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CW

Community West Bancshares (CVCY)·Q3 2024 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q3 2024 GAAP net income was $3.385M ($0.18 diluted EPS) versus a $6.290M loss in Q2 and $6.390M profit in Q3 2023; non-GAAP comparable EPS was $0.30 versus $0.41 in Q2 and $0.56 in Q3 2023, reflecting ongoing merger-related items and realized securities losses .
  • Net interest margin expanded to 3.69% from 3.65% in Q2 and 3.47% a year ago as earning-asset yields rose and accretion from acquired loan marks supported core spread .
  • Operating expense moderated sequentially (GAAP efficiency ratio improved to 88.37% from 93.58%), but remained elevated year-over-year due to integration and added scale post-merger; non-GAAP efficiency ratio was 73.76% vs. 70.76% in Q2, indicating near-term integration costs still weighing on run-rate .
  • Management guided qualitatively to benefits from merger synergies and infrastructure investments in Q4 and beyond, and maintained the quarterly dividend at $0.12 per share, signaling capital confidence despite integration costs .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Net interest margin improved to 3.69% (+4 bps q/q, +22 bps y/y) on higher asset yields and accretion on acquired loans, supporting net interest income growth to $30.214M (+$1.157M q/q, +$9.687M y/y) .
  • Sequential operating expense reduction (GAAP non-interest expense down $826K q/q) and improved GAAP efficiency ratio (88.37% vs. 93.58% in Q2) as integration costs began to roll off .
  • CEO highlighted strategic progress: “combining two core bank systems into one” and positioning the bank as a premier Central California community bank; CFO added “With much of the merger-related expenses behind us, we look forward to operating results reflecting the efficiencies and synergies implemented” .

What Went Wrong

  • Year-over-year expense pressure remained significant: GAAP non-interest expense up $14.241M vs. Q3 2023 (merger and added operating scale), driving GAAP efficiency ratio materially higher vs. prior year .
  • Continued losses on sale of securities ($1.853M in Q3 and $1.974M in Q2) used to fund loan growth as part of balance sheet repositioning, depressing reported non-interest income .
  • Deposit mix has shifted toward interest-bearing (63.2% at 9/30 vs. 53.4% at 12/31), with cost of deposits at 1.69% vs. 0.90% a year ago, pressuring funding costs despite modest q/q relief .

Financial Results

Core P&L and Profitability (Q3 2023 → Q2 2024 → Q3 2024)

MetricQ3 2023Q2 2024Q3 2024
Total net revenue ($USD Thousands)$22,110 $30,457 $31,319
Net interest income ($USD Thousands)$20,527 $29,057 $30,214
Total non-interest income ($USD Thousands)$1,583 $1,400 $1,105
Net income (loss) ($USD Thousands)$6,390 ($6,290) $3,385
Diluted EPS (GAAP) ($USD)$0.54 ($0.33) $0.18
Diluted EPS (Comparable, non-GAAP) ($USD)$0.56 $0.41 $0.30
Net interest margin (FTE) (%)3.47% 3.65% 3.69%
Efficiency ratio (GAAP) (%)60.77% 93.58% 88.37%
Efficiency ratio (Comparable, non-GAAP) (%)59.01% 70.76% 73.76%
Cost of total deposits (%)0.90% 1.71% 1.69%

Notes:

  • “Total net revenue” defined as Net Interest Income + Total Non-Interest Income, per reported line items .
  • Non-GAAP EPS and efficiency exclude merger-related items and securities losses per reconciliation .

Balance Sheet Composition

Loan portfolio mix

Loan Type ($USD Thousands)Dec 31, 2023Sep 30, 2024
Total commercial$139,022 (10.8%) $160,816 (7.0%)
Total real estate$1,094,327 (84.8%) $1,726,444 (75.1%)
Total consumer$55,606 (4.3%) $407,919 (17.8%)
Net deferred origination costs$1,842 (0.1%) $1,964 (0.1%)
Total gross loans$1,290,797 (100.0%) $2,297,143 (100.0%)
Allowance for credit losses$(14,653) $(24,891)
Total loans$1,276,144 $2,272,252

Deposit mix

Deposit Category ($USD Thousands)Dec 31, 2023Sep 30, 2024
NOW accounts$251,334 (12.3%) $344,036 (11.8%)
MMA accounts$497,043 (24.4%) $879,445 (30.1%)
Time deposits$162,085 (7.9%) $443,932 (15.2%)
Savings deposits$179,609 (8.8%) $177,859 (6.1%)
Total interest-bearing$1,090,071 (53.4%) $1,845,272 (63.2%)
Non-interest bearing$951,541 (46.6%) $1,076,423 (36.8%)
Total deposits$2,041,612 $2,921,695

KPIs and Capital (Q3 2023 → Q2 2024 → Q3 2024)

KPIQ3 2023Q2 2024Q3 2024
Total assets ($USD Thousands)$2,435,359 $3,475,764 $3,531,298
Total deposits ($USD Thousands)$2,148,842 $2,869,300 $2,921,695
Total gross loans ($USD Thousands)$1,290,797 $2,256,571 $2,297,143
Avg non-interest DDA / total deposits (%)44.54% 37.36% 37.16%
Non-performing assets ($USD Thousands)$— $2,805 $3,250
NPAs / total assets (%)—% 0.08% 0.09%
Tier 1 leverage (Bancorp) (%)8.70% 9.14% 9.38%
ROAA (%)1.02% (0.73)% 0.38%
ROAE (%)13.60% (7.39)% 3.84%
Book value per share ($)$15.37 $18.49 $19.19

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Operational efficiencies/synergies2H 2024“Elevated non-interest expenses expected to continue through Q3 2024… operational efficiencies will commence in the fourth quarter.” “With much of the merger-related expenses behind us, we look forward to operating results reflecting the efficiencies and synergies implemented over the last two quarters.” Maintained qualitative timing; constructive tone
Net interest margin trajectoryNear termNIM increased to 3.65% (Q2) from 3.42% (Q1) NIM increased to 3.69% (Q3) Trending higher (reported)
Quarterly dividend per shareQ3 2024$0.12 declared (payable Aug 16, 2024) $0.12 declared (payable Nov 22, 2024) Maintained

No numerical revenue/EPS guidance ranges were provided in the materials .

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

No Q3 2024 earnings call transcript was available in the company filings repository; table reflects press release narrative.

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q1 & Q2)Current Period (Q3)Trend
Merger integrationQ1: Largest acquisition completed Apr 1; new identity, synergies ahead . Q2: Expected elevated expenses through Q3; efficiencies to commence in Q4 .Core systems combined; transformative year; foundation for growth .Advancing per plan
Balance sheet repositioningQ2: Selling lower-earning securities to fund loan growth; realized losses .Continued securities sales ($64.2M YTD), losses realized to fund loan growth .Ongoing until mix optimized
Margin dynamicsQ1: NIM 3.42% under higher deposit costs . Q2: NIM 3.65% aided by loan-mark accretion .NIM 3.69% with higher asset yields and accretion .Improving sequentially
Deposit mix/costsQ1: Cost of deposits 0.98%; DDA 45.3% . Q2: Cost 1.71%; DDA 37.36% .Cost 1.69%; DDA 37.16% .Slight q/q relief; structurally higher vs. 2023
Credit qualityQ1: No NPAs; ACL stable . Q2: NPAs $2.805M from acquired loans .NPAs $3.250M; net recoveries; ACL 1.08% .Stable/benign overall

Management Commentary

  • CEO (James J. Kim): “The current year has been transformative… combining two core bank systems into one… foundation for growth… one of the premier community banks headquartered in Central California” .
  • CFO (Shannon Livingston): “With much of the merger-related expenses behind us, we look forward to operating results reflecting the efficiencies and synergies implemented over the last two quarters” .
  • Strategic balance sheet moves: “Proceeds [from securities sales] were used to fund loan growth as part of strategic repositioning of the balance sheet to improve future earnings” .

Q&A Highlights

No Q3 2024 earnings call transcript was found in company filings; therefore, no Q&A highlights are available [ListDocuments returned none for earnings-call-transcript; see search result].

Estimates Context

  • Wall Street consensus for Q3 2024 EPS and revenue via S&P Global was unavailable due to mapping/limit issues; as a result, beat/miss vs. consensus cannot be assessed at this time (attempted for CVCY mapping and CWBC; daily request limit exceeded).
  • Given absence of consensus data, investors should focus on sequential recovery in GAAP profitability, NIM expansion, and integration cost trajectory for near-term estimate revisions .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Sequential rebound to GAAP profitability with $3.385M net income and $0.18 EPS, while non-GAAP comparable EPS of $0.30 reflects continued but declining integration noise .
  • NIM trajectory is favorable (3.69% vs. 3.65% in Q2), supported by higher asset yields and accretion on acquired loans; watch sustainability as accretion fades .
  • Operating leverage should improve as merger-related expenses roll off; GAAP efficiency ratio improved q/q, and management points to synergies in Q4 and beyond .
  • Funding costs remain structurally higher (deposit cost 1.69% vs. 0.90% a year ago) with greater interest-bearing mix; modest q/q relief is encouraging but watch mix/price competition .
  • Balance sheet growth is robust post-merger (loans $2.297B; deposits $2.922B), with liquidity sources totaling ~$1.276B at quarter-end; capital ratios remain strong (Tier 1 leverage 9.38%) .
  • Credit remains benign (NPAs $3.250M; net recoveries; ACL 1.08%), with acquired portfolio seasoning; monitor early delinquency trends (30+ days $6.5M) .
  • Dividend maintained at $0.12 per share, underscoring capital confidence amidst integration—supports income investor base .