Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ: WTFC) reported Q4 EPS of $1.17, $0.04 better than the analyst estimate of $1.13. Revenue for the quarter came in at $300.13 million versus the consensus estimate of $299.45 million.

Highlights of the Fourth Quarter of 2017 *:

• Total assets increased by $558 million from the prior quarter and now total $27.9 billion.
• Total deposits increased $288 million to $23.2 billion with non-interest bearing deposit accounts now comprising 29% of total deposits.
• Total loans, excluding the reclassification of covered loans and mortgage loans held-for-sale, increased by $681 million from the prior quarter.
• Net interest margin increased primarily as a result of higher earning asset yields. This increase as well as $175 million of growth in average earning assets since the third quarter of 2017 drove a $3.1 million increase in net interest income over the prior quarter.
• Net charge-offs, excluding covered loans, decreased to $3.7 million. Net charge-offs as a percentage of average total loans, excluding covered loans, decreased to seven basis points for the fourth quarter of 2017 and for the full-year 2017.
• Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total non-performing loans remained strong at 153%.
• Recorded a $7.6 million net tax benefit related to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017 ("Tax Reform").
• Recorded an increase of $8.4 million in bonus and long-term performance-based incentive compensation as a result of higher current and projected earnings as impacted by the higher rate environment, lower taxes and balance sheet growth.
• Increase in professional fees primarily as a result of $1.6 million of additional consulting costs related to continued investments in various areas of the Company including technology and an enhanced customer experience.
• Increase in benefits expense primarily due to a $1.2 million negative adjustment of pension obligations assumed in previous acquisitions.
• Entered into agreements with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) that terminated all existing loss share agreements with the FDIC.
• Opened one new branch in Rolling Meadows, Illinois to continue to expand our market area.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Wintrust Financial (WTFC) click here.