Core Fee Revenue

Search documents
WSFS Financial (WSFS) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-07-25 18:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Core earnings per share increased to $1.27, core return on assets at 1.3%, and core return on tangible common equity at 18.03%, all up from the first quarter [3][4] - Core net interest margin expanded by one basis point to 3.89%, with total funding costs reduced by nine basis points [4] - Core fee revenue grew by 9% quarter over quarter, driven by growth in wealth, capital markets, and mortgage businesses [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wealth business grew by 17% year over year, with institutional services up by 39% and Brimmore Trust Company of Delaware up by 7% [5] - Total client deposits increased by 1% linked quarter and grew by 5% year over year, with non-interest deposits up by 11% year over year [5] - Gross loans remained flat quarter over quarter, but commercial fundings reached the highest level in over a year, with C&I loan balances growing by 2% linked quarter [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expects low single-digit growth in the commercial portfolio and flat growth in the consumer portfolio, excluding Upstart [8] - The outlook for net interest margin (NIM) has been raised to approximately 3.85%, factoring in two anticipated rate cuts [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on accretive loan growth, particularly in the C&I sector, while maintaining profit margins [19][20] - Strategic opportunities are being pursued in the wealth and trust business, with a focus on broadening product offerings [10] - The company plans to continue executing buybacks as part of a multi-year glide path to reach a CET1 capital target of 12% [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a mild uptick in optimism among commercial borrowers, indicating a potential shift in sentiment regarding tariffs [22][23] - The company is managing expenses for growth, with continued investments in technology and talent [57] - Future performance is expected to be driven by fee businesses, which are accretive to ROA, despite temporary impacts from interest rate cuts [64] Other Important Information - The company returned $87.3 million of capital in the second quarter, including $77.7 million in buybacks, representing 2.7% of outstanding shares [7] - The sale of the Upstart portfolio is expected to impact net charge-offs, with total net charge-offs projected between 35 to 45 basis points for the year, excluding Upstart [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: Loan growth expectations and commercial borrower sentiment - Management emphasized a focus on C&I growth and noted a mild uptick in optimism among borrowers regarding project initiation [19][22] Question: Expense outlook and run rate - Management indicated that the second quarter represents a good run rate for future growth, with some potential increases due to business-as-usual activities [26][57] Question: Impact of buybacks on CET1 and M&A considerations - Management confirmed that buybacks are being executed due to excess capital, with a focus on investing in the business first before considering M&A opportunities [30][31] Question: NIM outlook and potential upside - Management discussed the expected impact of interest rate cuts on NIM, with a focus on mitigating these impacts through deposit repricing [38][41] Question: Cash Connect profitability and pricing strategies - Management reported progress in driving profit margins in Cash Connect, with ongoing pricing increases expected to enhance profitability [60][61]
WSFS Financial (WSFS) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-04-25 18:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported core earnings per share of $1.13, core return on assets (ROA) of 1.29%, core pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) of $104.6 million, and core return on tangible common equity of 16.97%, all showing improvements from the prior quarter [5][10] - Net interest margin expanded by eight basis points to 3.88%, reflecting a reduction in total funding cost by 15 basis points to 1.77% [5][6] - Total net credit costs increased to $17.6 million, up $8.9 million from the previous quarter, with net charge-offs at $24.6 million [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Core fee revenue grew by 6% year over year, driven by a 19% increase in wealth and trust services [6] - Institutional Services showed strong year-over-year growth, contributing to higher deal flow [6] - Cash Connect fees declined quarter over quarter due to seasonally lower volumes, but profit margins improved through expense and pricing offsets [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Client deposits declined by 1% linked quarter but increased by 4% year over year, with non-interest bearing deposits up by 6% year over year [8] - The loan to deposit ratio remained stable at 77%, providing flexibility for future growth [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to target a CET1 ratio of 12% in the medium term, with a gradual glide path over two to three years [11][56] - The company is committed to returning capital to shareholders, having returned $62.6 million in capital during the first quarter, including $53.8 million in buybacks and a 13% increase in the quarterly dividend [10][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that clients are cautious about expansion due to macroeconomic uncertainty, leading to postponed investments [32][33] - The company remains engaged with clients and is monitoring the overall environment closely, indicating a stable outlook despite current challenges [9][20] Other Important Information - The company has a strong capital position with a CET1 ratio of 14.1% and TCE of 8.63%, significantly above regulatory targets [10] - The company is actively managing its net interest margin through various tools, including deposit beta management and optimization of wholesale funding [45][46] Q&A Session Summary Question: Why was there no updated guidance in the presentation? - Management stated that it is typical to update guidance after the second quarter due to the volatility of the environment, and there is nothing to read into the absence of guidance this quarter [16][17] Question: What is the outlook for net charge-offs? - Management indicated that the increase in charge-offs was primarily due to a one-off item and that the rest of the portfolio is performing as expected [19][20] Question: How should expenses be viewed going forward? - Management provided insights on seasonal impacts and one-time items affecting expenses, suggesting a run rate between the first and fourth quarters [21][24] Question: What is the outlook for commercial growth? - Management noted that clients are cautious about expansion due to market volatility, but the pipeline remains consistent [32][33] Question: How are deposit beta expectations evolving? - Management exceeded their initial goal for deposit beta, reaching 38% this quarter, and plans to continue pushing higher [44][45] Question: What is the medium-term target for CET1? - Management indicated a two to three-year glide path to a 12% CET1 target, with discretion to adjust based on macroeconomic conditions [56][57] Question: How does the macro environment impact buyback decisions? - Management expressed confidence in their capital position but acknowledged the need to monitor the macro environment for any changes [59][60]