IBERIABANK Corp. (IBKC) Misses Q4 EPS by 11c

IBERIABANK Corp. (NASDAQ: IBKC) reported Q4 EPS of $1.59, $0.11 worse than the analyst estimate of $1.70.

• Total loan growth of $345.0 million on a linked quarter basis, or 6% annualized. Total loan growth on a year-to-date basis was $1.5 billion, or 7%. The Company continues to see good loan growth throughout its footprint.
• Total deposits increased $242.1 million compared to the prior quarter, or 4% annualized. Total deposit growth on a year-to-date basis was $1.5 billion, or 6%. In the fourth quarter, the Company paid off short-term borrowings of $275.0 million and reduced its balance of brokered deposits by $362.2 million.
• The investment portfolio decreased $306.8 million to $4.1 billion as a result of normal cash flow activity. At December 31, 2019, investment securities were 13% of total assets, down from 16% at December 31, 2018.
• Non-interest income decreased $4.3 million, or 7%, on a linked quarter basis. The decrease was primarily driven by a $2.1 million decrease in mortgage income and the third quarter $3.2 million gain on sale of non-mortgage loans. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company recorded $4.3 million in swap income, a record quarter.
• On a year-to-date basis, non-interest income was up $81.8 million, or 54%, primarily from lower losses on sales of securities during the year and a $16.6 million increase in mortgage income.
  • The locked mortgage pipeline at January 21, 2020 was $214.4 million, up 53% from the similar period a year ago. The Company continues to see strength in its mortgage originations.
• Non-interest expense increased $9.1 million, or 5%, on a linked quarter basis, primarily as a result of a $9.9 million increase in professional services and a $3.7 million increase in salaries and employee benefits expense, partially offset by a $1.6 million decrease in credit and other loan-related expense.
  • Non-interest expense included $16.5 million in merger-related expense, of which $11.3 million was considered non-core and $5.2 million core. Core merger-related expense included $2.5 million in benefits, $2.4 million in compensation, and $0.3 million in marketing. Total core non-interest expense decreased $2.3 million, or 1%, on a linked quarter basis.
• For the full-year 2019, non-interest expense decreased $40.1 million, or 6%, primarily as a result of branch closure and merger-related expense in 2018. On a core basis, non-interest expense was down $5.5 million, or 1%.
• The Company\'s reported and cash net interest margins were down 23 and 16 basis points from the prior quarter at 3.21% and 3.08%, respectively. For the full-year 2019, net interest margin was 3.45% on a reported basis, and 3.28% on a cash basis.
• Provision for credit losses totaled $8.2 million, compared to $9.0 million in the prior quarter. Asset quality measures remain strong and continue to improve.
• Net charge-offs to average loans on an annualized basis decreased three basis points to 0.11% compared to the prior quarter. Non-performing assets to total assets were 0.54% compared to 0.58% in the prior quarter.
• Capital ratios remain strong and grew during the quarter. There were no share repurchases in the fourth quarter of 2019 due to the pending merger with First Horizon National Corporation.
• The Company will adopt CECL as of January 1, 2020 and expects to have an allowance for expected credit losses to loans of 0.90% to 1.05%. The final CECL allowance coverage ratio will depend on finalization of the methods and assumptions (including economic forecasts) used to derive the estimate of expected credit losses.

Daryl G. Byrd, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We delivered a solid fourth quarter and a very successful 2019, continuing to execute on our strategic initiatives, grow our business and deliver a superior client experience throughout our franchise. During the fourth quarter, we incurred several items, both core and non-core that were merger-related expenses. Excluding these items, and assuming we had continued share repurchases as guided, Core EPS would have been in line with consensus analyst estimates. As we begin 2020, our Company continues to generate new opportunities in our markets, growing our loan and deposit base and increasing our fee revenues. We are seeing great business momentum with attractive client growth, new relationship managers joining the Company, and a strong lending pipeline."

Byrd continued, "We are extremely pleased with the teamwork and tangible progress made in the initial months of our merger planning process. Both institutions have similar cultures, bring significant experience to the transaction, and we have full confidence in our abilities to achieve targeted synergies. Our employees remain fully engaged and committed to creating a top tier regional banking institution. We are excited about the opportunities for clients and associates while increasing shareholder value, and look forward to all we can accomplish together as a combined franchise."

For earnings history and earnings-related data on IBERIABANK Corp. (IBKC) click here.

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