19 August 2025 Equity Research Report China Banks Equities Race among regional banks China High-quality city commercial banks to stand out in new round of sector re-rating. The China banking index rose 3.9% in the past 60 trading days (CSI 300 index up 7.4% over the same period) amid ample liquidity and in-line or above-consensus 1H25 economic releases. The sector's underperformance was mainly attributable to investors' belief that bank NIM would be harmed by the interest discount policy. In our view, the m ...

Key Takeaways First Horizon stock surged 36.2% in a year, beating the industry and its peers' performance.FHN's Q2 2025 loans hit $63.3B, while deposits climbed to $65.6B.The bank supports investors with dividends, buybacks, and $3.86B in cash.First Horizon Corporation (FHN) shares have rallied 36.2% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 10.1%. The company has also outperformed its peers, BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF) and Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR) , which have gained 5.0% and 16.9%, re ...

Core Insights - Truist Financial (TFC) is experiencing steady loan growth, with average loans and leases held for investment reaching $312.6 billion as of June 30, 2025, marking a 2% year-over-year increase [1][11] Loan Growth and Earnings - The improvement in average loan balance has led to higher average earning assets for TFC in the first half of 2025, despite a decline in yield on the average total loan portfolio to 5.99%, down 42 basis points from the prior year [2] - Truist's net interest income (NII) for the first half of 2025 was $7.09 billion, reflecting a 3% year-over-year growth, with net interest margin improving by 7 basis points to 3.02% [3][11] Management Outlook - Management is optimistic about NII growth, projecting an increase of approximately 3% in 2025, supported by low single-digit average loan growth and anticipated reductions in the Fed funds rate [4] - Truist plans to reprice around $27 billion of fixed-rate loans and investment securities in the second half of 2025, with new fixed-rate loans expected to have a run-on rate of about 7% compared to a current run-off rate of nearly 6.4% [4] Future Projections - The company expects modest loan growth, favorable loan repricing, and strategic balance sheet management to counteract Fed rate cuts, with NII projected to grow by 2.8%, 3.1%, and 4.5% in 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively [5] - The projected net interest margin (NIM) for 2025, 2026, and 2027 is estimated to be 3.05%, 3.14%, and 3.25%, respectively [5] Peer Comparison - PNC Financial has seen a five-year CAGR of 5.6% in total loans from 2019 to 2024, with a positive outlook for loan demand due to expected interest rate cuts in 2025 [6] - U.S. Bancorp has also experienced strong loan growth, with a five-year CAGR of 5.1% and a focus on expanding customer relationships [8]

Financial Performance - Net income reached $26.0 million, a 75.9% increase compared to $14.8 million in 2Q24[7] - Core net income increased by 72.6% to $27.5 million from $15.9 million in 2Q24[7] - Portfolio net interest margin (NIM) increased to 3.82%, up 47 bps from 3.35% in 1Q25[7] - Diluted book value per share as of June 30, 2025, was $15.62, a 5.1% increase from $14.87 as of March 31, 2025[15] Loan Portfolio and Production - Loan production reached a record of $725.4 million in UPB, a 13.3% increase from 1Q25 and a 71.8% increase from 2Q24[7, 18] - The total loan portfolio was $5.9 billion in UPB as of June 30, 2025, a 30.8% increase from $4.5 billion in UPB as of June 30, 2024[7, 21] - The UPB of fair value option (FVO) loans was $3.6 billion, or 62.3% of total loans, as of June 30, 2025, an increase from 42.0% as of June 30, 2024[21] Capital and Financing - The company completed four securitizations totaling $985.5 million of securities issued[6] - The company collapsed and refinanced two securitizations totaling $68.0 million in debt outstanding, which released $53.5 million of capital[6] - Nonperforming loans (NPL) as a % of HFI loans decreased to 10.3%, down from 10.8% as of March 31, 2025[7]

Core Viewpoint - Security Federal Corporation (SFDL) reported strong year-over-year earnings and revenue growth for the second quarter of 2025, despite a slight decline in stock performance compared to the broader market [1][12] Financial Performance - For the quarter ended June 30, 2025, net income available to common shareholders was $2.4 million, or 75 cents per share, reflecting a 10.9% increase in net income and a 13.6% increase in EPS compared to the same quarter in 2024 [2] - Total revenues increased, with net interest income rising 11.1% to $11.3 million and non-interest income increasing 5.7% to $2.6 million [2] Business Drivers & Income Sources - The improvement in net interest income was driven by a 3.3% increase in total interest income to $19.4 million and a 5.8% reduction in total interest expenses to $8.1 million [3] - Non-interest income growth was supported by a $106,000 increase in rental income and a $62,000 gain on the sale of land [4] Operating Expenses & Profitability - Non-interest expenses rose by $692,000, or 7.2%, to $10.4 million, primarily due to higher salaries, occupancy expenses, and cloud services [5] - Income before taxes increased 27.1% to $3.5 million, while net income available to common shareholders rose 11.6% to $2.4 million after accounting for a 33.8% rise in income tax provision [6] Credit Quality - Non-performing assets decreased to $5.95 million, down from $7.12 million a year earlier, indicating improved credit quality [7] - The allowance for credit losses increased to $14.0 million, or 2.00% of gross loans, up from 1.95% a year ago [7] Balance Sheet & Capital Position - Total assets as of June 30, 2025, were $1.63 billion, a 5.3% year-over-year increase, with deposits growing 11.9% to $1.38 billion [8] - Common equity book value per share increased to $34.02 from $29.08 a year earlier, with strong capital ratios [9] Management Insights - Management attributed earnings growth to effective balance sheet management and investments in future growth, including the acquisition of a multi-tenant property for branch expansion [10] - The acquisition reflects the company's strategy to enhance its regional presence [11]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The adjusted net investment income decreased to $32.5 million or $0.37 per share, down from $38.7 million or $0.45 per share in the prior quarter, primarily due to nonrecurring and noncash items related to refinancing activities [25][27] - The net leverage ratio at quarter end was 0.93 times, flat from last quarter, with total debt outstanding at $1.46 billion [28] - The weighted average interest rate decreased slightly to 6.6% from 6.7% at the end of the prior quarter [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The weighted average yield on new debt investments was 9.1%, compared to 9.5% in the prior quarter, reflecting continued tight spreads in the marketplace [13] - The median EBITDA of portfolio companies was approximately $161 million, a $3 million increase from the prior quarter [17] - The weighted average leverage in the portfolio decreased slightly from 5.2 to 5.1 times, while the weighted average interest coverage increased from 2.1 to 2.2 [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - M&A activity remained muted due to uncertainty surrounding increased tariffs, leading to a pivot towards refinancing existing debt rather than new buyouts [8] - Credit spreads tightened, with pricing for large cap sponsor loans in the SOFR plus 425 to 475 basis points range [9] - The company is observing increased opportunities in Europe, supported by a strengthening economic outlook and favorable valuation metrics [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on high-quality companies with strong credit profiles and is selectively deploying capital into mature market-leading businesses [15][16] - Oaktree's global platform provides a competitive advantage, allowing access to high-quality transactions often unavailable to smaller lenders [16] - The company aims to maintain a diversified portfolio while avoiding industry concentration risk and steering clear of more cyclical businesses [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the long-term outlook for direct lending remains favorable, with compelling yields on a gross unlevered basis [12] - The company is actively engaged with management teams of challenged positions to drive favorable resolutions [21] - There is confidence in the ability to deploy capital effectively, supported by a robust pipeline of investment opportunities [41] Other Important Information - The company successfully amended and extended the maturity of its senior secured revolving facility, reducing the interest rate, which will reduce overall interest expense [6] - The company has ample liquidity of approximately $730 million, including $80 million in cash and $650 million of undrawn capacity on credit facilities [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: How were spreads generated this quarter? - The company achieved first lien spreads in the mid-500s, influenced by a mix of lower spread deals and higher yielding deals, including life science transactions [34][36] Question: What is the plan regarding leverage and discussions with rating agencies? - The plan is to maintain leverage at the midpoint of the range (0.9 to 1.25) and to engage actively with rating agencies regarding potential increases in leverage to support earnings [40][41] Question: Confidence in the base dividend level of $0.40 per share? - The base dividend was set at $0.40 based on visibility into prepayment activity and the progress made in converting non-interest earning assets into interest-earning assets [54] Question: What types of asset-backed opportunities is the company considering? - The company is looking at a diversified pipeline of asset-backed deals, including rental car leases and small loans for HVAC systems, while avoiding consumer unsecured debt [56][59]

Financial Performance - Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (Bladex) reported a net profit of $64.2 million for 2Q25, representing a 28% year-over-year increase, and $115.9 million for 6M25, a 14% increase year-over-year [5] - Net Interest Income (NII) reached a record-high of $67.7 million in 2Q25 (+8% YoY) and $133.0 million in 6M25 (+6% YoY), driven by higher average business volumes and margin stability [5] - Total revenues for 2Q25 were $90.0 million, up from $75.0 million in 2Q24, and $168.0 million for 6M25, compared to $147.6 million for 6M24 [4][5] Efficiency and Profitability - The Bank's Efficiency Ratio improved to 23.1% for 2Q25 and 24.9% for 6M25, as revenue growth outpaced ongoing investments in technology and modernization [5] - Annualized Return on Equity (ROE) increased to 18.5% in 2Q25 (+222bps YoY) and 17.0% in 6M25 (+47bps YoY), reflecting stronger income growth and effective strategy execution [5][6] Credit and Asset Quality - The Credit Portfolio reached an all-time high of $12,182 million as of June 30, 2025, an 18% increase year-over-year, with the Commercial Portfolio also peaking at $10,819 million [5][6] - The Bank maintained healthy asset quality, with 97.9% of the credit portfolio classified as low risk or Stage 1, and impaired credits totaling only $19 million, or 0.2% of the total Credit Portfolio [5][6] Liquidity and Capital Adequacy - Bladex reported a strong liquidity position of $1,959 million, representing 15.5% of total assets, primarily consisting of deposits with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York [5][6] - The Bank's Tier 1 Capital and Regulatory Capital Adequacy Ratios stood at 15.0% and 13.9%, respectively, indicating strong earnings generation within the Bank's risk appetite [5][6] Recent Developments - Moody's, S&P, and Fitch Ratings affirmed Bladex's credit ratings, with stable outlooks, reflecting the Bank's solid financial position and credit quality [7][8]

Core Viewpoint - Realty Income is the largest net lease REIT with a 5.6% dividend yield, significantly higher than the market average of 1.2% and the average REIT yield of 3.9% [1][2] Group 1: Company Size and Growth - Realty Income has a market capitalization of approximately $50 billion, making it significantly larger than its peers in the net lease REIT sector [3] - The company's size presents challenges, as substantial new property acquisitions are required to impact financial performance, leading to expected slow growth [5] - However, Realty Income's size also allows it to pursue larger deals, act as an industry consolidator, and access Wall Street more easily, suggesting steady growth potential through contractual rent increases and property acquisitions [6] Group 2: Expansion Strategies - Realty Income is actively expanding its growth opportunities by entering the European market, which is still developing the net lease approach, thus broadening its potential property acquisitions [7] - The company is diversifying its property market focus beyond retail and industrial sectors to include casinos and data centers, seeking new growth avenues [8] - Recently, Realty Income has begun offering loans and asset management services to institutional investors, leveraging its scale to explore new areas for sustained growth [9] Group 3: Commitment to Dividends - Realty Income is aware of its identity as a large company and the expectations of its investors for reliable dividends, which is central to its business model [10] - The company has branded itself as "The Monthly Dividend Company," emphasizing its commitment to providing consistent dividends [10] - This focus on reliable dividend payments positions Realty Income as a foundational investment for long-term investors, allowing them to consider more aggressive dividend stocks alongside it [12]

Core Insights - Rocket Companies reported revenue of $1.34 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, reflecting a 3% increase year-over-year and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.25 billion by 6.85% [1] - The company's EPS was $0.04, down from $0.06 in the same quarter last year, but exceeded the consensus estimate of $0.03 by 33.33% [1] Revenue Breakdown - Gain on sale of loans excluding fair value of MSRs was $472.38 million, exceeding the average estimate of $437.81 million by analysts, representing a 14.4% increase year-over-year [4] - Fair value of originated MSRs was reported at $343.53 million, slightly below the estimated $421.95 million, showing a minor decline of 0.6% compared to the previous year [4] - Servicing fee income from loan servicing was $401.28 million, which was lower than the estimated $410.87 million but still showed a 13.1% increase year-over-year [4] - Change in fair value of MSRs reported at -$198.89 million, better than the estimated -$279 million, indicating a significant year-over-year improvement of 76.1% [4] - Other income was $309.34 million, surpassing the estimate of $298.67 million, marking a 14.9% increase from the previous year [4] - Net gain on sale of loans was $815.9 million, below the estimated $860.09 million, but still reflecting a 7.6% increase year-over-year [4] - Net loan servicing income was $202.39 million, significantly higher than the estimated $131.88 million, although it represented a decline of 16.3% year-over-year [4] - Net interest income was $32.62 million, exceeding the estimate of $25.06 million, with a year-over-year increase of 4.8% [4] - Interest income was reported at $123.5 million, surpassing the estimated $91.94 million, reflecting a 9.9% increase compared to the same quarter last year [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, shares of Rocket Companies have returned +0.6%, underperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.7% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating potential underperformance relative to the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Insights - LendingTree, Inc. reported strong financial results for Q2 2025, with Adjusted EBITDA increasing by 35% year-over-year, driven by revenue growth across all business segments [2][5] - The company has experienced five consecutive quarters of year-over-year revenue growth, with a positive outlook for continued growth [2][6] - The Insurance segment saw a revenue increase of 21% year-over-year, while the Consumer and Home segments also reported healthy gains despite challenging market conditions [2][6] Financial Performance - Total revenue for Q2 2025 was $250.1 million, a 19% increase from $210.1 million in Q2 2024 [4][8] - GAAP net income was $8.9 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, compared to $7.8 million, or $0.58 per diluted share in the same quarter last year [5][7] - Adjusted net income increased by 114% year-over-year to $15.4 million, with adjusted net income per share rising to $1.13 from $0.54 [5][25] Segment Performance - The Insurance segment generated $147.2 million in revenue, up 21% year-over-year, with a segment profit of $40.0 million, a 10% increase [6][8] - The Consumer segment reported revenue of $62.5 million, a 12% increase year-over-year, with personal loans revenue rising by 14% [6][8] - The Home segment achieved revenue of $40.4 million, a 25% increase year-over-year, with Home Equity revenue increasing by 38% [6][8] Capital Structure and Outlook - The company's net leverage improved to 3x from 5x over the past year, indicating a stronger capital position [2][6] - LendingTree aims to further reduce net leverage and enhance capital efficiency while continuing to invest in core business areas [2][6] - The company reiterated its financial outlook for Q3 and full-year 2025, projecting revenue between $273 million and $281 million [12][17]