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8-K - CURRENT REPORT - PULASKI FINANCIAL CORPpulaski8kearningsjan23-13.htm
 
PULASKI FINANCIAL REPORTS CONTINUING FIRST FISCAL QUARTER
EARNINGS MOMENTUM AND ASSET QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
 
 
Year-Over-Year Highlights

 
Earnings growth
 
-
Diluted EPS $0.25 in 2012 versus $0.23 in 2011
 
-
Annualized return on average assets 0.96% in 2012 versus 0.93% in 2011
 
-
Annualized return on average common equity 11.40% in 2012 versus 11.08% in 2011

 
Net interest margin down 10 basis points from record level in 2011 to 3.87%

 
77% increase in mortgage revenues

 
12% decline in combined provision for loan losses and foreclosure costs

 
Linked-Quarter Highlights

 
3% increase in net interest income

 
12 basis point increase in net interest margin

 
22% decline in combined provision for loan losses and foreclosure costs

 
8% increase in mortgage revenues

 
$23 million, or 4%, increase in commercial loans

 
Accelerating decline in non-performing assets, which were down $9.4 million, or 15%, to 3.76% of total assets from 4.56%

 
Continued improvement in potential future predictors of asset quality
 
-
Internal adversely classified assets decreased 22%
 
-
Early stage loan payment delinquencies decreased 26%

ST. LOUIS, January 22, 2013 —Pulaski Financial Corp. (Nasdaq Global Select: PULB) reported net income available to common shares for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 of $2.7 million, or $0.25 per diluted common share, compared with $2.5 million, or $0.23 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2011.

Gary Douglass, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are very pleased with our quarterly results and our strong start to fiscal 2013.  We reported net interest income growth and net interest margin expansion at a time when many banks are reporting declines.  Significantly lower total credit costs and accelerating declines in non-performing assets reflect an ongoing focus on improving asset quality.  Despite a challenging and generally low growth operating environment, our commercial lending team delivered a very good quarter in terms of loan growth.  And finally, our mortgage banking operation contributed yet another strong quarter of revenue growth.”


 
 

 

Net Interest Income Remained Strong

Net interest income was $11.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 compared with $12.1 million for the same period a year ago.  The decrease was due to a decline in the net interest margin combined with a decline in the average balance and a change in the mix of interest-earning assets.

The net interest margin for the December 2012 quarter was 3.87%, down from the historical high of 3.97% for the quarter ended December 31, 2011.  However, it was up from 3.75% for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.  During the December 2012 quarter, the Company collected $285,000 of interest income on a commercial loan that was previously charged off, which resulted in an increase in the net interest margin for the quarter of approximately 10 basis points.  The decrease in the net interest margin from the prior-year quarter was primarily the result of market-driven decreases in the average yields on loans receivable and loans held for sale partially offset by a decrease in funding costs.  The increase from the linked quarter was due to an increase in the average yield on loans receivable resulting primarily from a decrease in the level of non-performing loans and the collection of the previously charged-off interest, partially offset by a market-driven decrease in the average yield on loans held for sale.  Lower funding costs also contributed to the linked-quarter increase.

Douglass commented, “We were encouraged by the increase in our net interest margin over our September 2012 quarter, which was achieved even without the positive impact of the charged-off interest we collected.  We were also encouraged by an increase in commercial loan origination activity late in the quarter that resulted in growth of approximately $23 million in our commercial loan portfolio from September 30, 2012 to December 31, 2012.”

Mortgage Revenues Showed a Substantial Increase on Improved Profit Margins and Higher Loan Sales Volumes

Primarily as the result of increased mortgage revenues, non-interest income increased to $4.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 compared with $3.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2011.  Mortgage revenues were $3.0 million on loan sales of $367 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 compared with $1.7 million on loan sales of $329 million for the December 2011 quarter.

Mortgage loans originated for sale totaled $380 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 compared with $371 million for the December 2011.  The low level of market interest rates continued to fuel strong demand for mortgage refinancings during the December 2012 quarter.  Also, the Company continued to experience strong demand for loans to finance the purchase of homes.  Mortgage loans originated to finance the purchase of homes represented 39% of total loans originated for sale during the quarter ended December 31, 2012 compared with 36% during the December 2011 quarter.

The net profit margin on loans sold improved to 0.81% for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 compared with 0.51% for the December 2011 quarter.  The increase was primarily the result of improved selling prices realized from the Company’s mortgage loan investors and the continued control of costs to originate such loans.  Mortgage loans held for sale increased 10% to $197.9 million at December 31, 2012 compared with $180.6 million at September 30, 2012.

Douglass noted, “We saw our seventh consecutive quarter of increased mortgage revenues resulting from our efforts to negotiate improved selling prices with our investors and control loan origination costs combined with the continued strong demand for mortgage loan refinancings.  In addition, we continued to see solid demand for loans to finance home purchases as we were able to capitalize on the strong customer and realtor relationships our loan officers have continued to maintain within our markets.  The strong loan demand resulted in a quarter-end balance of $198 million in our mortgage loans held for sale, which will once again give us significant momentum going into our second fiscal quarter of 2013 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 Was Higher on Increased Compensation Expense and Real Estate Foreclosure Costs

Total non-interest expense was $9.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 compared with $8.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2011.  The increase was primarily the result of higher levels of compensation expense and real estate foreclosure costs. Compensation expense increased $823,000, or 22%, for the December 2012 quarter compared with the same period last year.  Approximately 40% of the increase in compensation expense related to new mortgage loan origination offices that were in a start-up mode or had not yet reached their full loan production capabilities and, as a result, such expense was not absorbed by increased loan origination activity.  An additional 29% of the increase generally related to a full quarter’s expense associated with certain performance-based stock awards granted during December 2011, resulting in less than a full quarter of expense recognized in the prior year quarter.  In addition, because of the required accounting treatment of such awards, the amount of expense associated with these awards is the greatest in the first year and decreases over the next two years.  The remaining increase in compensation expense was generally the result of additional staff hired to support the Company’s mortgage banking operation and normal salary increases.  Contributing to the higher level of real estate foreclosure costs were the write downs of two large commercial properties in the December 2012 quarter due to declines in their estimated fair values.

Douglass commented. “As expected, we incurred additional expense associated with the expansion of our mortgage banking operation into contiguous markets, but did not realize the benefit of the increased mortgage loan production while the new locations were in a start-up mode.  We anticipate that these additional costs will be offset in future periods by the revenues generated from the increased mortgage loan production of these new locations.  In addition, as a result of our success to date in disposing of foreclosed properties combined with our expectations of additional dispositions over the next several quarters, we believe real estate foreclosure costs will begin to normalize over the balance of fiscal 2013.”

Asset Quality Improves at Accelerated Pace

Non-performing assets decreased to $52.0 million, or 3.76% of total assets, at December 31, 2012 from $61.4 million, or 4.56% of total assets, at September 30, 2012 and $69.9 million, or 5.24% of total assets, at December 31, 2011.  In addition, the balance of internal adversely classified assets decreased approximately 22% from September 30, 2012 to December 31, 2012, resulting in the fifth consecutive quarterly decline in this category.  At December 31, 2012, the ratio of internal adversely classified assets to regulatory capital plus the allowance for loan losses decreased to approximately 49% compared with approximately 65% at September 30, 2012.  Equally important, total loans that were 31 to 89 days past due on payments decreased approximately 26% during the same period.

The provision for loan losses for the three months ended December 31, 2012 was $2.1 million compared with $3.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2011.  The decreased provision was the result of a lower level of net charge-offs combined with the lower level of non-performing and internal adversely classified assets.  Net charge-offs for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 totaled $1.2 million compared with $2.9 million for the December 2011 quarter.  Reducing net charge-offs for the December 2012 quarter were recoveries totaling $2.4 million, including the collection of approximately $2.2 million of cash payments from borrowers related to two large commercial real estate loans that had been charged off in previous periods.

Conclusion / Outlook

Douglass stated, “Based on the momentum generated in fiscal 2012 and continuing into our first fiscal quarter of 2013, we are optimistic about our prospects for fiscal 2013 and beyond.  Specifically, we expect another year of meaningful earnings growth in 2013 compared with 2012.  We also expect continued asset quality improvement and resulting normalization of credit costs.  And finally, we expect to continue to implement our capital management strategy by repurchasing additional preferred shares throughout the balance of fiscal 2013.”

Conference Call Tomorrow

Pulaski Financial’s management will discuss first fiscal quarter results and other developments tomorrow, January 23, 2013, during a conference call beginning at 11 a.m. EDT (10 a.m. CDT).  The call will also be simultaneously webcast and archived for three months at:  http://pulaskibank.com/corporate-profile.aspx.  Participants in the conference call may dial 877-473-3757, conference ID 90720506, a few minutes before the start time. The call will also be available for replay through February 23, 2013 at 855-859-2056 or 404-537-3406, conference ID 90720506.


 
 

 

About Pulaski Financial

Pulaski Financial Corp., operating in its 91st year through its subsidiary, Pulaski Bank, offers a full line of quality retail and commercial banking products through 13 full-service branch offices in the St. Louis metropolitan area.  The Bank also offers mortgage loan products through loan production offices in the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas, mid-Missouri, southwestern Missouri, Wichita, Kansas, Omaha, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa. The Company’s website can be accessed at www.pulaskibank.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, 2012 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,
 
   
2012
   
2012
   
2011
 
Interest income
  $ 13,613     $ 13,411     $ 14,624  
Interest expense
    1,806       1,963       2,509  
                         
    Net interest income
    11,807       11,448       12,115  
Provision for loan losses
    2,065       2,950       3,000  
                         
    Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    9,742       8,498       9,115  
                         
Retail banking fees
    1,153       1,124       1,001  
Mortgage revenues
    2,988       2,779       1,687  
Investment brokerage revenues
    293       282       374  
Other
    282       446       353  
    Total non-interest income
    4,716       4,631       3,415  
                         
Compensation expense
    4,566       3,966       3,743  
Occupancy, equipment and data processing expense
    2,360       2,450       2,181  
Advertising
    119       138       108  
Professional services
    554       411       426  
FDIC deposit insurance premiums
    434       439       441  
Real estate foreclosure losses and expenses, net
    1,214       1,256       745  
Other
    611       668       487  
    Total non-interest expense
    9,858       9,328       8,131  
                         
    Income before income taxes
    4,600       3,801       4,399  
Income tax expense
    1,472       1,129       1,357  
    Net income after tax
    3,128       2,672       3,042  
Benefit from repurchase of preferred stock, net
    --       365       --  
Preferred stock dividends
    (406 )     (493 )     (517 )
    Earnings available to common shares
  $ 2,722     $ 2,544     $ 2,525  
                         
Annualized Performance Ratios
                       
Return on average assets
    0.96 %     0.82 %     0.93 %
Return on average common equity
    11.40 %     10.81 %     11.08 %
Interest rate spread
    3.73 %     3.61 %     3.80 %
Net interest margin
    3.87 %     3.75 %     3.97 %
                         
SHARE DATA
                       
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic
    10,815,633       10,742,660       10,605,620  
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted
    11,066,355       11,019,007       11,004,706  
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.25     $ 0.24     $ 0.24  
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.25     $ 0.23     $ 0.23  
Dividends per common share
  $ 0.095     $ 0.095     $ 0.095  
 

 
 

 
PULASKI FINANCIAL CORP.
 
BALANCE SHEET DATA
 
(Unaudited)
 
             
      (Dollars in thousands)  
             
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2012
 
Total assets
  $ 1,382,295     $ 1,347,517  
Loans receivable, net
    987,808       975,728  
Allowance for loan losses
    17,957       17,117  
Mortgage loans held for sale, net
    197,876       180,575  
Investment securities
    26,759       27,578  
FHLB stock
    5,336       5,559  
Cash and cash equivalents
    74,650       62,335  
Deposits
    1,143,377       1,102,680  
FHLB advances
    84,000       89,000  
Subordinated debentures
    19,589       19,589  
Stockholders' equity - preferred
    25,064       24,976  
Stockholders' equity - common
    95,178       93,191  
Book value per common share
  $ 8.38     $ 8.21  
Tangible book value per share
  $ 8.03     $ 7.86  
Regulatory capital ratios - Pulaski Bank only: (1)
         
    Tier 1 leverage capital (to average assets)
    9.51 %     9.63 %
    Total risk-based capital (to risk-weighted assets)
    13.57 %     13.58 %
                 
(1) December 31, 2012 regulatory capital ratios are estimated.
 
 
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2012
 
LOANS RECEIVABLE
           
Single-family residential:
           
    Residential first mortgage
  $ 208,838     $ 211,760  
    Residential second mortgage
    42,798       42,091  
    Home equity lines of credit
    136,919       143,931  
Commercial:
               
    Commercial and multi-family real estate
    336,528       323,334  
    Land acquisition and development
    46,073       47,263  
    Real estate construction and development
    20,536       21,907  
    Commercial and industrial
    210,478       197,755  
Consumer and installment
    2,790       2,674  
      1,004,960       990,715  
Add (less):
               
  Deferred loan costs
    2,983       3,116  
  Loans in process
    (2,178 )     (986 )
  Allowance for loan losses
    (17,957 )     (17,117 )
      (17,152 )     (14,987 )
       Total
  $ 987,808     $ 975,728  
                 
Weighted average rate at end of period
    4.89 %     4.92 %
 
   
December 31, 2012
   
September 30, 2012
         
     Weighted
   
Weighted
         
      Average
   
Average
         
      Interest
   
Interest
DEPOSITS
 
Balance
   
         Rate
   
Balance
   
Rate
Demand Deposit Accounts:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
   Non-interest-bearing checking
  $ 183,185       0.00 %   $ 173,374       0.00 %
   Interest-bearing checking
    311,681       0.11 %     297,523       0.14 %
   Passbook savings accounts
    38,384       0.13 %     37,258       0.14 %
   Money market
    172,153       0.25 %     149,194       0.26 %
        Total demand deposit accounts
    705,403       0.12 %     657,349       0.13 %
                                 
Certificates of Deposit:
                               
    Retail
    363,869       1.12 %     365,848       1.17 %
    CDARS
    74,105       0.32 %     79,483       0.34 %
        Total certificates of deposit
    437,974       0.98 %     445,331       1.02 %
         Total deposits
  $ 1,143,377       0.45 %   $ 1,102,680       0.49 %
 
 

 
 

 

PULASKI FINANCIAL CORP.
 
NONPERFORMING ASSETS
 
(Unaudited)
 
             
      (In thousands)  
             
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
 
NONPERFORMING ASSETS
 
2012
   
2012
 
Non-accrual loans:
           
    Residential real estate first mortgages
  $ 7,295     $ 4,248  
    Residential real estate second mortgages
    771       610  
    Home equity lines of credit
    1,834       1,613  
    Commercial and multi-family real estate
    3,637       6,119  
    Land acquisition and development
    27       --  
    Real estate construction and development
    99       358  
    Commercial and industrial
    3,842       4,412  
    Consumer and other
    106       102  
        Total non-accrual loans
    17,611       17,462  
                 
Troubled debt restructured: (1)
               
  Current under the restructured terms:
               
    Residential real estate first mortgages
    9,590       11,809  
    Residential real estate second mortgages
    970       1,473  
    Home equity lines of credit
    1,528       1,266  
    Commercial and multi-family real estate
    3,375       6,388  
    Land acquisition and development
    46       --  
    Real estate construction and development
    --       34  
    Commercial and industrial
    1,162       1,186  
    Consumer and other
    38       42  
        Total current restructured loans
    16,709       22,198  
  Past due greater than 30 days under restructured terms:
               
    Residential real estate first mortgages
    3,517       5,463  
    Residential real estate second mortgages
    334       166  
    Home equity lines of credit
    440       542  
    Commercial and multi-family real estate
    3,757       1,607  
    Land acquisition and development
    --       39  
        Total past due restructured loans
    8,048       7,817  
        Total restructured loans
    24,757       30,015  
        Total non-performing loans
    42,368       47,477  
Real estate acquired in settlement of loans:
               
    Residential real estate
    1,617       2,651  
    Commercial real estate
    8,056       11,301  
        Total real estate acquired in settlement of loans
    9,673       13,952  
        Total non-performing assets
  $ 52,041     $ 61,429  

(1) Troubled debt restructured includes non-accrual loans totaling $24.8 million and $30.0 million at December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2012,
     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
 
2012
   
2011
 
 Allowance for loan losses, beginning of period
  $ 17,117     $ 25,714  
 Provision charged to expense
    2,065       3,000  
 Charge-offs:
               
    Residential real estate loans:
               
        First mortgages
    1,236       705  
        Second mortgages
    351       138  
        Home equity
    713       1,331  
                   Total residential real estate loans
    2,300       2,174  
    Commercial loans:
               
          Commercial and multi-family real estate
    523       789  
          Land acquisition & development
    23       --  
          Real estate construction and development
    260       --  
          Commercial and industrial loans
    484       --  
                   Total commercial loans
    1,290       789  
    Consumer and other
    34       30  
                   Total charge-offs
    3,624       2,993  
 Recoveries:
               
    Residential real estate loans:
               
        First mortgages
    25       8  
        Second mortgages
    34       14  
        Home equity
    86       30  
                   Total residential real estate loans
    145       52  
    Commercial loans:
               
          Commercial and multi-family real estate
    1,042       -  
          Land acquisition & development
    17       6  
          Real estate construction and development
    1,169       -  
          Commercial and industrial
    15       7  
                   Total commercial loans
    2,243       13  
    Consumer and other
    11       4  
                   Total recoveries
    2,399       69  
                    Net charge-offs
    1,225       2,924  
                     Balance, end of period
  $ 17,957     $ 25,790  
 

   
December 31,
 
September 30,
 
ASSET QUALITY RATIOS
 
2012
   
2012
 
Nonperforming loans as a percent of total loans
    4.22 %     4.79 %
Nonperforming loans excluding current troubled debt
       
    restructurings as a percent of total loans
    2.55 %     2.55 %
Nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets
    3.76 %     4.56 %
Nonperforming assets excluding current troubled debt
       
    restructurings as a percent of total assets
    2.56 %     2.91 %
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans
    1.79 %     1.73 %
Allowance for loan losses as a percent
         
    of nonperforming loans
    42.38 %     36.05 %
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of
         
nonperforming loans excluding current troubled debt
       
    restructurings and related allowance for loan losses
    68.11 %     65.56 %

 
 

 


PULASKI FINANCIAL CORP.
 
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS
 
(Unaudited)
 
                                     
    (Dollars in thousands)  
                                     
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
December 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
 
   
Interest
   
Average
         
Interest
   
Average
 
   
Average
   
and
   
Yield/
   
Average
   
and
   
Yield/
 
Interest-earning assets:
 
Balance
   
Dividends
   
Cost
   
Balance
   
Dividends
   
Cost
 
    Loans receivable
  $ 987,147     $ 11,939       4.84 %   $ 1,040,762     $ 13,201       5.07 %
    Mortgage loans held for sale
    183,801       1,569       3.41 %     138,698       1,310       3.78 %
    Other interest-earning assets
    50,761       104       0.82 %     42,660       113       1.06 %
        Total interest-earning assets
    1,221,709       13,612       4.46 %     1,222,120       14,624       4.79 %
Noninterest-earning assets
    86,550                       87,287                  
        Total assets
  $ 1,308,259                     $ 1,309,407                  
                                                 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
    Deposits
  $ 933,423     $ 1,440       0.62 %   $ 961,548     $ 2,145       0.89 %
    Borrowed money
    54,990       365       2.65 %     52,410       364       2.78 %
        Total interest-bearing liabilities
    988,413       1,805       0.73 %     1,013,958       2,509       0.99 %
Noninterest-bearing deposits
    182,531                       157,286                  
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
    16,773                       15,471                  
Stockholders' equity
    120,542                       122,692                  
        Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,308,259                     $ 1,309,407                  
Net interest income
          $ 11,807                     $ 12,115          
Interest rate spread
                    3.73 %                     3.80 %
Net interest margin
                    3.87 %                     3.97 %
 
 
For Additional Information Contact:
Paul Milano
Chief Financial Officer
Pulaski Financial Corp.
(314) 317-5046