Northwest Bancshares(NWBI) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total assets reached $16.4 billion, total deposits were $13.7 billion, and total loans amounted to $12.9 billion [7] - Revenue for the third quarter was a record $168 million, reflecting over 20% year-over-year growth [7][11] - Net interest margin improved by nine basis points quarter-over-quarter to 3.65% [7][10] - GAAP EPS for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, increased by $0.08 or 15%, while adjusted EPS rose by $0.16 or 21% [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Commercial and industrial loan growth exceeded 25% year-over-year [7] - Non-interest income increased by $1.3 million or 4% quarter-over-quarter, driven by service charges [11][19] - Adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue rose to almost $66 million, an 11.5% increase quarter-over-quarter [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has over 150 financial centers across Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Indiana, with plans to open three new centers in the Columbus market [4][5] - The company was named a top 50 SBA lender nationally by volume [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The merger with Penns Woods Bancorp was completed, enhancing balance sheet scale and expected to achieve full cost savings by the second quarter of 2026 [3][25] - The company is focusing on organic growth and de novo branching in high-growth markets, particularly Columbus and Indianapolis [5][54] - Management emphasized maintaining tight cost controls and risk management discipline while pursuing sustainable growth [10][88] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in maintaining net interest margin levels in the mid-360s and expects to see continued growth in loan pipelines [24] - The company is managing credit risk tightly, with no direct exposure to companies with recent credit issues [8][22] - Future guidance for non-interest income is expected to be between $32 million to $33 million for the fourth quarter [24] Other Important Information - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share, representing an annualized yield of approximately 6.5% [9] - The liquidity position is strong, with available sources covering approximately 250% of uninsured deposits [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Loan growth expectations and impact of new branches - Management indicated that while the acquisition had a significant impact on loan growth, they expect to hold the balance sheet stable and look for growth opportunities in the fourth quarter [30][31] Question: Expense management and future guidance - Management aims to manage positive operating leverage while investing for growth, with expectations of holding expenses at current levels [34][36] Question: Capital management and targets - The company is comfortable with its capital levels and will consider opportunities for buybacks or acquisitions as they arise [43] Question: Trends in the consumer portfolio and deposit accounts - Management noted elevated delinquencies due to administrative issues from the acquisition but remains comfortable with the overall consumer exposure [50][51] Question: Scaling the bank and future growth strategies - The focus is on maximizing integration and efficiency from the Penns Woods merger while considering both organic growth and M&A opportunities [52][54] Question: Funding loan growth and securities portfolio - Management expressed confidence in their ability to fund loan growth through deposits and securities, with a flexible approach to managing their funding mix [60][64]