ENTERPRISE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP quarterly report, Q3 FY2013

Enterprise Financial Services Corp. — Q3 2013 Form 10-Q

Reporting period: Quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2013. The company provides banking and wealth-management services in the St. Louis, Kansas City and Phoenix markets. Unless otherwise noted, amounts below are in millions of dollars.

Financial results

MetricQ3 2013Q3 2012Nine months 2013Nine months 2012
Net interest income$32.6$37.5$102.8$102.2
Net income$8.4$7.9$29.5$22.9
Diluted EPS$0.44$0.39$1.55$1.14
Noninterest income$3.7$7.8$5.0$12.7
Noninterest expense$21.2$21.3$63.1$64.1
  • Q3 net interest margin was 4.71%, down from 5.21% a year earlier; core margin was 3.54% versus 3.57%. Nine-month reported margin rose to 4.86% from 4.79%, while core margin was 3.55% versus 3.59%. Core margin excludes incremental accretion on acquired FDIC-covered loans.
  • Q3 provision expense was $2.2 million net, reflecting a $2.8 million covered-loan provision partly offset by a $0.7 million benefit on noncovered loans. For the nine months, total provision was a $0.3 million benefit.
  • The Q3 efficiency ratio was 58.5%, versus 47.0% a year earlier; the nine-month ratio was 58.6%, versus 55.8%. Management attributed the increase primarily to lower FDIC-related revenue.
  • Other comprehensive loss was $9.8 million for the nine months, largely reflecting investment-security valuation changes. Total comprehensive income was $19.7 million, versus $28.7 million in 2012.

Financial position, liquidity and capital

  • At September 30, total assets were $3.11 billion, down from $3.33 billion at December 31, 2012. Total deposits were $2.45 billion, down from $2.66 billion. Net portfolio loans were $2.23 billion, versus $2.26 billion; available-for-sale securities were $453.0 million, versus $640.2 million.
  • Cash and cash equivalents were $101.2 million. Shareholders’ equity was $277.7 million, up from $235.7 million at year-end. Subordinated debentures were $63.1 million; FHLB advances were $120.0 million; other borrowings were $167.4 million; and notes payable were $10.8 million.
  • For the nine months, operating cash flow was $12.0 million, investing cash flow was $214.0 million, and financing cash flow used $241.1 million. Cash and equivalents decreased $15.1 million.
  • Management reported the company and bank met applicable capital requirements and the bank was “well-capitalized.” Company ratios at September 30 included Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 12.29%, total capital of 13.57%, Tier 1 leverage of 10.06%, and tangible common equity to tangible assets of 7.85%.
  • The bank reported additional borrowing availability of $155.5 million from the FHLB, $612.8 million from the Federal Reserve, and $45.0 million in correspondent-bank federal funds lines. Of $453.0 million of securities, $227.5 million was pledged.

Material changes and asset quality

  • Net income increased year over year, while Q3 net interest income and noninterest income declined. The nine-month earnings improvement included lower loan-loss provisions; noninterest income was substantially lower, chiefly reflecting changes in the FDIC loss-share receivable and lower gains on other real estate sales.
  • Noncovered loans were $2.11 billion, slightly above year-end; commercial and industrial loans grew while real estate balances, particularly construction and land development, declined. Management expected 2–3% loan growth over December 2012 by year-end.
  • Nonperforming noncovered loans were $24.2 million, down from $38.7 million at year-end and $32.1 million a year earlier. Nonperforming assets were $34.4 million, or 1.11% of total assets, versus $48.1 million and 1.44% at year-end. Noncovered allowance was $26.6 million, or 1.26% of noncovered loans; management considered it adequate.
  • Other real estate totaled $28.1 million, including $17.8 million covered by FDIC loss-share agreements. Noncovered loans past due 90 days or more totaled $10.9 million; covered loans past due 90 days or more totaled $21.1 million. The filing notes covered-loan pools are treated as performing for nonperforming-loan reporting.
  • Trust preferred securities with $20.0 million principal and a 9% rate were converted to common stock in August, reducing debt and adding about 1.2 million shares. A $443,000 one-time, noncash inducement expense was recorded. The company also repurchased Treasury-issued warrants for approximately $1.0 million.

Outlook, risks and unusual items

  • Management expected core net interest margin to be slightly lower over the next two quarters, citing continued loan-yield pressure and liquidity needs. It projected average covered loans of $153.4 million in 2013 and $115.3 million in 2014.
  • The company expected its 2013 effective tax rate to be slightly below the nine-month rate of 34.3%, due to state tax legislation. No broader earnings or EPS guidance is provided.
  • Two Kansas City branches were under agreement for sale, including approximately $81.3 million of deposits and $7.7 million of loans. Regulatory approval was obtained; closing and a related deposit-premium gain were expected in Q4 2013.
  • A lawsuit relating to Distinctive Notes, in which plaintiffs had sought damages exceeding $44 million, was confidentially settled on September 24, 2013. The company said the settlement had no material financial-statement impact.
  • Management cited credit and real-estate valuation risk, local economic conditions, interest-rate movements, competition, regulatory changes, and litigation/contingencies as risks. The company said rising rates were expected to benefit net interest income under its September 30 simulation, but results remain subject to assumptions and actual conditions.
  • Management stated disclosure controls were effective and reported no material change in internal control over financial reporting during the quarter.

Important facts for investors to verify

  • Whether loan growth and deposit funding develop as management projected, given year-to-date deposit runoff and stated liquidity pressures.
  • How much of earnings depends on FDIC-covered loan accretion, loss-share receivable remeasurement, and other nonrecurring items; monitor core margin separately from reported margin.
  • Trends in covered and noncovered delinquencies, nonperforming loans, charge-offs, collateral values, and the adequacy of loan-loss reserves.
  • Completion and final economics of the Kansas City branch sale, including the deposit premium and any resulting balance-sheet effects.
  • The future effect of Basel III capital rules and the company’s continuing ability to meet capital, liquidity, and debt-covenant requirements.