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    Nick Lawrence • Stephens Inc.

    Nick Lawrence is a Vice President and Equity Research Analyst at Stephens Inc., specializing in covering the industrial and transportation sectors with a focus on companies such as FedEx, UPS, and CSX. He is recognized for maintaining a solid track record of actionable investment calls, as reflected by a TipRanks success rate of over 60% and strong average returns on his recommendations. Lawrence began his career at Stephens Inc. after earning his finance degree and has since advanced to his current role, demonstrating expertise in fundamental equity research and sector trends. He holds FINRA Series 7, 63, 86, and 87 securities licenses, underscoring his professional credentials and regulatory compliance.

    Nick Lawrence's questions to SmartFinancial Inc (SMBK) leadership

    Nick Lawrence's questions to SmartFinancial Inc (SMBK) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Nick Lawrence, on behalf of Stephens Inc., asked for the specific factors providing confidence in achieving the $50 million quarterly revenue target by Q3 2025. He also requested details on the bank's office CRE exposure, particularly in Nashville, and commentary on the recent high-discount sale of Phillips Plaza.

    Answer

    CEO William Carroll stated that hitting the $50 million revenue target is a continuation of the current trend, driven by growth and expense control. CFO Ronald Gorczynski added that loan growth, funded organically, and continued margin expansion are the key drivers. Regarding office CRE, Carroll noted the bank has limited exposure and views the Phillips Plaza deal as a unique situation, not a systemic market issue. An executive, likely Chief Credit Officer Rhett Jordan, described the portfolio as granular and the specific Nashville transaction as a 'unicorn' with an attractive purchase price and limited, well-structured exposure for the bank.

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