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FB Financial Corp (FBK)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- GAAP results were noisy due to a deliberate securities repositioning: FBK sold $266.5M of AFS securities (1.63% yield), recording a $60.5M loss that depressed GAAP revenue and EPS to $76.9M and $0.06, respectively; on an adjusted basis, EPS was $0.88, in line with Street and up vs Q1/Q2’24, with adjusted PPNR up 12-13% YoY/QoQ .
- Core banking momentum improved: NIM expanded 13 bps QoQ to 3.68% on higher asset yields and lower deposit costs; loans and deposits both grew (4.2% and 7.2% annualized), while cost of total deposits fell to 2.48% from 2.54% .
- Forward setup strengthened: management guided H2’25 NIM to 3.70–3.80% (combined with Southern States), expects banking noninterest expense of $285–295M for FY25, tax rate 21–23%, core banking efficiency ratio in the low-50s by Q4’25 and ~50% in 2026; deal cost saves modeled at 25% in 2025, 75% in 2026, 100% thereafter, with ~12% 2026 EPS accretion per deck .
- Potential stock catalysts: evidence of NIM follow-through post securities redeployment and debt redemption, realization of SSBK cost saves, stable credit metrics (NCOs 2 bps), and core operating leverage; GAAP noise should fade after Q2’s restructuring loss .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- NIM expansion and funding mix: NIM rose to 3.68% (up 13 bps QoQ) on 8 bps higher earning asset yields and 3 bps lower rates on interest-bearing liabilities; cost of total deposits fell to 2.48% from 2.54% .
- Core earnings strength: Adjusted EPS $0.88 (vs $0.85 in Q1’25 and $0.84 in Q2’24); adjusted PPNR $58.6M (+12–13% YoY/QoQ). CEO: “we repositioned our balance sheet…which will further enhance both our liquidity and margin moving forward” .
- Credit stability: NCOs were 0.02% (annualized); ACL on loans HFI 1.51% (down 3 bps QoQ); three larger credits moved to nonperforming but are well-secured with limited expected losses, per CFO .
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What Went Wrong
- Securities loss drove GAAP miss optics: $60.5M loss on the sale of $266.5M AFS securities pushed noninterest income negative and GAAP EPS to $0.06; efficiency ratio spiked on a reported basis (105.7%) .
- Nonperformers uptick: NPLs/loans rose to 0.97% (from 0.79% QoQ), NPAs/assets to 0.92% (from 0.84%) .
- Merger expenses and modeling changes: $2.7M merger/integration costs and higher provision for unfunded commitments (linked to new ACL model and macro inputs) pressured reported results .
Financial Results
Segment performance and selected KPIs:
- Segment breakdown (pre-tax contribution)
- Banking: $(6.7)M in Q2’25, $47.3M in Q1’25, $50.1M in Q2’24; noninterest (loss) $(47.7)M in Q2’25 given securities loss .
- Mortgage: $(3.0)M in Q2’25 (PPNR $1.7M), $1.5M in Q1’25, $0.8M in Q2’24; gain on sale margin 2.86% .
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- Strategic actions: “we repositioned our balance sheet by selling low-yielding securities which will further enhance both our liquidity and margin moving forward” — CEO Christopher Holmes .
- Capital redeployment plan: proceeds will “redeem our sub debt and our trust preferreds in the third quarter” and fund new loans “north of 7%” yields; modeled ~6% yield pickup, <4-year payback — CFO Michael Mettee .
- Integration and growth: SSBK closed July 1; conversion in Q3; cost saves cadence 25%/75%/100%; 2026 EPS accretion ~12%; efficiency ~50% — Company deck .
- Credit tone: three NPL migrations “well secured” with limited loss content; NCOs normalized at 2 bps — CFO .
Q&A Highlights
- NIM outlook and levers: Management affirmed H2’25 NIM 3.70–3.80% (combined), with proceeds from securities sale used to redeem debt and fund loans; guide sensitivity reflects deposit repricing and balance sheet mix across FBK/SSBK .
- Loan growth and payoffs: Pipelines strong but some large payoffs and timing shifted fundings into H2; still targeting mid-to-high single-digit growth; new production yields low-7% range and “slightly higher in July” .
- Mortgage reserve: Provision tied to high-LTV cohort under new ACL model amid flat HPA and higher unemployment forecasts; emphasized older vintages and modeling granularity .
- M&A appetite: Post-SSBK, sees more opportunities in $3–7B asset range; comfortable at $20B+ platform size; upstream disruption may drive organic lift-outs as well .
- Hedging stance: No balance sheet hedges planned currently given cost/benefit; focus on disciplined loan/deposit pricing .
Estimates Context
Interpretation:
- EPS tracked “adjusted” performance and was effectively in line in Q2 ($0.88 vs $0.882 cons.).
- Revenue fell well below consensus due to the $60.5M securities loss embedded in noninterest income, which depressed GAAP revenue in the S&P framework. Expect models to shift focus toward NIM, PPNR, and pro forma H2’25–2026 trajectory .
*Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Core profitability intact; GAAP noise transitory: The $60.5M securities loss masks underlying strength (NIM expansion, adjusted EPS/PPNR growth). Focus on redeployment benefits and debt redemption in Q3 onward .
- Pro forma catalysts ahead: H2’25 NIM 3.70–3.80%, cost saves ramp, and efficiency heading to low-50s by Q4’25 support operating leverage; deck points to ~12% 2026 EPS accretion from SSBK .
- Funding and margin discipline continue: Cost of deposits trended lower and NIB stable; room remains in CDs and non-core portfolios to optimize funding as loan growth accelerates .
- Credit watch manageable: NCOs at 2 bps; NPL uptick isolated and secured; ACL steady under new model; office exposure modest (4% of loans) and predominantly pass-rated .
- Mortgage is additive with prudent reserving: Improved locks/margins drive segment PPNR; targeted reserves on high-LTV cohort reflect modeling discipline .
- Capital deployment optionality: CET1 12.3% and TCE/TA 10.4% provide flexibility for buybacks (executed in Q2), organic growth, and selective M&A .
- Dividend support intact: 30th consecutive quarterly dividend declared at $0.19 per share (payable Aug 26) .
Supporting Details and Additional Materials
- Q2’25 Press Release and Financials: GAAP and adjusted results, balance sheet and margin drivers, credit quality, capital .
- 8-K and Earnings Presentation: Non-GAAP reconciliations, NIM/NII roll, deal metrics, liquidity, segment detail .
- Q2’25 Call Transcript: Guidance, strategic commentary, Q&A on NIM, loan growth, ACL/credit, M&A .
- Prior Quarters for Trend: Q1’25 press release/call; Q4’24 press release .
- Other Q2 Press Releases: SSBK merger closing (7/1); dividend (7/25) .