Stock Markets

FIRST RESOURCE BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES 2024 FIRST QUARTER RESULTS; CONTINUED BALANCE SHEET GROWTH OFFSETS MARGIN COMPRESSION

Published

3 weeks ago

April 26, 2024

EXTON, Pa., April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — First Resource Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: FRSB), the holding company for First Resource Bank, announced financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Lauren C. Ranalli, President and CEO, stated, “In a market where many of our peers are reducing lending, we’ve seized the chance to further expand the Bank. Our robust loan growth and disciplined pricing strategies have helped offset rising deposit costs to some extent. Net interest income remained largely steady compared to the previous quarter, despite the ongoing margin compression.”

Highlights for the first quarter of 2024 included:

Total interest income grew 31% over the prior year
Net interest income grew 7% over the prior year
Total loans grew 4% during the first quarter, or 14% annualized
Total deposits grew 3% during the first quarter, or 11% annualized
Swap loan referral income totaled $182 thousand during the first quarter, more than double the entire prior year
There were no non-accrual or non-performing loans as of March 31, 2024
Book value per share grew 3% to $15.34

Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was $1.3 million, or $0.43 per common share, compared to $1.6 million, or $0.53 per common share, for the previous quarter and $1.3 million, or $0.41 per common share, for the first quarter of the prior year. Annualized return on average assets was 0.92% for the first quarter of 2024 compared to 1.00% for the first quarter of 2023. Annualized return on average equity was 11.39% for the first quarter of 2024 compared to 12.57% for the same period a year prior.

Total interest income increased quarterly by $200 thousand, or 2%, from $8.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 to $8.4 million for the first quarter of 2024. This increase was driven by 4% growth in loans during the first quarter.

Total interest income increased $2.0 million, marking a 31% rise from $6.4 million in the first quarter of 2023 to $8.4 million in the corresponding period of 2024. This increase was driven by a 14% expansion in loans compared to the previous year, complemented by an increased rate environment, favorably affecting interest-earning assets.

Total interest expense increased 7% when comparing the first quarter of 2024 to the fourth quarter of 2023. This increase stemmed from an 8 basis point rise in the cost of money market accounts and a 29 basis point increase in the cost of time deposits, alongside a higher volume of time deposits quarter over quarter. Additionally, interest expense on FHLB borrowings increased by 7% due to a rise in the average balance and cost of advances during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.

Total interest expense increased by 82%, climbing from $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2023 to $3.7 million for the first quarter of 2024. The primary driver of this increased expense was a 114 basis point rise in the cost of money market deposits and a 198 basis point increase in the cost of time deposits, coupled with a greater volume of money market accounts and time deposits year over year.

“Rising deposit costs are one of the biggest challenges facing the industry at the moment,” commented Ranalli. “To address this, we’ve allocated substantial internal resources towards optimizing our cost of funds while simultaneously growing our deposit portfolio to support loan growth. Our management team has been bolstered by the addition of an experienced retail banking executive and our lending and deposit teams are collaborating closely, creating synergies via joint calling efforts in the pursuit of new deposit relationships.”

In the first quarter of 2024, net interest income saw a slight decrease of $49 thousand, or 1%, compared to the previous quarter. The net interest margin also contracted by 4 basis points, declining from 3.39% in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 3.35% in the first quarter of 2024. The overall yield on interest-earning assets rose by 13 basis points during the first quarter, primarily driven by a 12 basis point increase in the yield on loans and an expanded loan volume, resulting in a total yield on loans of 6.14% for the first quarter of 2024. Conversely, due to increases in costs for money market and time deposit accounts, alongside a rise in the volume of time deposit accounts, the cost of interest-bearing deposits increased by 20 basis points to 3.45% during the first quarter. Consequently, the total cost of deposits increased by 18 basis points, climbing from 2.59% in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 2.77% in the first quarter of 2024.

The provision for credit losses was $64 thousand in the first quarter of 2024 compared to a negative $263 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2023. The negative reserve observed in the fourth quarter of 2023 was unusual, partly due to specific reserves established as of September 30, 2023, for credits that were resolved during the fourth quarter and became unnecessary as of December 31, 2023. Year over year, the provision for credit losses decreased to $64 thousand in the first quarter of 2024 from $66 thousand in the first quarter of 2023.

As of March 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses to total loans stood at 0.80%, slightly lower than the 0.81% recorded at December 31, 2023, and lower than the 0.91% reported at March 31, 2023. At both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no non-performing assets.

Non-interest income in the first quarter of 2024 amounted to $396 thousand, a notable increase compared to $208 thousand in the previous quarter and $200 thousand in the first quarter of the prior year. Specifically, swap referral fee income totaled $182 thousand in the first quarter of 2024, compared to none in the fourth and first quarters of 2023.

Non-interest expenses increased $210 thousand, or 7%, in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the prior quarter. Increases in salaries & employee benefits, professional fees, data processing, and other costs were partially offset by decreases in occupancy & equipment and advertising.

Non-interest expenses increased $424 thousand, or 15%, when comparing the first quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2023. Non-interest expenses to average assets were 2.28% for the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2.15% for the previous quarter and 2.29% for the first quarter of the prior year.

Deposits increased a net $13.9 million, or 3%, from $499.3 million at December 31, 2023 to $513.2 million at March 31, 2024. During the first quarter, non-interest-bearing deposits increased $1.1 million, or 1%, from $95.4 million at December 31, 2023 to $96.4 million at March 31, 2024. Interest-bearing checking balances decreased $3.3 million, or 8%, from $39.8 million at December 31, 2023 to $36.5 million at March 31, 2024. Money market deposits increased $3.5 million, or 1%, from $231.4 million at December 31, 2023 to $234.9 million at March 31, 2024. Certificates of deposit increased $12.6 million, or 10%, from $132.7 million at December 31, 2023 to $145.4 million at March 31, 2024. Between March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024, total deposits grew 10%, with strong non-interest-bearing checking, money market, and time deposit growth partially offset by a decline in interest-bearing checking. At March 31, 2024, approximately 81% of total deposits were insured or otherwise collateralized, slightly up from 80% in the prior quarter.

The loan portfolio expanded by $18.6 million, representing a 4% increase, from $531.4 million at December 31, 2023 to $550.0 million at March 31, 2024. While there was robust growth in commercial real estate loans and commercial business loans, this was partially offset by decreases in construction loans and consumer loans when comparing loan balances at December 31, 2023 to loan balances at March 31, 2024. The decrease in construction loans was largely attributed to projects reaching completion and transitioning to permanent financing within the commercial real estate portfolio.

Ranalli added “Commercial real estate loans represent a significant concentration for the Bank which we monitor very closely. This type of lending is a core competency for us and we have the proper risk management tools in place to continuously track this exposure.”

The following table illustrates the composition of the loan portfolio:

	Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023

Commercial real estate	$ 444,909,373	$ 413,221,898	$ 383,875,127
Commercial construction	35,337,226	48,838,199	39,761,445
Commercial business	51,780,407	50,224,869	42,682,372
Consumer	17,979,804	19,099,155	16,793,036

Total loans	$ 550,006,810	$ 531,384,121	$ 483,111,980

Investment securities totaled $17.4 million at March 31, 2024 as compared to $25.8 million at December 31, 2023. At March 31, 2024, the held-to-maturity investment portfolio book value was $8.7 million, with a fair market value of $7.7 million, resulting in an unrealized loss of $998 thousand. This unrealized loss, net of tax, of $788 thousand is less than 1.7% of total equity at March 31, 2024. The remainder of the investment portfolio was classified as available for sale with a book value of $10.0 million and a fair value of $8.7 million, resulting in an unrealized loss of $1.3 million. This unrealized loss, net of tax, of $1.1 million is included in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the balance sheet.

Total stockholders’ equity saw a $1.3 million increase, representing a 3% rise, from $46.1 million at December 31, 2023 to $47.5 million at March 31, 2024, primarily due to net income generated. During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, book value per share increased by 43 cents, or 3%, reaching $15.34.

Selected Financial Data: Balance Sheets (unaudited)

	March 31, 2024	December 31, 2023

Cash and due from banks	$ 22,314,437	$ 23,820,615
Time deposits at other banks	100,000	100,000
Investments	17,382,019	25,840,840
Loans	550,006,810	531,384,121
Allowance for credit losses	(4,383,877)	(4,311,306)
Premises & equipment	7,683,039	7,639,939
Other assets	17,923,286	18,142,682

Total assets	$ 611,025,714	$ 602,616,891

Noninterest-bearing deposits	$ 96,439,591	$ 95,384,366
Interest-bearing checking	36,493,267	39,760,054
Money market	234,873,774	231,407,653
Time deposits	145,383,468	132,738,973
Total deposits	513,190,100	499,291,046
Short term borrowings	28,000,000	35,000,000
Long term borrowings	9,530,000	9,530,000
Subordinated debt	5,981,258	5,978,134
Other liabilities	6,842,893	6,682,220

Total liabilities	563,544,251	556,481,400

Common stock	3,096,138	3,093,414
Surplus	19,796,666	19,767,634
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,055,206)	(1,038,486)
Retained earnings	25,643,865	24,312,929

Total stockholders’ equity	47,481,463	46,135,491

Total liabilities & stockholders’ equity	$ 611,025,714	$ 602,616,891

Performance Statistics (unaudited)

	Qtr Ended Mar. 31, 2024	Qtr Ended Dec. 31, 2023	Qtr Ended Sep. 30, 2023	Qtr Ended Jun. 30, 2023	Qtr Ended Mar. 31, 2023

Net interest margin	3.35 %	3.39 %	3.57 %	3.64 %	3.57 %

Nonperforming loans/ total loans	0.00 %	0.00 %	0.14 %	0.15 %	0.16 %

Nonperforming assets/ total assets	0.00 %	0.00 %	0.13 %	0.14 %	0.14 %

Allowance for credit losses/ total loans	0.80 %	0.81 %	0.88 %	0.89 %	0.91 %

Average loans/average assets	92.4 %	91.1 %	92.2 %	91.6 %	91.6 %

Non-interest expenses/ average assets	2.28 %	2.15 %	2.19 %	2.29 %	2.29 %

Efficiency ratio	65.5 %	63.1 %	60.1 %	62.5 %	63.6 %

Earnings per share “ basic and diluted	$0.43	$0.53	$0.51	$0.47	$0.41

Book value per share	$15.34	$14.91	$14.31	$13.85	$13.43

Total shares outstanding	3,096,138	3,093,414	3,090,838	3,088,019	3,085,576

Weighted average shares outstanding	3,094,951	3,092,277	3,089,441	3,086,782	3,084,634

Annualized

Per share data for prior periods was restated to reflect the 5% stock dividend paid in June 2023.

Income Statements (unaudited)

	Qtr. Ended Mar. 31, 2024	Qtr. Ended Dec. 31, 2023	Qtr. Ended Sep. 30, 2023	Qtr. Ended Jun. 30, 2023	Qtr. Ended Mar. 31, 2023

INTEREST INCOME
Loans, including fees	$8,228,102	$7,941,483	$7,633,163	$6,923,177	$6,223,153
Securities	120,713	133,125	125,882	120,133	131,350
Other	31,735	105,679	33,221	67,207	28,174
Total interest income	8,380,550	8,180,287	7,792,266	7,110,517	6,382,677

INTEREST EXPENSE
Deposits	3,519,176	3,277,096	2,696,301	2,267,015	1,819,643
Borrowings	105,860	98,901	195,150	64,267	126,620
Subordinated debt	93,124	93,124	93,124	93,123	93,124
Total interest expense	3,718,160	3,469,121	2,984,575	2,424,405	2,039,387

Net interest income	4,662,390	4,711,166	4,807,691	4,686,112	4,343,290

Provision for credit losses	63,651	(263,073)	71,017	20,327	66,299

Net interest income after provision for credit losses	4,598,739	4,974,239	4,736,674	4,665,785	4,276,991

NON-INTEREST INCOME
Service charges and other fees	100,164	94,656	109,894	107,841	99,570
BOLI income	51,356	50,730	50,237	49,281	47,691
Swap referral fee income	182,060	–	75,649	–	–
Other	62,548	62,701	61,527	55,740	53,013
Total non-interest income	396,128	208,087	297,307	212,862	200,274

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
Salaries & benefits	2,045,083	1,873,831	1,893,558	1,844,356	1,834,921
Occupancy & equipment	289,202	289,361	282,025	260,284	257,741
Professional fees	137,482	123,336	119,258	119,447	115,303
Advertising	81,745	83,506	58,354	65,917	67,195
Data processing	176,685	167,921	172,288	159,795	147,808
Other	584,926	567,428	543,465	611,336	468,225
Total non-interest expense	3,315,123	3,105,383	3,068,948	3,061,135	2,891,193

Income before federal income tax expense	1,679,744	2,076,943	1,965,033	1,817,512	1,586,072

Federal income tax expense	348,807	429,920	401,490	366,371	321,784

Net income	$1,330,937	$1,647,023	$1,563,543	$1,451,141	$1,264,288

About First Resource Bancorp, Inc.

First Resource Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company of First Resource Bank. First Resource Bank is a locally owned and operated Pennsylvania state-chartered bank with three full-service branches, serving the banking needs of businesses, professionals and individuals in the Delaware Valley. The Bank offers a full range of deposit and credit services with a high level of personalized service. First Resource Bank also offers a broad range of traditional financial services and products, competitively priced and delivered in a responsive manner to small businesses, professionals and residents in the local market. For additional information visit our website at www.firstresourcebank.com. Member FDIC.

This press release contains statements that are not of historical facts and may pertain to future operating results or events or management’s expectations regarding those results or events. These are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts. When used in this press release, the words “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “seeks”, “estimates”, or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs, such as “will”, “would”, “should”, “could”, or “may” are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are either beyond our control or not reasonably capable of predicting at this time. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. Actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in these forward-looking statements. Readers of this press release are accordingly cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. First Resource Bank disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any of the forward-looking statements herein, whether in response to new information, future events or otherwise.

Stock Markets

Rithm Capital stock target raised on growth prospects

Published

19 hours ago

May 18, 2024

On Friday, Argus increased its stock price target on Rithm Capital Corp. (NYSE: RITM) to $13.00, up from the previous $12.00, while reaffirming its Buy rating on the stock. The firm highlighted the company’s ongoing transformation and expansion efforts as the rationale behind the revised target price.

Rithm Capital, which rebranded from New Residential Investment Corp. in August 2022, has since transitioned to internal management after previously being managed by Fortress Investment Group. This change is part of a broader transformation of the company’s business model initiated following the financial crisis in late March 2020.

The company has been actively growing its mortgage servicing operations and seizing new debt-related investment opportunities. In its expansion efforts, Rithm Capital has acquired a 50% interest in GreenBarn Investment Group, a commercial real estate equity and debt investment management firm.

Further bolstering its portfolio, Rithm Capital has also made significant acquisitions, including purchasing $1.4 billion worth of Marcus consumer loans from Goldman Sachs for $145 million. Moreover, the company has completed the acquisition of Computershare Mortgage Services Inc. and its affiliates, including Specialized Loan Servicing LLC (SLS), for an approximate total of $720 million.

Completing its notable transactions, Rithm Capital finalized the acquisition of the $33 billion alternative asset manager Sculptor Capital Management (NYSE:) in the fourth quarter of 2023. These strategic moves have contributed to the firm’s positive outlook on Rithm Capital’s stock and its increased price target.

InvestingPro Insights

In light of Argus’s stock recent price target increase for Rithm Capital Corp. (NYSE: RITM), InvestingPro data further supports the optimistic outlook. Rithm Capital’s market capitalization stands at a robust $5.55 billion, while maintaining an attractive P/E ratio of 7.41, indicating that the stock may be undervalued relative to its earnings.

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or
remove ads
.

The company’s significant dividend yield of 8.73% as of the last recorded date, coupled with a history of maintaining dividend payments for 12 consecutive years, reflects a strong commitment to shareholder returns.

InvestingPro Tips suggest that while analysts have revised earnings downwards for the upcoming period, the company’s stock price movements have been quite volatile, trading near its 52-week high. This could present opportunities for investors looking for value plays with substantial dividend income.

Moreover, with a notable year-to-date price total return of 9.73%, and an impressive 55.73% return over the last year, Rithm Capital’s performance has been strong. For those seeking more in-depth analysis, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available at https://www.investing.com/pro/RITM, offering insights that could help investors make more informed decisions.

Use the exclusive coupon code PRONEWS24 to receive an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription, unlocking even more valuable insights to guide your investment strategy.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Stock Markets

JPMorgan maintains overweight on CK Infrastructure, steady HK$50 target

Published

19 hours ago

May 18, 2024

On Friday, JPMorgan upheld its Overweight rating on CK Infrastructure Holdings (1038:HK) (OTC: CKISY) with a consistent price target of HK$50.00. The firm’s analysis was based on a review of the company’s financial year 2023 results and current operating trends. Adjustments were made to the earnings forecasts for the years 2024 and 2025, with a slight reduction for 2024 by 2% and an increase for 2025 by 2%. These revisions take into account the influence of regulatory changes, inflation, and fluctuating exchange rates on the company’s regulated assets, particularly in the United Kingdom, Australia, and other regions.

The updated model reflects the latest developments and anticipates the potential financial impact on CK Infrastructure. The firm has decided to roll forward its price target to June 2025, while maintaining the previous target of HK$50. The Overweight rating suggests that JPMorgan continues to view the stock favorably in comparison to the sector average.

CK Infrastructure Holdings, which operates a diversified portfolio of infrastructure businesses, has been assessed for its performance and outlook in light of various external factors. The company’s exposure to regulatory resets and economic conditions in different geographies necessitates a nuanced understanding of its earnings potential.

The revised earnings estimates are a direct result of the firm’s comprehensive evaluation of the company’s regulated assets. These assets, which are subject to oversight by regulatory bodies, can be affected by policy changes and economic shifts, such as inflation and currency exchange rates.

JPMorgan’s reaffirmation of the Overweight rating indicates confidence in CK Infrastructure’s ability to navigate the complexities of its operating environment. The price target of HK$50 remains unchanged, signaling the firm’s belief in the company’s value proposition and its prospects for the future.

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or
remove ads
.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Stock Markets

Ashland shares target raised on improving demand

Published

19 hours ago

May 18, 2024

On Friday, Argus maintained a Buy rating on Ashland Inc . (NYSE: NYSE:) and increased the stock’s price target to $118 from $109. This adjustment suggests a potential total return of approximately 21%, including dividends, based on the current share prices.

The specialty chemicals and additives provider has experienced underwhelming operational and financial performance over recent quarters, including the second quarter of 2024. This was attributed to slower economic growth in key regions such as China, Europe, and parts of Asia. These areas faced challenges due to soft customer demand and ongoing inventory destocking by suppliers, which adversely affected Ashland’s revenue and profit margins.

Despite these challenges, there have been positive signs in the last quarter indicating a shift in market conditions. Ashland’s management has reported a gradual increase in demand across most of the company’s end markets.

According to Argus, this improvement is a result of the destocking cycle nearing its end and customer demand beginning to rise, which are seen as favorable trends for Ashland’s future growth.

The revised stock price target reflects the analyst’s confidence in Ashland’s recovery trajectory as the market dynamics that previously hindered the company’s performance are starting to reverse. The upward revision in the price target is based on the expectation of a continued recovery in customer demand patterns and the conclusion of inventory destocking.

Investors and market watchers will be monitoring Ashland’s progress closely, as the company aims to capitalize on the improving demand in its various markets and work towards delivering value to its shareholders.

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or
remove ads
.

InvestingPro Insights

As Argus maintains a positive outlook on Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), highlighting the potential for a 21% total return, InvestingPro data provides additional insights into the company’s financial health and market performance.

Ashland’s management’s aggressive share buyback strategy and a high shareholder yield are noteworthy, as noted by InvestingPro Tips. Furthermore, the company’s consistent dividend growth, with dividends raised for five consecutive years and maintained for 54 years, underscores its commitment to shareholder returns.

From a market perspective, Ashland’s stock is trading near its 52-week high, with analysts predicting profitability for the year. The company’s strong liquidity position, with liquid assets surpassing short-term obligations, is reassuring for investors.

Key financial metrics include a market capitalization of $4.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.25, and a dividend yield of 1.64%. Despite a decline in revenue growth over the last twelve months, the stock has experienced a significant price uptick, with a 29.41% total return over the last six months.

For those considering a deeper analysis of Ashland, InvestingPro offers additional insights. There are currently 11 more InvestingPro Tips available for Ashland Inc., which can be accessed by visiting https://www.investing.com/pro/ASH. To enhance your investing strategy with these insights, use coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.