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EVANS BANCORP INC (EVBN)·Q1 2024 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2024 EPS was $0.42 and net income was $2.3M; net interest margin expanded to 2.79% (+4 bps QoQ), while efficiency ratio rose to 79.9% reflecting normalized non-interest income and seasonal OpEx .
- Deposits increased $173M (10%) QoQ to $1.89B, aided by municipal inflows and $55M brokered CDs; loans were flat QoQ but up $63M YoY to $1.72B .
- Management guided Q2 2024 NIM to 2.65% due to temporary leverage from wholesale funding; raised 2024 loan growth expectation to ~5% and expects 2024 bank-only expenses down 1–2% YoY .
- Capital remains solid (Tier 1 leverage 10.52%); dividend of $0.66 was declared Feb 20 and paid April 9; small buyback (~$0.5M, ~15k shares) executed in Q1 .
- Near-term stock narrative: strong deposit growth and pipeline vs. guided NIM downtick; watch CD repricing (20% remaining) and deposit betas moderation as potential catalysts for margin stabilization in H2’24 .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Robust funding and liquidity: deposits up $173M QoQ (+10%) with stable market rates; added $55M brokered CDs and extended ~$40M FHLB borrowings to manage IRR .
- Pipeline strengthening and raised loan growth target: commercial loan pipeline at ~$95M; 2024 loan growth now ~5% vs. prior ~4% .
- NIM resilience: NIM 2.79% (+4 bps QoQ) as prudent pricing and Q4 balance sheet restructure helped stabilize margin; management: “NIM demonstrated resilience, expanding slightly” .
Management quotes:
- “Success in deposit gathering during the quarter lays a strong foundation for future asset growth… significant loan pipeline approximating $95 million” .
- “We strategically strengthened our balance sheet… added $55 million of brokered deposits… lengthened maturities of approximately $40 million of overnight borrowings” .
What Went Wrong
- Earnings pressure vs. prior year: net interest income down $3.4M YoY due to higher funding costs; non-interest income down $1.8M YoY post insurance sale .
- Efficiency deteriorated QoQ on normalized non-interest income and seasonal cost resets (FICA/unemployment/HSA, accelerated equity comp): GAAP efficiency ratio 79.92% (vs. 50.16% in Q4, which had one-time gains) .
- Asset quality modestly softer sequentially: nonperforming loans rose to $27.98M (1.62% of loans) vs. $27.33M (1.59%) in Q4; credit costs ticked up (provision $0.27M) .
Financial Results
Core financials vs. prior periods
Balance sheet and credit KPIs
Actual vs. Consensus (S&P Global)
Consensus estimates via S&P Global were unavailable for EVBN at this time.
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- Strategy and outlook: “First quarter results reflect solid performance… net interest margin demonstrated resilience, expanding slightly… deposit gathering during the quarter lays a strong foundation for future asset growth… significant loan pipeline approximating $95 million” .
- Balance sheet actions: “We added $55 million of brokered deposits… lengthened maturities of approximately $40 million of overnight borrowings… expect current liquidity position to be the foundation that supports expected commercial loan growth of approximately 5% in 2024” .
- Expense discipline: 2024 bank-only expenses expected down 1–2% YoY as first quarter run-rate approximates go-forward level after seasonal resets and merit increases .
Q&A Highlights
- Balance sheet/liquidity strategy: Brokered CDs mitigate municipal seasonality; extended borrowings prefund loan growth; expect overall balance sheet roughly flat with slight upward trend excluding wholesale steps .
- Loan growth cadence: 5% full-year growth expected to be evenly spread over remaining three quarters .
- Capital deployment: Priority order—support asset growth, maintain dividend, opportunistic buybacks; executed ~$0.5M repurchases (~15k shares) in Q1 despite market liquidity constraints .
- NIM trajectory: Q2 guide 2.65% with expectation of flattening/decellerating deposit betas; ~20% of CD book left to reprice toward market .
- Origination yields: Term loans ~7.25–7.50%; C&I better than prime .
- Fees/insurance line:
$150k quarterly reflects consistent wealth program ($700k/year) remaining in that line post-TEA sale . - Credit tone: “Not seeing a whole lot of impending challenge right this second”; working through existing nonperformers; cautious given higher-for-longer rates .
Estimates Context
- S&P Global consensus estimates for EVBN were unavailable; thus, no EPS or revenue comparison to Street is provided.
- Implications: Q2 NIM guide to 2.65% and moderation in deposit betas suggest near-term estimate pressure on NII, while raised loan growth (~5%) and stabilized funding costs could support H2’24 estimate stabilization .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Near-term margin headwind: Q2 NIM guided to 2.65% from 2.79% on temporary leverage; expect stabilization as deposit betas decelerate and CDs complete repricing (~20% remaining) .
- Funding strength is a positive catalyst: Deposits +$173M QoQ with municipal inflows and brokered CDs supports loan growth execution and liquidity positioning .
- Loan growth outlook improved: Pipeline ~$95M and FY24 loan growth raised to ~5%; origination yields are attractive (term ~7.25–7.50%, C&I > prime), supporting future NII once leverage rolls off .
- Expense control aids earnings durability: 2024 bank-only expenses expected down 1–2% YoY; use Q1 run-rate as reasonable baseline after seasonal resets .
- Capital flexibility: Tier 1 leverage 10.52% with dividend continuity ($0.66) and small buybacks executed; expect continued opportunistic capital deployment within liquidity constraints .
- Credit steady: NPLs up modestly QoQ but criticized loans down YoY; net charge-offs remain low, indicating manageable credit risk in higher-rate environment .
- Watch H2 setup: If deposit betas continue to moderate and loan growth materializes, earnings trajectory could improve as the temporary Q2 NIM reset fades; monitor competitive pricing and municipal seasonality .
Appendix: Other Relevant Q1 2024 Press Release Details
- Effective tax rate was 21.7%; GAAP efficiency ratio 79.92%; Non-GAAP 79.90% .
- Book value per share was $31.62; tangible BVPS $31.29; Tier 1 leverage 10.52% .
- Total assets $2.26B (+7% QoQ); interest-bearing deposits at banks increased $161M QoQ .