Heritage Financial (US:HFWA)2025-07-24 18:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted earnings per share increased by 8.2% quarter-over-quarter and 17.8% year-over-year [3] - Total loan balances rose by $10 million in Q2, with loan yields at 5.5%, up five basis points from Q1 [5][6] - Total deposits decreased by $60.9 million in Q2 but average total deposits increased by $35.4 million from the prior quarter [6] - Net interest income increased by $1.3 million or 2.4% from the prior quarter, with net interest margin rising to 3.51% from 3.44% [8][10] - Regulatory capital ratios remain above well-capitalized thresholds, with the TCE ratio increasing to 9.4% from 9.3% [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Commercial lending closed $248 million in new loan commitments, up from $183 million in Q1 and $218 million in Q2 2024 [18] - The commercial loan pipeline ended Q2 at $473 million, up from $460 million in the previous quarter [18] - Average interest rate for new commercial loans was 6.55%, down 28 basis points from the previous quarter [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Deposits decreased during the quarter but are up $100 million year-to-date compared to a decline of $82 million for the same period last year [21] - The deposit pipeline ended the quarter at $132 million, down from $165 million in Q1 [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on improving net interest margin and controlling noninterest expense growth to drive higher profitability [3] - Strategic repositioning of the balance sheet included a pretax loss of $6.9 million on the sale of $91.6 million of securities [7] - The company remains open to considering new team lift-outs to enhance growth, particularly in construction lending [51][54] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about continued trends in profitability and risk management as the year progresses [3] - There is concern about the increase in nonperforming and substandard loans, but management believes it reflects a return to a more normalized credit environment [17] - The company expects loan growth to resume after the third quarter as construction loan payoff activity normalizes [20] Other Important Information - Nonaccrual loans totaled just under $9.9 million, representing 0.21% of total loans, an increase from 0.09% in Q1 [12] - The company repurchased 193,700 shares at a total cost of $4.5 million during Q2, with 797,000 shares remaining available for repurchase [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Projected earn back on loss trade and near-term margin impact - The projected earn back is approximately three years, with an estimated pickup of about $2.3 million pretax [25][26] Question: Future restructuring activity - Future restructuring activity will depend on market conditions and capital needs, with ongoing efforts to improve overall performance [27][28] Question: Update on buyback and strategic use of capital - The stock price was advantageous in Q2, and future buyback activity will depend on stock price and other needs [29][30] Question: Credit quality and downgrades - The increase in criticized loans reflects identified problem credits rather than aggressive credit reviews [35][36] Question: Opportunities for loan growth and borrower sentiment - The largest opportunities for loan growth are in commercial real estate, with some pause among borrowers due to tariff uncertainties [38][39] Question: Spot rate on deposits and NIM for June - The spot rate was 1.92% as of June 30, with a NIM of 3.58% [45][46] Question: Update on new teams and production ramp-up - The expansion of the construction team is on track, with expectations to grow balances by about $75 million [51][52] Question: Competitive environment and pricing pressures - The overall volume in the market has decreased, leading to increased competition, but the pipeline remains strong [62][63]