WESBANCO INC annual report, FY2013

WesBanco, Inc. — 2013 Form 10-K Summary

Business context and period. WesBanco is a regional bank holding company serving West Virginia, Ohio and western Pennsylvania through community banking and trust and investment services. This filing reports the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013; 2012 is the principal comparable period. Results include the first full year of operations following the November 2012 Fidelity Bancorp acquisition.

Financial performance and condition

Metric20132012Change / context
Net income$63.9 million$49.5 millionUp 29.0%
Diluted EPS$2.18$1.84Up 18%; share count rose following the Fidelity acquisition
Net interest income$185.5 million$168.4 millionUp 10.2%
Net interest margin, fully taxable-equivalent3.58%3.53%Up 5 basis points
Non-interest income$69.3 million$64.8 millionUp 7.0%
Non-interest expense$161.0 million$150.1 millionUp 7.2%; included $1.3 million of restructuring and merger costs
Net charge-offs / average loans$14.2 million / 0.38%$22.1 million / 0.66%Credit costs improved
Total assets$6.145 billion$6.079 billionUp 1.1%
Portfolio loans, net$3.848 billion$3.635 billionUp 5.8% on the reported net balance; gross portfolio loans rose 5.6%
Deposits$5.063 billion$4.944 billionUp 2.4%; CDs declined 8.4%
Total borrowings$296.2 million$368.0 millionDown 19.5%
Shareholders’ equity$746.6 million$714.2 millionUp 4.5%
Regulatory capitalTier 1 leverage 9.27%; Tier 1 risk-based 13.06%; total risk-based 14.19%9.34%; 12.82%; 14.07%Bank and holding company reported well-capitalized

Fourth-quarter 2013 net income was $15.4 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, compared with $12.7 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, in fourth-quarter 2012.

Cash flows were $111.5 million provided by operations, $164.5 million used in investing and $23.0 million provided by financing. Cash and cash equivalents decreased $30.1 million to $95.6 million. Management reported approximately $1.6 billion of available FHLB borrowing capacity and $145 million in overnight correspondent-bank lines, of which $20 million was drawn. The parent also had $27.1 million in cash and investments and an undrawn $25 million credit line.

Material changes versus 2012

  • Profitability improved, supported by Fidelity-related asset growth, loan growth, lower funding costs and a smaller credit-loss provision. Return on average assets rose to 1.05% from 0.88%.
  • Loan originations reached a reported record $1.6 billion, up 31.5%; portfolio loan growth centered on commercial real estate construction, commercial and industrial, and residential real estate lending.
  • Credit quality strengthened: non-performing assets declined to $56.4 million, or 0.92% of assets, from $69.6 million, or 1.15%; the allowance for loan losses fell to $47.4 million, or 1.22% of loans, from $52.7 million, or 1.43%.
  • Fee income increased, notably brokerage revenue (+35.7%), trust fees (+8.5%), and electronic banking fees (+7.6%). Net securities gains fell 72.2% to $0.7 million.
  • Expenses increased with the ongoing cost of the acquired branches, staffing and growth initiatives, while merger-related expense declined from $3.9 million to $1.3 million. Management said targeted back-office and administrative merger savings were substantially achieved by year-end.
  • Rising market rates reduced securities valuations: gross unrealized securities losses increased to $33.9 million from $1.5 million. Management characterized the losses as temporary; the available-for-sale portfolio’s net unrealized position moved from a $20.7 million gain to a $9.7 million loss before tax.

Outlook, risks and notable items

  • Management expected the net interest margin to increase slightly in 2014. It noted Fidelity purchase-accounting accretion would contribute less, while loan growth and maturities of higher-cost CDs and borrowings could help offset competitive pressure on loan spreads.
  • Approximately $117 million of additional commercial real estate construction commitments were expected to fund over the following 12–18 months, subject to project progress and potential paydowns.
  • The quarterly dividend was increased to $0.22 per share in February 2014, payable April 1. The 2013 declared dividend was $0.78 per share. Dividend capacity depends substantially on bank-subsidiary distributions and regulatory limits.
  • Key risks include regional economic and borrower-credit deterioration; commercial lending concentration (about 63% of loans); construction and multifamily exposure; intense competition and low-rate pressure on margins; municipal-bond credit, early-redemption and valuation risks; deposit runoff or higher funding costs; cyber and information-system threats; and evolving regulation.
  • Basel III rules were scheduled to begin phasing in during 2015. Based on year-end 2013 balance-sheet composition, management estimated reductions of 65–75 basis points in Tier 1 and total risk-based capital ratios and 15–20 basis points in the leverage ratio, while expecting capital to remain above well-capitalized minimums.
  • The Fidelity-merger shareholder lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice after court approval of a settlement in November 2013; the company said the settlement was not material. Management reported no other pending ordinary-course matters expected to be material.
  • Ernst & Young issued unqualified opinions on the financial statements and internal control over financial reporting; management also concluded controls were effective as of year-end.

Important facts for investors to verify

  • Whether loan growth—particularly construction, multifamily and other commercial lending—continues without weakening underwriting quality or increasing delinquency and charge-offs.
  • How much of the $117 million construction commitment pipeline funds, and whether projects stabilize, refinance or repay as expected.
  • Whether lower credit costs and reserve levels remain appropriate as the allowance declined; consider the acquired-loan credit mark when comparing reserve coverage.
  • Whether the reported temporary securities losses remain temporary, and how rate changes affect tangible equity, accumulated other comprehensive income and future earnings.
  • Whether deposit growth and the shift away from CDs persist, including retention and repricing of the $796 million of CDs scheduled to mature in 2014.
  • Whether 2014 margin expectations, merger savings and Basel III capital estimates are achieved; confirm the dividend remains supported by earnings, liquidity and regulatory capacity.