SB Financial Group(SBFG) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net income for Q4 2025 was $3.9 million, with diluted EPS of $0.63, up $0.08 or approximately 15% year-over-year [4] - For the full year, GAAP EPS was $2.19, a 27% increase over 2024 EPS of $1.72 [4] - Tangible book value per share increased to $18, up from $16 last year, representing a 12.5% increase [5] - Net interest income for Q4 totaled $12.7 million, a nearly 17% increase from $10.9 million in Q4 2024 [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Loan growth for Q4 was $70 million, a 25% annualized increase, with year-over-year growth of $133.9 million or 12.8% [6] - Total deposits increased by $45 million in Q4, a 14% annualized increase, and year-over-year deposit growth was nearly $155 million or 13% [7] - Non-interest income decreased by 18.6% year-over-year to $3.7 million, primarily due to decreased mortgage servicing rates [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Mortgage originations for Q4 were $72.4 million, down from the prior year but up compared to the linked quarter [9] - The company achieved a loan-to-deposit ratio of 90.3%, which remains within the targeted operating range of 90%-95% [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage its well-capitalized balance sheet and diversified business lines to support prudent growth and long-term value creation [4] - Strategic initiatives focus on growing and diversifying revenue, enhancing operational efficiency, and maintaining asset quality [10] - The Marblehead acquisition has transitioned from integration to execution, providing a foundation for organic growth [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the loan pipeline and the stability of the core deposit base, which supports performance improvement [29] - The company anticipates a gradual decline in net interest margin (NIM) in 2026 due to higher funding costs [38] - Management expects to maintain a positive operating leverage of 1.5-2 times in 2026, despite anticipated expense growth of 3.5%-4% [54] Other Important Information - The company announced a dividend of $0.155 per share, marking the thirteenth consecutive year of increasing annual dividend payouts [29] - The allowance for credit losses remained robust at 1.36% of total loans, providing 352% coverage of non-performing assets [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on margin and outlook? - Management noted that deposit pricing is a concern due to competitive pressures, forecasting a gradual decline in NIM by 5-7 basis points in 2026 [38] Question: What is the outlook for mortgage production growth? - Management anticipates low to mid single-digit growth in mortgage production for 2026, with potential to reach $310-$375 million depending on staffing and market conditions [50][51] Question: How do you view expense growth for 2026? - Management expects expense growth to be maintained at 3.5%-4%, with a focus on improving operating leverage [54]