Core Viewpoint - Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. reported strong financial performance for the second quarter of 2025, driven by significant loan growth and net interest margin expansion, resulting in record earnings of $34.0 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, compared to $27.6 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, in the same quarter of 2024 [1][2]. Financial Performance - Net income for Q2 2025 was $34.0 million, an increase of $6.4 million, or 23%, from Q2 2024 [2][5]. - Net interest income rose by $11.5 million, or 18%, to $73.5 million, attributed to strong growth in average earning assets and improved yields [5][10]. - Non-interest income increased by $693,000, or 3%, to $24.3 million compared to Q2 2024 [8][9]. Loan and Deposit Growth - Total loans increased by $779 million, or 13%, year-over-year, with a $204 million, or 3%, increase from the previous quarter [6][14]. - Deposit balances expanded by $938 million, or 14%, over the past 12 months, with a notable increase in interest-bearing deposits [16][28]. Net Interest Margin and Efficiency - Net interest margin expanded by 27 basis points year-over-year to 3.53%, driven by higher yields on earning assets and lower funding costs [2][10]. - The efficiency ratio improved to 53.83% from 57.26% in Q2 2024, indicating better operational efficiency [2][33]. Credit Quality - Provision for credit losses was recorded at $2.2 million, reflecting strong loan growth and a slightly deteriorating economic forecast [7][23]. - Non-performing loans totaled $18.0 million, or 0.26% of total loans, showing a slight improvement from 0.29% a year earlier [17][35]. Capital and Shareholder Returns - The company maintained a "well-capitalized" status with a tangible common equity ratio of 8.86% as of June 30, 2025 [18][29]. - A quarterly cash dividend of $0.31 per common share was declared, reflecting a commitment to returning value to shareholders [19][20]. Future Outlook - The company anticipates continued momentum in loan production and deposit growth, with expectations for net interest margin stability despite increased competition in the second half of the year [1][4].