Prosperity Bancshares(PB) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the year ended December 31, 2025, net income was $543 million, an increase of $63 million or 13.2% compared to $480 million for the same period in 2024 [6] - Net income per diluted common share was $5.72 for the year ending December 31, 2025, compared to $5.05 for the same period in 2024, an increase of 13.3% [6] - For the three months ending December 31, 2025, net income was $139.9 million, an increase of $9.8 million or 7.6% compared to $130 million for the same period in 2024 [7] - The annualized return on average assets was 1.49% and on average tangible common equity was 13.61% for the three months ending December 31, 2025 [7] - The efficiency ratio was 43.6% for the three months ending December 31, 2025 [7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net interest income before provision for credit losses for the three months ended December 31, 2025, was $275 million, an increase of $7.2 million compared to $267.8 million for the same period in 2024 [15] - The net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis was 3.30% for the three months ended December 31, 2025, an increase of 25 basis points compared to 3.05% for the same period in 2024 [16] - Non-interest income was $42.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025, compared to $39.8 million for the same period in 2024 [17] - Non-interest expense was $138.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025, compared to $141.5 million for the same period in 2024 [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Deposits were $28.4 billion at December 31, 2025, an increase of $700 million from $27.7 billion at September 30, 2025 [9] - Nonperforming assets totaled $150 million, or 46 basis points of quarterly average interest-earning assets at December 31, 2025, compared to $119 million, or 36 basis points at September 30, 2025 [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on delivering shareholder value through low-cost core deposits, operational efficiency, sound credit quality, and growth via opportunistic M&A [14] - The acquisition of Stellar Bancorp is seen as a significant milestone, enhancing the company's Texas footprint and making it the largest Texas-based bank in the market [14] - The company plans to prioritize the integration of the three banks it is acquiring, focusing on customer and associate care [36][37] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the growth momentum heading into 2026, with expectations for improved net interest margins and overall performance [32][34] - The company anticipates realizing cost savings related to the acquisitions after system conversions scheduled for later in the year [19] - Management highlighted strong tailwinds for growth in 2026 and beyond, with expectations for a minimum net interest margin of 3.5% [86] Other Important Information - The company completed a merger with American Bank on January 1, 2026, and expects to finalize the merger with Southwest Bancshares on February 1, 2026 [11][12] - The allowance for credit losses on loans was $333 million, with a strong coverage ratio of 2.21 times non-performing assets [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you explain the difference in earnings estimates for Stellar compared to consensus? - Management indicated that Stellar's fourth quarter earnings influenced the estimates, and they are confident in the earnings level coming from Stellar [28][29] Question: Why is this acquisition different from past ones? - Management emphasized the long-standing relationship with Stellar and the similarities in operational discipline, which reduce risks associated with the acquisition [36][37] Question: Can you discuss the price of the acquisition and the expected synergies? - Management acknowledged the premium price for a quality bank and highlighted the expected earnings growth and synergies from the merger [40][45] Question: What are the capital deployment plans moving forward? - Management indicated a focus on integration but also mentioned the potential for opportunistic buybacks and dividend increases [48][50] Question: How will the company manage multiple bank integrations simultaneously? - Management stated that designated teams will handle integrations, allowing core operations to continue without distraction [53][56] Question: Can you provide details on the increase in nonperforming assets? - Management confirmed that a specific $35 million Shared National Credit was part of the increase and noted ongoing resolution discussions [108][109]