Civista Bancshares (NASDAQ: CIVB) reported Q4 EPS of $0.64, $0.20 better than the analyst estimate of $0.44.

Fourth quarter and year-to-date 2020 highlights

• Earned net income of $10.2 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $7.7 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2019.
• Earned net income for the year of $32.2 million, or $2.00 per diluted share, compared to $33.2 million, or $2.01 per diluted share, in 2019.
• Earned a record pre-tax, pre-provision net income of $47.2 million for the year, compared to $40.6 million in 2019. See reconciliation of non-GAAP measures at the end of this press release.
• COVID–19 loan deferrals in effect were 4.0% of total loans, net of Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans, at period end, compared to 24.4% on June 30, 2020. The bank has not experienced any specific loan losses attributed to COVID–19 closures in 2020.
• We increased our dividend in January 2021 to $0.12 per quarter which is equivalent to a dividend yield of 2.65% based on the February 2, 2021 market close of $18.11. The quarterly dividend represents an increase of 9.1%, and based on fourth quarter 2020 earnings per share, translates to a dividend payout ratio of 18.8%.

"While 2020 will most likely go down as the strangest year of my banking career, it is also one that has shown our mettle. The strategies and concerns we had going into the year changed quickly as the pandemic took hold. Our people rose to the occasion and made 2020 one of the more successful years on record for Civista. While our net income is down slightly from 2019, we recognized record pre-tax-pre-provision net income. We built our allowance for loan losses as the pandemic continued through the year. We have consistently been a conservative bank when it comes to looking at our loan portfolio. While we have downgraded ratings on many loans, we have yet to see any specific loan losses. We have continued to manage capital through our stock repurchase program and an increase in our dividend that was announced in January 2021." said Dennis G. Shaffer, President and CEO of Civista.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Civista Bancshares (CIVB) click here.