TFS Financial CORP quarterly report, Q2 FY2021

TFS Financial Corporation — Form 10-Q Summary

Reporting period: Fiscal second quarter and six months ended March 31, 2021; comparative periods ended March 31, 2020. The interim financial statements are unaudited. TFS is primarily a retail consumer bank focused on mortgage lending and deposits.

Key financial results

MetricQuarter ended Mar. 31, 2021Prior-year quarterSix months ended Mar. 31, 2021Prior-year six months
Net interest income$58.4 million$65.0 million$117.2 million$129.2 million
Provision (release) for credit losses$(4.0) million$6.0 million$(6.0) million$3.0 million
Non-interest income$15.7 million$8.9 million$37.2 million$20.9 million
Non-interest expense$48.8 million$49.6 million$100.5 million$96.9 million
Net income$23.0 million$17.3 million$48.0 million$42.9 million
Diluted EPS$0.08$0.06$0.17$0.15
Net interest margin1.67%1.81%1.67%1.81%

For the quarter, the reported net-interest margin and spread were 1.67% and 1.54%, respectively. Net income rose despite lower net interest income, principally because loan-sale gains increased and credit-loss expense was released. Six-month loan-sale gains were $25.4 million, compared with $6.1 million.

Financial condition, cash flow and capital

  • At March 31, 2021, total assets were $14.46 billion, down 1% from September 30, 2020. Net loans held for investment were $12.68 billion, down 3%.
  • Cash and cash equivalents were $665.4 million, versus $498.0 million at fiscal year-end; available-for-sale securities were $421.0 million.
  • Deposits were $9.24 billion, broadly stable from September 30, 2020. Borrowed funds, all FHLB advances, declined to $3.29 billion from $3.52 billion. Brokered CDs were $572.4 million.
  • Shareholders’ equity was $1.70 billion. The Association’s Tier 1 leverage ratio was 10.65%; its total risk-based capital ratio was 20.33%. Both exceeded the stated “well capitalized” thresholds.
  • For the six months, operating cash flow was $43.9 million, investing cash flow was $323.1 million, and financing cash flow was $(199.7) million. Cash increased $167.4 million to $665.4 million. Investing cash flow included loan-sale proceeds and loan repayments; it should not be interpreted as recurring free cash flow.
  • The quarterly common dividend was $0.28 per share. No shares were repurchased during the six months.

Material changes and credit quality

  • Interest and dividend income fell 18% in the quarter and 17% year to date, reflecting lower asset yields and a smaller average loan balance. Interest expense also declined, but not enough to prevent net interest income and net interest margin from falling.
  • Credit-loss allowance on loans was $67.7 million, or 0.53% of amortized-cost loans; the separate allowance for unfunded commitments was $22.0 million. The total allowance was $89.7 million at quarter-end. CECL adoption on October 1, 2020 increased the allowance by $46.2 million and reduced retained earnings by $35.8 million, net of tax.
  • Loans in active COVID-19 forbearance declined to $64.2 million from $165.6 million at September 30, 2020. Non-accrual loans were $52.6 million; loans 90 or more days past due were $18.4 million. Management noted that some extended forbearance loans would undergo collateral review and could require charge-offs.
  • Net recoveries were $2.6 million for the six months, compared with $2.5 million in the prior-year period. Management cited better forecasted economic measures and lower forbearance balances in explaining the allowance release, while retaining qualitative adjustments for pandemic uncertainty.

Outlook, risks and unusual items

  • No specific earnings or revenue guidance was provided. Management said it expected a moderate level of charge-offs as delinquent loans are resolved and judged liquidity adequate.
  • Management highlighted exposure to interest-rate changes, credit and liquidity risk, operating expenses, competition, housing and employment conditions, and the continuing effects of COVID-19. The loan book is concentrated in residential real estate, particularly Ohio and Florida.
  • In the Association’s interest-rate model, a 200-basis-point instantaneous increase implied a 13.89% decline in economic value of equity; a 100-basis-point decline implied a 4.69% decline. A separate 12-month earnings-at-risk model estimated a 2.99% increase under a gradual 200-basis-point rate rise. These are scenario estimates, not forecasts.
  • In March 2021, the Association received a second consecutive “Needs to Improve” Community Reinvestment Act rating. The filing said FHLB practice is to restrict long-term advances in this situation; the Company had not received notice of a restriction as of May 6, 2021 and expected no funding impact. Confirm the status and implications.
  • Other notable items: $70.0 million of additional premiums were placed in bank-owned life insurance during the six months; a $1,500 after-tax employee bonus contributed to higher year-to-date compensation expense; and a pension settlement adjustment added $0.4 million to quarterly expense.
  • Management stated that ongoing legal proceedings were not expected to have a material adverse effect. The filing reported effective disclosure controls and no material change in internal control over financial reporting.

Important facts for investors to verify

  • Whether loan-sale gains remain sufficient to offset pressure on net interest income and margin.
  • How COVID-19 forbearance exits, extended plans and collateral reviews affect delinquencies, charge-offs and the CECL allowance.
  • The outcome and any actual effect of the CRA rating on access to FHLB long-term advances.
  • Deposit retention and funding costs as $3.61 billion of CDs were scheduled to mature within one year of March 31, 2021.
  • How interest-rate sensitivity, including the modeled EVE decline under a rate shock, changes with actual balance-sheet and market conditions.