Provident Financial Services(US:PFS)2025-10-30 19:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net earnings of approximately $0.7255 per share, consistent with the previous quarter [3] - Annualized return on average assets was 1.16%, and adjusted return on average tangible equity was 16.01% [3][11] - Pre-tax, pre-provision revenues grew to a record of nearly $109 million, with a return on average assets of 1.76%, up from 1.64% in the prior quarter [4][11] - Revenue increased to a record $222 million for the quarter, driven by record net interest income of $194 million and non-interest income of $27.4 million [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The commercial loan portfolio grew at an annualized rate of 5%, primarily driven by commercial and industrial (C&I) production [5][12] - Non-interest income increased to $27.4 million, with solid performance from core banking fees, insurance, and wealth management [15] - The company closed approximately $742 million in new loans during the third quarter, bringing year-to-date production to $2.1 billion [5] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Deposits increased by $388 million, or an annualized rate of 8%, primarily driven by core deposits [4][13] - The average cost of total deposits increased by 4 basis points to 2.14% this quarter [13] - Non-performing assets improved to 0.41%, which compares favorably to peers [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains focused on efficiently funding strong commercial loan growth and has made investments in people and capabilities to support quality deposit growth [5] - There is a strategic focus on growing non-interest income, with initiatives like Provident Protection Plus driving consistent growth [8] - The company is committed to managing credit risk while pursuing growth opportunities [6] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the credit position and underwriting standards, with a modest exposure to rent-stabilized multifamily properties in New York City [7] - The company anticipates benefits from recent Fed rate cuts and expects a net interest margin in the range of 3.38% to 3.45% for the fourth quarter [12] - Management highlighted the importance of organic growth and the potential for shareholder value creation through strategic investments [42] Other Important Information - The Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share, payable on November 28 [9] - Tangible book value per share increased by $0.53, or 3.6%, to $15.13 [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on margin and loan repricing - The total repricing is just under $6 billion, with about $4.95 billion in floating rate loans [18] Question: Competition in loan pricing - Increased competition has been observed, particularly in the commercial real estate (CRE) sector, but the company is still building a strong pipeline [20][21] Question: Non-interest income expectations - A conservative estimate for non-interest income suggests a potential step-down due to lower loan prepayment fees and seasonality [26] Question: Capital deployment strategy - The company prefers organic growth at profitable levels, with a target payout ratio for dividends in the 40%-45% range [28] Question: Deposit costs and efficiency ratio - The overall cost of funds increased slightly, but the company is managing to maintain an attractive funding advantage [30][32]