South State (US:SSB)2025-10-23 14:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Earnings per share increased by 30% year-over-year, with a return on tangible equity of 20% [3] - Net interest income rose to $600 million, up $22 million from the previous quarter, driven by a tax equivalent margin of 4.06% [6][8] - Charge-offs were reported at 27 basis points for the quarter, with year-to-date charge-offs at 12 basis points [4][8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Loan production reached nearly $3.4 billion, with a 67% increase in loan production in Texas and Colorado since the first quarter [3] - Commercial and industrial lending saw a 9% linked quarter annualized growth, while residential growth was about 6% [17][18] - Non-interest income increased to $99 million from $87 million, with capital markets contributing significantly [32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company identified approximately $90 billion in overlapping deposits in the Southeast, Texas, and Colorado, indicating potential growth opportunities [5] - The loan pipeline in Texas grew from $800 million to $1.2 billion, with Florida and Atlanta also showing significant pipeline growth [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on organic growth and recruiting efforts in response to market disruptions, particularly in Texas and Colorado [5][19] - Management is contemplating adjustments to incentive structures to encourage recruiting and hiring in 2026 [42] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management expressed confidence in achieving mid-single-digit loan growth for the remainder of 2025, with potential for higher growth in 2026 [17] - The company is well-positioned to capitalize on market disruptions and is focused on building out its infrastructure [4][5] Other Important Information - The company redeemed $405 million in subordinated debt late in the quarter, which is expected to positively impact net interest margin [6][7] - The tangible book value per share increased to $54.48, reflecting strong capital levels despite the dilutive impact of the Independent Financial merger [8] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you walk us through the margin question? - Management discussed the impact of higher accretion and the dynamics of loan and deposit pricing in light of potential rate cuts [10][11] Question: What is the outlook for loan growth? - Management guided for mid-single-digit growth for the remainder of 2025, with a focus on commercial and industrial lending [16][17] Question: How do you feel about the credit portfolio? - Management confirmed the large charge-off was related to a specific credit and stated that the rest of the portfolio remains stable [24][25] Question: What is the optimal CET1 ratio? - Management indicated a healthy CET1 ratio of 11.5% and expressed no specific target but a preference for the 11% to 12% range [26] Question: Can you provide insights on non-interest income? - Management noted a significant increase in non-interest income, particularly from capital markets, and provided a cautious outlook for future quarters [31][32] Question: What are the expectations for deposit beta? - Management expects a deposit beta of around 27% to 30% in the next easing cycle, indicating a lag in response to rate cuts [39][66] Question: What is the guidance for NIE in the fourth quarter? - Management maintained guidance for NIE in the range of $345 million to $350 million for Q4 [67]