperformance relative to the broader market [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it is expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [6] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.95 on revenues of $30.79 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $3.30 on revenues of $115.77 million [7] - The trend of earnings estimate revisions is mixed ahead of the earnings release, which may influence future stock performance [6] Industry Context - The Banks - Southeast industry, to which Southern First belongs, is currently ranked in the top 26% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable industry outlook [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which could impact investor sentiment [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a loss of $0.54 per share for the first quarter of 2025, attributed to a provision expense of $5.8 million from the sale of $70 million worth of loans due to credit deterioration [23][24] - Total provision for the quarter was $14.5 million, with net interest income before provision at $22.2 million, an increase from $21.9 million in the same quarter last year [25][24] - Noninterest income increased to $2.4 million from $2.3 million year-over-year, while noninterest expense decreased to $18 million from $18.9 million [25][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The management team is focusing on addressing nonperforming assets, which are concentrated in six major loans totaling approximately $105.3 million [24] - The strategy includes reducing risk-weighted assets and improving capital ratios, with the risk-weighted capital ratio improving to 12.74% as of March 2025, up from 11.28% in June 2024 [28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has reduced construction lending commitments and is working towards a 300% concentration of commercial real estate to total capital [28] - There has been a dramatic increase in on-balance sheet liquidity, which is crucial for the bank's operations [29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has implemented a change in business strategy since July 2024, focusing on reducing risk and improving capital ratios [27][28] - Cost reduction measures have achieved approximately $12 million in annualized savings compared to last year [30] - The management team is committed to addressing nonperforming assets aggressively and improving overall financial health [30][31] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management team acknowledges the challenges faced in 2024 but expresses confidence in overcoming these issues and improving results by the end of 2025 [8][31] - The CEO emphasized the importance of direction and continuous improvement, stating that the company must not drift but actively work towards its goals [31][32] Other Important Information - The company has reduced its common stock dividend to increase capital at the bank level, reflecting a shift towards strengthening the bank's financial position [28] - The management team has fewer staff but believes they have the right personnel to move forward effectively [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Are there any questions from virtual attendees? - There were no questions submitted by virtual attendees during the session [34] Question: Are there any questions from the room? - No questions were raised from the attendees present in the room [35]

Core Insights - Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) reported quarterly earnings of $1.28 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.15 per share, and up from $1.10 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 11.30% [1] - The company posted revenues of $286.79 million for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.87%, and an increase from $268.22 million year-over-year [2] - Ameris Bancorp has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates over the last four quarters, achieving this four times [2] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.27 on revenues of $292.23 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $5.08 on revenues of $1.17 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Ameris Bancorp is favorable, leading to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) for the stock, indicating expected outperformance in the near future [6] Industry Context - The Banks - Southeast industry, to which Ameris Bancorp belongs, is currently ranked in the top 16% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a positive outlook for stocks within this sector [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5]