OceanFirst Financial Corp. Announces Stronger Quarterly Earnings and Loan Growth

TOMS RIVER, N.J., July 24, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OceanFirst Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:OCFC), (the "Company"), the holding company for OceanFirst Bank (the "Bank"), today announced that diluted earnings per share increased to $0.30 for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, as compared to $0.29 for the corresponding prior year quarter. For the six months ended June 30, 2014, diluted earnings per share increased to $0.58, as compared to $0.55 for the corresponding prior year period.

Highlights for the quarter included:

• Higher earnings were driven by loan portfolio growth of $60.9 million.
• Commercial loans outstanding increased $35.3 million, the fourth consecutive quarter of double digit growth. 
• Non-performing loans decreased $4.6 million and net charge-offs fell by $253,000, 48% from the linked quarter.

The Company also announced completion of its 2012 share repurchase program and the authorization of the Board to repurchase 5% of the Company's outstanding common stock, up to an additional 867,923 shares (the "Repurchase Program").         

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John R. Garbarino stated, "The fourth consecutive quarter of double digit commercial loan growth has reaffirmed our strategic decision to add resources in this area, and with the robust loan pipeline we anticipate continued strong loan growth. Additionally, the renewal of our common stock Repurchase Program underscores our commitment to efficiently manage capital for our shareholders in the near term, as our plans for longer term growth continue to develop." 

The Board of Directors also declared the Company's seventieth consecutive quarterly cash dividend on common stock. The dividend for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 of $0.12 per share will be paid on August 15, 2014 to shareholders of record on August 4, 2014. 

Results of Operations

Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2014 increased to $5.1 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $5.0 million, or $0.29 per diluted share for the corresponding prior year period.  Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2014 increased to $9.8 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $9.4 million, or $0.55 per diluted share for the corresponding prior year period. The increases were primarily due to higher net interest income and a reduction in the provision for loan losses, partly offset by higher operating expenses. Additionally, earnings per share benefited from the reduction in average shares outstanding.

Net interest income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 increased to $18.2 million and $36.2 million, respectively, as compared to $17.5 million and $34.7 million, respectively, for the same prior year periods, reflecting an increase in the net interest margin partly offset by lower interest-earning assets. The net interest margin increased to 3.35% and 3.36%, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 from 3.21% and 3.19% for the same prior year periods. The yield on average interest-earning assets decreased to 3.67% for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, as compared to 3.69% for both prior year periods. Despite the two basis point decline, the asset yield benefited from a shift in the mix of interest-earning assets as average loans receivable, net increased $87.8 million and $60.6 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, while average interest-earning securities decreased $96.4 million and $49.6 million, respectively, as compared to the same prior year periods. The cost of average interest-bearing liabilities decreased to 0.39% and 0.38%, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, as compared to0.56% and 0.59%, respectively, for the same prior year periods.  The decrease was partly due to the prepayment of $159.0 million of Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") advances with a weighted average cost of 2.31% in the fourth quarter of 2013. Average interest-earning assets decreased $18.0 million and $22.2 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, as compared to the same prior year periods, as excess liquidity was allowed to run-off.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the provision for loan losses was $275,000 and $805,000, respectively, as compared to $800,000 and $1.9 million, respectively, for the corresponding prior year periods.  The decreases for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 were primarily due to reductions in net charge-offs of $201,000 and $791,000, respectively, as compared to the same prior year periods.  Non-performing loans decreased $4.7 million at June 30, 2014, as compared to December 31, 2013, and by $5.2 million, as compared to June 30, 2013.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, other income increased to $4.8 million and $8.7 million, respectively, as compared to $4.6 million and $7.9 million, respectively, in the same prior year periods. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, wealth management revenue increased $80,000 and $193,000, respectively, as compared to the same prior year periods, partly due to an increase in assets under administration to $229.3 million at June 30, 2014 from $175.8 million at June 30, 2013. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, fees and service charges increased $467,000 and $578,000, respectively, as compared to the same prior year periods primarily due to higher deposit fees from a revised fee and product structure. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the net gain on the sale of loans amounted to $219,000 and $351,000, respectively, as compared to $735,000 and $561,000, respectively, in the same prior year periods.  The gain on the sale of loans for the six months ended June 30, 2013 was adversely impacted by a provision of $975,000 added to the reserve for repurchased loans and loss sharing obligations, as compared to no provision in the current period. The prior year provision was related to loans sold to the Federal Home Loan Bank as part of its Mortgage Partnership Finance program. Compared to prior periods, the gain on sale of loans was adversely impacted by decreases in the gain-on-sale margin and reductions in loans sold to $10.9 million and $21.2 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, as compared to $32.3 million and $69.1 million, respectively, for the corresponding prior year periods, as increasing longer-term interest rates reduced one-to-four family loan refinance activity. For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company recognized a gain of $348,000 on the sale of equity securities, as compared to a gain of $42,000 in the corresponding prior year periods.

Operating expenses amounted to $14.8 million and $29.0 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, as compared to $13.6 million and $26.2 million, respectively, in the same prior year periods. Compensation and employee benefits expense increased $1.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, as compared to the same prior year periods, primarily due to personnel additions in revenue producing areas. Additionally, compensation and employee benefits expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 includes $196,000 in non-recurring severance related expenses due to the Company's strategic decision to improve efficiency in the residential mortgage loan area. The related personnel reduction is expected to lower compensation and benefits expense by $650,000 annually. Marketing expenses increased $163,000 and $445,000, respectively, as compared to the same prior year periods, primarily due to a promotional campaign to attract retail checking accounts and incent bankcard usage. The promotion resulted in the acquisition of approximately 1,400 new checking relationships for the year-to-date. These increases were partly offset by reductions in professional fees of $180,000 and $416,000, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, as compared to the corresponding prior year periods.

The provision for income taxes was $2.8 million and $5.3 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, as compared to $2.8 million and $5.2 million, respectively, for the same prior year periods. The effective tax rate was 35.1% and 35.2%, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, as compared to 35.7% and 35.4%, respectively, in the same prior year periods.

Financial Condition

Total assets increased by $79.4 million to $2,329.1 million at June 30, 2014, from $2,249.7 million at December 31, 2013. Loans receivable, net, increased by $90.4 million, to $1,631.8 million at June 30, 2014 from $1,541.5 million at December 31, 2013, primarily due to growth in commercial loans of $62.8 million and in residential construction loans, net of loans in process, which increased $11.6 million. Additionally, on June 30, 2014 the Company purchased a pool of performing, locally originated, one-to-four family, non-conforming mortgage loans for $20.6 million.

Deposits decreased by $41.3 million, to $1,705.5 million at June 30, 2014, from $1,746.8 million at December 31, 2013, despite strong growth in retail and business checking accounts. All of the decrease was related to a reduction in government deposits. Non-interest-bearing deposit accounts increased $63.6 million during the first half of 2014 due to a revised fee and product structure. To fund loan growth, FHLB advances increased $130.0 million, to $305.0 million at June 30, 2014, from $175.0 million at December 31, 2013. Stockholders' equity increased to $215.8 million at June 30, 2014, as compared to $214.4 million at December 31, 2013. Net income for the period was partly offset by the repurchase of 301,766 shares of common stock for $5.0 million (average cost per share of $16.64) and the cash dividend on common stock. At June 30, 2014, there were no shares available for repurchase under the stock repurchase program adopted in the fourth quarter of 2012, although 867,923 shares are available for repurchase under the Repurchase Program announced today. Tangible stockholders' equity per common share was $12.59 at June 30, 2014, as compared to $12.33 at December 31, 2013.

Asset Quality

The Company's non-performing loans totaled $40.7 million at June 30, 2014, a $4.7 million decrease from December 31, 2013.  Net loan charge-offs decreased to $799,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2014, as compared to $1.6 million for the corresponding prior year period. 

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will host an earnings conference call on Friday, July 25, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. The direct dial number for the call is (888) 338-7143. For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available. To access the replay, dial (877) 344-7529, Replay Conference Number 10048830 from one hour after the end of the call until October 31, 2014. The conference call, as well as the replay, are also available (listen-only) by internet webcast at www.oceanfirst.com in the Investor Relations section.

OceanFirst Financial Corp.'s subsidiary, OceanFirst Bank, founded in 1902, is a federally-chartered savings bank with $2.3 billion in assets and twenty-three branches located in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey. The Bank is the largest and oldest community-based financial institution headquartered in Ocean County, New Jersey.

OceanFirst Financial Corp.'s press releases are available by visiting us at www.oceanfirst.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995 which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by use of the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "will," "should," "may," "view," "opportunity," "potential," or similar expressions or expressions of confidence. The Company's ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to: changes in interest rates, general economic conditions, levels of unemployment in the Bank's lending area, real estate market values in the Bank's lending area, future natural disasters and increases to flood insurance premiums, the level of prepayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities, legislative/regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the quality or composition of the loan or investment portfolios, demand for loan products, deposit flows, competition, demand for financial services in the Company's market area and accounting principles and guidelines. These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.