HOMB Announces Record Third Quarter

CONWAY, Ark., Oct. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Home BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: HOMB), parent company of Centennial Bank, released third quarter earnings today.

Highlights of the Third Quarter of 2020:

⁽¹⁾ Calculation of this metric and the reconciliation to GAAP are included in the schedules accompanying this release.

“To deliver record setting performance in Pre-Tax, Pre-Provision Net Revenue, while navigating a pandemic, CECL and economic volatility is even beyond my expectations,” said John Allison, Chairman. “I’m now tracking a new measure of profitability that I think is extremely important that I call ‘P5_NR = Pre-Tax, Pre-Provision, Profit Percentage,’ which was 59.28% for the third quarter, up from 59.15% in the second quarter,” Allison continued. “While current economic times remain uncertain, one thing remains certain and that is the strong earnings power of Home BancShares,” added Allison.

“PPNR has received increased focus within the industry in recent months. Our ability to reach a record setting $104.4 million PPNR is certainly a highlight of this quarter,” said Tracy French, Centennial Bank President and Chief Executive Officer.

Operating Highlights

Net income increased $6.5 million, or 10.3%, to $69.3 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020, from $62.8 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020, and income before income taxes (pre-tax net income) increased $8.3 million, or 10.1%, to $90.4 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020, from $82.1 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. Pre-tax net income, excluding provision for credit losses and unfunded commitment expense (PPNR) (non-GAAP) for the third quarter of 2020 was a record for the Company. PPNR increased $1.6 million, or 1.6%, to $104.4 million⁽¹⁾ for three-month period ended September 30, 2020, from $102.7 million⁽¹⁾ for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. Total revenue for the third quarter of 2020 was also a record for the Company. Total revenue increased $2.4 million, or 1.4%, to $176.1 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020, from $173.7 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. Pre-tax net income to total revenue (net) increased from 47.25% for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, to 51.32% for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, while pre-tax, pre-provision, profit percentage (“P5_NR”) (non-GAAP), increased from 59.15%⁽¹⁾ for the second quarter 2020 to 59.28%⁽¹⁾ for the third quarter 2020.

During the third quarter of 2020, we recorded $14.0 million of total credit loss expense which was primarily due to the Company increasing reserves on deferred loans resulting from ongoing uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the inherent risk associated with deferred loans, management recorded an additional reserve on the deferred loans. As of September 30, 2020, we had deferrals of $933.8 million on 330 loans.

Our net interest margin was 3.92% for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020 compared to 4.11% for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. The yield on loans was 5.24% and 5.43% for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively, as average loans decreased from $11.79 billion to $11.76 billion. Additionally, the rate on interest bearing deposits decreased to 0.54% as of September 30, 2020 from 0.64% as of June 30, 2020, with average balances of $9.68 billion and $9.51 billion, respectively. 

As of September 30, 2020, we had $848.7 million of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. These loans are at 1.00% plus the accretion of the origination fee. Excluding PPP loans, our net interest margin (non-GAAP) for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020 was 3.98%.⁽¹⁾ The PPP loans had an 18-basis point dilutive impact to the yield on loans. The PPP loans were dilutive to the net interest margin by 6 basis points.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant amount of excess liquidity in the market. As a result of this excess liquidity, we had an increase of $173.7 million of average interest-bearing cash balances in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the second quarter of 2020. This excess liquidity diluted the net interest margin by 5 basis points.

During the third quarter of 2020, there was zero event interest income compared to event interest income of $1.5 million for the second quarter of 2020. This lowered the net interest margin by 4 basis points.

Purchase accounting accretion on acquired loans was $7.0 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and June 30, 2020 and average purchase accounting loan discounts were $55.8 million and $62.8 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively. Net amortization of time deposit premiums was $30,000 per quarter and net average remaining time deposit premiums were $176,000 and $206,000 for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively.

The net interest margin experienced 14 basis points of noise for the three-months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020 primarily resulting from a 5 basis point decline for excess liquidity, a 4 basis point decline for event interest income, a 3 basis point decline for investment premium amortizations, a 1 basis point decline for PPP loans, and a 1 basis point decline for adjustments as a result of the conversion of LH Finance, which we acquired on February 29, 2020.

Net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent basis decreased $2.4 million, or 1.6%, to $147.7 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020, from $150.1 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. This decrease in net interest income for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020 was the result of a $4.8 million decrease in interest income, which was partially offset by a $2.4 million decrease in interest expense. The $4.8 million decrease in interest income was primarily the result of a $4.2 million decrease in loan interest income and a $625,000 net decrease in investment income. The $2.4 million decrease in interest expense was primarily the result of a $1.9 million decrease in interest expense on deposits and a $421,000 decrease in interest expense on FHLB borrowings.

The Company reported $30.0 million of non-interest income for the third quarter of 2020. The most important components of the third quarter non-interest income were $10.2 million from mortgage lending income, $8.5 million from other service charges and fees, $4.9 million from service charges on deposits accounts, $3.4 million from FHLB, FRB, FNBB & other equity investments and $2.6 million from other income. Non-interest income for the third quarter of 2020 included $3.2 million in dividends related to a special dividend from an equity investment and a $1.4 million adjustment for the decline in fair market value of marketable securities.

Mortgage lending income increased $4.0 million, or 64.3%, to $10.2 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020, from $6.2 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. The housing market continues to benefit from the current low interest rate environment. The Company experienced an increase in secondary market loan sales of $50 million for the third quarter of 2020 compared to the second quarter of 2020. In addition, reduced hedging expenses led to higher margins on secondary market loan sales.

Non-interest expense for the third quarter of 2020 was $71.7 million. The most important components of the third quarter non-interest expense were $41.5 million from salaries and employee benefits, $15.7 million in other expense and $9.6 million in occupancy and equipment expenses. For the third quarter of 2020, our efficiency ratio was 39.56% compared to 44.93% for the second quarter of 2020.
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(1) Calculation of this metric and the reconciliation to GAAP are included in the schedules accompanying this release

Financial Condition

Total loans receivable were $11.69 billion at September 30, 2020 compared to $11.96 billion at June 30, 2020. Total deposits were $12.94 billion at September 30, 2020 compared to $13.18 billion at June 30, 2020. Total assets were $16.55 billion at September 30, 2020 compared to $16.90 billion at June 30, 2020.

During the third quarter 2020, the Company experienced approximately $264.3 million in organic loan decline. Centennial CFG experienced $72.4 million of organic loan decline and had loans of $1.68 billion at September 30, 2020. Our legacy footprint experienced $191.9 million in organic loan decline during the quarter.

Non-performing loans to total loans was 0.63% as of September 30, 2020 compared to 0.50% as of June 30, 2020. Non-performing assets to total assets increased from 0.39% as of June 30, 2020 to 0.47% as of September 30, 2020. For the third quarter of 2020, net charge-offs were $4.1 million compared to net charge-offs of $2.0 million for the second quarter of 2020.

Non-performing loans at September 30, 2020 were $23.3 million, $40.2 million, $489,000, $4.4 million and $5.4 million in the Arkansas, Florida, Alabama, Shore Premier Finance and Centennial CFG markets, respectively, for a total of $73.8 million. Non-performing assets at September 30, 2020 were $24.8 million, $43.3 million, $523,000, $4.4 million and $5.4 million in the Arkansas, Florida, Alabama, Shore Premier Finance and Centennial CFG markets, respectively, for a total of $78.4 million.

The Company’s allowance for credit losses on loans was $248.2 million at September 30, 2020, or 2.12% of total loans, compared to the allowance for loan losses of $238.3 million, or 1.99% of total loans, at June 30, 2020. The Company’s allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans, excluding PPP loans (non-GAAP), was 2.29%⁽¹⁾ at September 30, 2020. As of September 30, 2020 and June 30, 2020, the Company’s allowance for credit losses on loans and allowance for loan losses was 336.4% and 397.9% of its total non-performing loans, respectively. The increase in the allowance for credit losses at September 30, 2020 is primarily attributable to the ongoing uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stockholders’ equity was $2.54 billion at September 30, 2020 compared to $2.49 billion at June 30, 2020, an increase of approximately $48.7 million. The increase in stockholders’ equity is primarily associated with the $47.8 million increase in retained earnings. Book value per common share was $15.38 at September 30, 2020 compared to $15.09 at June 30, 2020. Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) was $9.30⁽¹⁾ at September 30, 2020 compared to $8.99⁽¹⁾ at June 30, 2020, an increase of 13.72% on an annualized basis.   
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(1) Calculation of this metric and the reconciliation to GAAP are included in the schedules accompanying this release

Branches

The Company currently has 77 branches in Arkansas, 78 branches in Florida, 5 branches in Alabama and one branch in New York City.

Conference Call

Management will conduct a conference call to review this information at 1:00 p.m. CT (2:00 ET) on Thursday, October 15, 2020. We encourage all participants to pre-register for the conference call using the following link: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10147893/d8db6749be. Callers who pre-register will be given dial-in instructions and a unique PIN to gain immediate access to the live call. Participants may pre-register now, or at any time prior to the call, and will immediately receive simple instructions via email. The Home BancShares conference call will also be automatically scheduled as an event in your Outlook calendar.

Those without internet access or unable to pre-register may dial in and listen to the live call by calling 1-877-508-9586 and asking for the Home BancShares conference call. A replay of the call will be available by calling 1-877-344-7529, Passcode: 10147893, which will be available until October 22, 2020 at 10:59 p.m. CT (11:59 ET). Internet access to the call will be available live or in recorded version on the Company's website at www.homebancshares.com under “Investor Relations” for 12 months.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company’s management uses these non-GAAP financial measures--including net income (earnings), as adjusted; pre-tax net income, excluding provision for credit losses and unfunded commitment expense; pre-tax, pre-provision, profit percentage; diluted earnings per common share, as adjusted; return on average assets, as adjusted; return on average assets (pre-tax net income, excluding provision for credit losses and unfunded commitment expense); return on average assets, excluding provision for credit losses and unfunded commitment expense; return on average common equity, as adjusted; return on average tangible common equity; return on average tangible common equity, as adjusted; efficiency ratio, as adjusted; net interest margin, excluding PPP loans; yield on loans, excluding PPP loans; allowance for credit losses to total loans, excluding PPP loans; tangible book value per common share and tangible common equity to tangible assets--to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance. These measures typically adjust GAAP performance measures to include the tax benefit associated with revenue items that are tax-exempt, as well as adjust income available to common shareholders for certain significant items or transactions (including the effect of the PPP loans) that management believes are not indicative of the Company’s primary business operating results. Since the presentation of these GAAP performance measures and their impact differ between companies, management believes presentations of these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information that is essential to a proper understanding of the operating results of the Company’s business. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Where non-GAAP financial measures are used, the comparable GAAP financial measure, as well as the reconciliation to the comparable GAAP financial measure, can be found in the tables of this release.

General

This release may contain forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s plans, expectations, goals and outlook for the future. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts should be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements of this type speak only as of the date of this news release. By nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risk and uncertainties. Various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:  economic conditions, credit quality, interest rates, loan demand, real estate values and unemployment; disruptions, uncertainties and related effects on our business and operations as a result of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and measures that have been or may be implemented or imposed in response to the pandemic, including the impact on, among other things, credit quality and liquidity; the ability to identify, complete and successfully integrate new acquisitions; legislative and regulatory changes and risks and expenses associated with current and future legislation and regulations, including those in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; technological changes and cybersecurity risks; the effects of changes in accounting policies and practices, including from the adoption of the current expected credit loss (CECL) model on January 1, 2020; changes in governmental monetary and fiscal policies; political instability; competition from other financial institutions; potential claims, expenses and other adverse effects related to current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other government actions; changes in the assumptions used in making the forward-looking statements; and other factors described in reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including those factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2020, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on August 5, 2020.

Home BancShares, Inc. is a bank holding company, headquartered in Conway, Arkansas. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Centennial Bank, provides a broad range of commercial and retail banking plus related financial services to businesses, real estate developers, investors, individuals and municipalities. Centennial Bank has branch locations in Arkansas, Florida, South Alabama and New York City. The Company’s common stock is traded through the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “HOMB.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Donna Townsell
Director of Investor Relations
Home BancShares, Inc.
(501) 328-4625