Civista Bancshares(CIVB) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net income of $10.2 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, representing a $3.8 million or 60% increase compared to the previous February and a $275,000 increase over the linked quarter [5] - Pre-provision net revenue increased by $4.3 million or 47% over Q1 2024 and $1.4 million or 11.9% over the linked quarter [5] - Net interest income for the quarter was $32.8 million, an increase of $1.4 million or 4.5% compared to the linked quarter [6] - The return on assets (ROA) for the quarter was 1%, and the return on equity (ROE) was 10.39% [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The loan and lease portfolio grew at an annualized rate of 2.8% during the first quarter, with total loans and leases increasing by $22.8 million [18] - Noninterest income declined by $1.2 million or 12.8% compared to the linked quarter, primarily due to a decrease in gains on the sale of loans and other fees [16] - Noninterest expense was $27.1 million, a decline of $1.2 million or 4.1% from the linked quarter, attributed to reductions in compensation-related expenses [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total deposits increased by $27 million or an annualized growth rate of 3.2%, with organic deposit funding (excluding broker deposits) growing by over $67 million [21][22] - The loan-to-deposit ratio at quarter-end was 95.8% [24] - The company’s security portfolio was $648.5 million, representing 15.6% of the balance sheet, with $60 million of unrealized losses [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company announced the renewal of its stock repurchase program, authorizing the repurchase of up to $13.5 million of outstanding shares [12] - The focus remains on increasing tangible common equity and maintaining a disciplined approach to pricing deposits and loans [5][11] - The company aims to balance dividend payments and stock repurchases with capital growth to support future growth [28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company’s ability to manage loan and deposit pricing amid economic uncertainties, anticipating low to mid-single-digit loan growth for the remainder of 2025 [31] - The economic environment in Ohio and Southeastern Indiana shows no signs of deterioration, with strong credit quality maintained [30] - Management noted a cautious sentiment among borrowers regarding capital expenditures due to macroeconomic uncertainties [78] Other Important Information - The company made a $1.6 million provision for credit losses, with charge-offs of $976,000 [29] - The allowance for credit losses to total loans ratio was 1.30% at March 31, 2025, consistent with the previous quarter [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Margin inputs and funding costs - Management indicated there is still opportunity for margin expansion, expecting a four to five basis points increase in the second quarter [38][39] Question: Expense normalization and future investments - Management expects expenses to remain flat in the second half of the year, with some increases due to merit raises and investments in technology [48][49] Question: Fee income outlook - Management anticipates a bounce back in fee income in the second quarter, particularly in mortgage and leasing [60] Question: Loan yield increase - The increase in loan yield was attributed to new loans repricing higher, with no unusual recoveries contributing to the increase [68] Question: Commercial borrowers' sentiment - Management noted a cautious "wait and see" attitude among borrowers regarding capital expenditures due to economic uncertainties [78] Question: Current pipeline and growth guidance - Management indicated that the current loan pipeline remains strong, with ongoing economic activity supporting growth [85][90]