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8-K - CURRENT REPORT - PULASKI FINANCIAL CORPpulaski8kjan17-12.htm
 
PULASKI FINANCIAL REPORTS
SOLID FIRST FISCAL QUARTER RESULTS


·  
The Company showed strong growth in linked-quarter operating performance

 
-
Diluted EPS increased 52% from $0.15 to $0.23, representing the third consecutive quarter of meaningful earnings growth

 
-
Annualized return on average assets and return on average common equity were 0.93% and 11.08%, respectively

 
-
Achieved top-line revenue growth in a challenging environment, with 3% growth in interest income

 
-
Net interest income grew 7%

 
-
Net interest margin grew 30 basis points and reached a record level of 3.97%

 
-
Focus on cost control resulted in a 9% reduction in non-interest expense

·  
Asset quality continued to improve

 
-
Non-performing assets declined 3%, representing the fourth consecutive quarterly decline

 
-
Internal adversely classified assets declined approximately 9%

 
-
Early stage loan delinquencies (31 to 89 days past due) declined approximately 34%

·  
The Bank remained “well capitalized” with estimated Tier 1 leverage and total risk-based capital ratios of 10.11% and 13.59%, respectively and the quarterly common dividend was maintained

ST. LOUIS, January 17, 2012 — Pulaski Financial Corp. (Nasdaq Global Select: PULB) today reported net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 of $3.0 million, or $0.23 per diluted common share, compared with net income of $2.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and net income of $3.1 million, or $0.24 per diluted common share, for the December 2010 quarter.  Reducing income available to common shares were dividends and the related discount accretion on the Company’s preferred stock totaling $0.05 per diluted common share in each of the three quarters.

Gary Douglass, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, “We are very pleased with the continued improvements realized in the December 2011 quarter in terms of both operating results and asset quality.  The 52% increase in our linked-quarter earnings per share marked the third consecutive quarter of meaningful earnings growth.  In an environment where top-line revenue growth was challenging, we were able to deliver meaningful growth in interest income, net interest income and the net interest margin while, at the same time, significantly reducing our overall level of non-interest expense.  Equally important, we continued to make good progress on our number one priority, which is asset quality improvement.  Not only did we reduce the level of non-performing assets for the fourth consecutive quarter, we also saw improvement in several potential future predictors of asset quality.  The levels of internal adversely classified assets and early stage loan delinquencies, which we define as loans that are 31 to 89 days past due, both showed meaningful declines from September 30, 2011.”
 
 
 
 

 

Net Interest Income Up from the Linked Quarter on Growth in Loans Held for Sale and Lower Deposit Costs

Net interest income increased to $12.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 compared with $11.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, but decreased from $13.4 million for the same period a year ago.  The increase from the linked quarter was primarily the result of growth in the average balance of mortgage loans held for sale to $138.7 million compared with $61.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and, to a lesser extent, a lower cost of deposits.  The decrease from the same period a year ago was primarily due to a decline in the average balance of mortgage loans held for sale from a near record high of $305.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, partially offset by a lower cost of deposits.

The net interest margin reached a record high of 3.97% for the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared with 3.67% for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and 3.78% for the quarter ended December 31, 2010.  The linked-quarter increase was the result of growth in mortgage loans held for sale that was funded by the reduction of lower-yielding assets held in Fed funds, combined with a decrease in the cost of deposits.  The increase in the net interest margin from the December 2010 quarter was primarily the result of a decrease in the cost of deposits.

Mortgage Revenues Remained Consistent with the Linked Quarter on Continued
Strong Loan Volume

Non-interest income decreased to $3.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared with $3.6 million for each of the quarters ended September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.  The linked-quarter decrease was primarily due to lower retail banking fees related to fees charged on insufficient checks while the decrease from the prior-year quarter was due to lower mortgage revenues.  Mortgage revenues were $1.7 million on loan sales of $329 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared with $1.7 million on loan sales of $283 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and $1.8 million on loan sales of $612 million in the December 2010 quarter.

Mortgage loans originated for sale totaled $371 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared with $354 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and $598 million for the December 2010 quarter.  As a result of the low level of market interest rates during the quarter, the Company saw an increase in demand for mortgage refinancings compared with the linked quarter, but this level of demand was down significantly from the near historically high levels experienced in the December 2010 quarter.  Mortgage refinancings totaled $242 million, or 65% of total loans originated for sale, for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared with $177 million, or 50% of total loans originated for sale for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, and $434 million, or 73% of total loans originated for sale, for the December 2010 quarter.

The net profit margin on loans sold was 0.51% for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared with 0.59% for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and 0.30% for the December 2010 quarter.  The linked-quarter decrease was primarily the result of a market-driven decrease in selling prices realized from the Company’s mortgage loan investors.  The net profit margin for the same quarter last year was abnormally low and was due to the backlog of loans held in the Company’s mortgage warehouse that was created by the near record high level of loan origination volumes resulting in lower realized selling prices.  Mortgage loans held for sale increased $54.2 million, or 54%, to $154.9 million at December 31, 2011 compared with $100.7 million at September 30, 2011.
 

 
 
 

 
Douglass noted, “Once again, we were able to capitalize on the increased market demand for mortgage loan refinancings during the quarter that was driven by the historically low level of interest rates.  As a result, we realized a linked-quarter increase in mortgage loan originations and sales.  However, we experienced a linked-quarter decrease in our net profit margins due to market-driven decreases in the selling prices realized from our investors.  Fortunately, a portion of the impact of these decreased selling prices was offset by the significant reduction to our operating cost structure that we implemented in the prior quarter.  The strong demand also resulted in growth in our mortgage loans held for sale to $155 million at December 31, 2011, which will give us significant momentum going into our second fiscal quarter of 2012 by generating net interest income while they are held in the warehouse and mortgage revenues when they are delivered to our investors.”

Non-interest Expense Down from the Linked Quarter on Lower Operating Costs

Total non-interest expense was $8.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared with $8.9 million for the linked quarter and $8.3 million for the prior-year quarter.  The linked-quarter decrease was primarily due to lower occupancy and advertising costs as management continued ongoing efforts to control such costs.  The decrease from the same quarter last year was primarily due to lower expense associated with foreclosed properties.

Real estate foreclosure expense and losses totaled $745,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared with $796,000 for the linked quarter and $1.1 million for the prior-year quarter.  Such expenses were primarily due to write-downs of properties and losses on sales that resulted from declines in their fair values subsequent to foreclosure.

Compensation expense totaled $3.7 million in the December 2011 quarter compared with $3.8 million for the linked quarter and $3.4 million for the prior-year quarter.  The increase from the December 2010 quarter was related primarily to the decrease in loan origination activity compared with the prior-year quarter, which resulted in a lower level of absorption of direct, fixed compensation costs and higher compensation expense in the December 2011 quarter.

Asset Quality Continued to Stabilize

Non-performing assets decreased to $69.9 million at December 31, 2011 from $72.1 million at September 30, 2011.  The decrease was primarily attributable to a $2.9 million decrease in real estate acquired in settlement of loans resulting from the sale or write down of several properties during the quarter.  In addition, two other important potential future predictors of asset quality experienced improvement during the quarter.  The level of internal adversely classified assets decreased approximately 9% from September 30, 2011 to December 31, 2011 and total loans that were 31 to 89 days past due decreased approximately 34% during the same period.

The provision for loan losses for the three months ended December 31, 2011 was $3.0 million compared with $3.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and $4.3 million for the December 2010 quarter.  Net charge-offs for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 totaled $2.9 million, or 1.12% of average loans on an annualized basis, compared with $3.0 million, or 1.15% of average loans on an annualized basis, for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and $4.0 million, or 1.51% of average loans on an annualized basis, for the December 2010 quarter.

 
 

 
Conclusion / Outlook

Douglass stated, “While we expect to achieve solid earnings performance again in our second fiscal quarter, the level of earnings is not likely to reach the level we saw in the December 2011 quarter.  This expectation is principally based on the anticipated impact that the usual seasonal decline in market demand for mortgage loan originations, which we generally see in our second fiscal quarter, will have on mortgage revenues and interest income on mortgage loans held for sale.  For the full fiscal year of 2012, we continue to expect meaningful year-over-year earnings improvement compared with fiscal 2011.”

Douglass continued, “Our priorities and focus for the balance of fiscal 2012 are continued asset quality improvement and revenue expansion from growth in commercial and industrial and owner-occupied commercial real estate lending and additional residential mortgage loan production gained by capturing additional market share.  Finally, we will remain ever vigilant with respect to controlling both funding costs and operating expenses.”

Conference Call Tomorrow

Pulaski Financial’s management will discuss first quarter results and other developments tomorrow, January 18, 2012, during a conference call beginning at 11 a.m. EDT (10 a.m. CDT).  The call also will be simultaneously webcast and archived for three months at:  http://pulaskibankstl.com/corporate-profile.aspx.  Participants in the conference call may dial 877-473-3757 a few minutes before start time. The call also will be available for replay through January 31, 2012 at 800-585-8367 or 404-537-3406, conference ID 43044511.

About Pulaski Financial

Pulaski Financial Corp., operating in its 90th year through its subsidiary, Pulaski Bank, serves customers throughout the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas and Wichita, Kansas. The bank offers a full line of quality retail and commercial banking products through 13 full-service branch offices in the St. Louis metropolitan area and offers mortgage loan products through six loan production offices in the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas and Wichita, Kansas.  The Company’s website can be accessed at www.pulaskibankstl.com.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements about Pulaski Financial Corp., which the Company intends to be covered under the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements cover, among other things, anticipated future revenue and expenses and the future plans and prospects of the Company. These statements often include the words "may," "could," "would," "should," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "potentially," "probably," "projects," "outlook" or similar expressions. You are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including changes in general business and economic conditions, changes in interest rates, legal and regulatory developments, increased competition from both banks and non-banks, changes in customer behavior and preferences,  and effects of critical accounting policies and judgments. For discussion of these and other risks that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011 on file with the SEC, including the sections entitled "Risk Factors."  These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

 
 

 
PULASKI FINANCIAL CORP.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
                   
      (Dollars in thousands except per share data)  
                   
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2011
   
2010
 
Interest income
  $ 14,624     $ 14,136     $ 17,124  
Interest expense
    2,509       2,816       3,708  
                         
    Net interest income
    12,115       11,320       13,416  
Provision for loan losses
    3,000       3,000       4,300  
                         
    Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    9,115       8,320       9,116  
                         
Retail banking fees
    1,001       1,102       1,026  
Mortgage revenues
    1,687       1,681       1,847  
Investment brokerage revenues
    374       395       446  
Other
    353       407       329  
    Total non-interest income
    3,415       3,585       3,648  
                         
Compensation expense
    3,743       3,820       3,402  
Occupancy, equipment and data processing expense
    2,181       2,402       2,072  
Advertising
    108       216       100  
Professional services
    426       401       445  
Real estate foreclosure losses and expenses, net
    745       796       1,085  
FDIC deposit insurance premiums
    441       479       623  
Other
    487       776       574  
    Total non-interest expense
    8,131       8,890       8,301  
                         
Income before income taxes
    4,399       3,015       4,463  
Income tax expense
    1,357       835       1,346  
    Net income after tax
    3,042       2,180       3,117  
Preferred stock dividends
    517       517       516  
    Earnings available for common shares
  $ 2,525     $ 1,663     $ 2,601  
                         
Annualized Performance Ratios
                       
Return on average assets
    0.93 %     0.66 %     0.83 %
Return on average common equity
    11.08 %     7.47 %     11.71 %
Interest rate spread
    3.80 %     3.52 %     3.61 %
Net interest margin
    3.97 %     3.67 %     3.78 %
                         
SHARE DATA
                       
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic
    10,605,620       10,574,405       10,507,158  
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted
    11,004,706       10,962,188       10,925,023  
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.24     $ 0.16     $ 0.25  
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.23     $ 0.15     $ 0.24  
Dividends per common share
  $ 0.095     $ 0.095     $ 0.095  
                         
 

 
 

 

PULASKI FINANCIAL CORP.
BALANCE SHEET DATA
(Unaudited)
             
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
             
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
   
2011
   
2011
 
Total assets
  $ 1,332,081     $ 1,309,209  
Loans receivable, net
    1,014,000       1,021,273  
Allowance for loan losses
    25,790       25,714  
Mortgage loans held for sale, net
    154,876       100,719  
Investment securities
    10,950       14,457  
FHLB stock
    4,519       3,100  
Mortgage-backed & related securities
    8,364       9,986  
Cash and cash equivalents
    41,652       57,071  
Deposits
    1,126,631       1,122,525  
FHLB advances
    49,000       29,000  
Subordinated debentures
    19,589       19,589  
Stockholders' equity - preferred
    31,638       31,527  
Stockholders' equity - common
    90,585       88,643  
Book value per common share
  $ 8.03     $ 8.07  
Tangible book value per share
  $ 7.68     $ 7.70  
                 
                 
                 
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
      2011       2011  
LOANS RECEIVABLE
               
Single-family residential:
               
    Residential first mortgage
  $ 235,967     $ 242,091  
    Residential second mortgage
    49,467       51,535  
    Home equity lines of credit
    167,447       176,324  
Commercial:
               
    Commercial and multi-family real estate
    316,783       316,210  
    Land acquisition and development
    52,531       51,497  
    Real estate construction and development
    23,520       22,331  
    Commercial and industrial
    188,776       180,821  
Consumer and installment
    2,714       3,118  
      1,037,205       1,043,927  
Add (less):
               
  Deferred loan costs
    3,496       3,626  
  Loans in process
    (911 )     (566 )
  Allowance for loan losses
    (25,790 )     (25,714 )
      (23,205 )     (22,654 )
       Total
  $ 1,014,000     $ 1,021,273  
                 
Weighted average rate at end of period
    5.17 %     5.30 %
 
 
   
December 31, 2011
   
September 30, 2011
 
         
Weighted
         
Weighted
 
         
Average
         
Average
 
         
Interest
         
Interest
 
DEPOSITS
 
Balance
   
Rate
   
Balance
   
Rate
 
Demand Deposit Accounts:
    (Dollars In thousands)  
   Non-interest-bearing checking
  $ 150,028       0.00 %   $ 150,431       0.00 %
   Interest-bearing checking
    341,608       0.25 %     328,275       0.28 %
   Passbook savings accounts
    36,307       0.14 %     35,714       0.14 %
   Money market
    185,220       0.33 %     183,873       0.33 %
        Total demand deposit accounts
    713,163       0.21 %     698,293       0.22 %
                                 
Certificates of Deposit:
                               
    Retail
    340,238       1.39 %     344,770       1.61 %
    CDARS
    73,230       0.36 %     71,026       0.42 %
    Brokered
    -       -       8,436       5.23 %
        Total certificates of deposit
    413,468       1.21 %     424,232       1.48 %
         Total deposits
  $ 1,126,631       0.58 %   $ 1,122,525       0.70 %
                                 

 
 

 
 
PULASKI FINANCIAL CORP.
 
NONPERFORMING ASSETS
 
(Unaudited)
 
             
   
(In thousands)
 
             
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
 
NONPERFORMING ASSETS
 
2011
   
2011
 
Non-accrual loans:
           
    Residential real estate first mortgages
  $ 7,599     $ 5,871  
    Residential real estate second mortgages
    1,251       1,177  
    Home equity
    2,774       4,084  
    Commercial and multi-family
    4,990       2,375  
    Land acquisition and development
    475       229  
    Real estate-construction and development
    583       854  
    Commercial and industrial
    609       210  
    Consumer and other
    335       240  
        Total non-accrual loans
    18,616       15,040  
                 
Troubled debt restructured: (1)
               
  Current under the restructured terms:
               
    Residential real estate first mortgages
    13,140       14,911  
    Residential real estate second mortgages
    962       1,861  
    Home equity
    434       1,248  
    Commercial and multi-family
    2,565       4,359  
    Real estate-construction and development
    1,226       1,538  
    Commercial and industrial
    443       560  
        Total current restructured loans
    18,770       24,477  
  Past due greater than 30 days under restructured terms:
               
    Residential real estate first mortgages
    11,979       9,372  
    Residential real estate second mortgages
    757       452  
    Home equity
    1,195       999  
    Commercial and multi-family
    2,194       2,226  
    Land acquisition and development
    120       121  
    Real estate-construction and development
    51       51  
    Commercial and industrial
    317       417  
    Consumer and other
    -       226  
        Total past due restructured loans
    16,613       13,864  
        Total restructured loans
    35,383       38,341  
        Total non-performing loans
    53,999       53,381  
Real estate acquired in settlement of loans:
               
    Residential real estate
    1,526       3,037  
    Commercial real estate
    14,340       15,681  
        Total real estate acquired in settlement of loans
    15,866       18,718  
        Total non-performing assets
  $ 69,865     $ 72,099  
 
(1) Troubled debt restructured includes non-accrual loans totaling $35.4 million and $38.3 million at December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011 , respectively.  These totals are not included in non-accrual loans above.

 
 

 
 
PULASKI FINANCIAL CORP.
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND ASSET QUALITY RATIOS
(Unaudited)
             
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
             
   
Three Months
 
   
Ended December 31,
 
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
 
2011
   
2010
 
 Allowance for loan losses, beginning of period
  $ 25,714     $ 26,976  
 Provision charged to expense
    3,000       4,300  
 (Charge-offs) recoveries, net:
               
     Residential real estate first mortgages
    (697 )     (166 )
     Residential real estate second mortgages
    (124 )     (302 )
     Home equity
    (1,300 )     (521 )
     Commercial and multi-family
    (789 )     (721 )
     Land acquisition & development
    6       (2,117 )
     Commercial and industrial
    6       (141 )
     Consumer and other
    (26 )     (33 )
             Total loans charged off, net
    (2,924 )     (4,001 )
            Allowance for loan losses, end of period
  $ 25,790     $ 27,275  
                 
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
ASSET QUALITY RATIOS
    2011       2011  
Nonperforming loans as a percent of total loans
    5.21 %     5.11 %
Nonperforming loans excluding current troubled debt
               
    restructurings as a percent of total loans
    3.40 %     2.77 %
Nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets
    5.24 %     5.51 %
Nonperforming assets excluding current troubled debt
               
    restructurings as a percent of total assets
    3.84 %     3.64 %
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans
    2.49 %     2.46 %
Allowance for loan losses as a percent
               
    of nonperforming loans
    47.76 %     48.17 %
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of
               
    nonperforming loans excluding current troubled debt
               
    restructurings and related allowance for loan losses
    72.02 %     84.50 %
 
 
 
 

 
 
PULASKI FINANCIAL CORP.
 
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS
 
(Unaudited)
 
                                     
      (Dollars in thousands)  
                                     
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
December 31, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
         
Interest
   
Average
         
Interest
   
Average
 
   
Average
   
and
   
Yield/
   
Average
   
and
   
Yield/
 
Interest-earning assets:
 
Balance
   
Dividends
   
Cost
   
Balance
   
Dividends
   
Cost
 
    Loans receivable
  $ 1,040,762     $ 13,201       5.07 %   $ 1,064,170     $ 13,585       5.11 %
    Mortgage loans held for sale
    138,698       1,310       3.78 %     305,905       3,229       4.22 %
    Other interest-earning assets
    42,660       113       1.06 %     49,650       310       2.50 %
        Total interest-earning assets
    1,222,120       14,624       4.79 %     1,419,725       17,124       4.82 %
Noninterest-earning assets
    87,287                       85,062                  
        Total assets
  $ 1,309,407                     $ 1,504,787                  
                                                 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
    Deposits
  $ 961,548     $ 2,145       0.89 %   $ 982,640     $ 3,198       1.30 %
    Borrowed money
    52,410       364       2.78 %     242,287       511       0.84 %
        Total interest-bearing liabilities
    1,013,958       2,509       0.99 %     1,224,927       3,709       1.21 %
Noninterest-bearing deposits
    157,286                       141,331                  
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
    15,471                       18,533                  
Stockholders' equity
    122,692                       119,996                  
        Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,309,407                     $ 1,504,787                  
Net interest income
          $ 12,115                     $ 13,415          
Interest rate spread
                    3.80 %                     3.61 %
Net interest margin
                    3.97 %                     3.78 %
 
 
For Additional Information Contact:
Paul Milano
Chief Financial Officer
Pulaski Financial Corp.
(314) 317-5046