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FLUSHING FINANCIAL CORP (FFIC)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 2025 delivered a clean core EPS beat versus S&P Global consensus, with Primary EPS of $0.32 vs $0.31 consensus (+3.8%); GAAP EPS was $0.41, up 128% YoY, on stronger NIM and noninterest income . Results benefited from ongoing loan repricing and episodic fee items; core NIM expanded 3 bps QoQ to 2.52% while GAAP NIM rose to 2.54% .
- Revenue was essentially in line with consensus (actual $59.29M vs $59.27M) as net interest income held steady and noninterest income more than doubled QoQ aided by swap loan closings and fair value adjustments .
- Guidance tightened positively: core noninterest expense growth cut to 4.5%–5.5% for FY25 (from 5%–8% prior), and the effective tax rate lowered to 24.5%–26.5% for the remainder of 2025, supporting estimate revisions higher on EPS .
- Strategic themes remain consistent: disciplined CRE/multifamily underwriting, deposit franchise build (Asian community deposits at $1.4B), and strong liquidity/capital (TCE/TA up to 8.04%); buybacks are unlikely near term as management prioritizes capital build and dividends .
- Near-term catalysts: Q3 deposit seasonality and CD maturities (retention rates and repricing impact), execution on back-to-back swap pipeline (~$41M), and continuing loan repricing tailwinds; medium-term EPS leverage comes from NIM expansion under a more normalized yield curve .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- NIM expansion and earning power: GAAP NIM rose to 2.54% (+3 bps QoQ, +49 bps YoY), core NIM to 2.52% (+3 bps QoQ, +49 bps YoY), with loan yields +7 bps QoQ and episodic items adding ~6 bps in Q2 .
- Noninterest income strength: Back-to-back swap loan closings of $38.7M generated $0.6M, while fair value adjustments added $1.7M; total noninterest income more than doubled QoQ to $10.3M .
- Credit metrics improved: Net charge-offs fell to 15 bps (from 27 bps in Q1) and criticized/classified loans dropped to 108 bps of gross loans (from 133 bps), with multifamily NPLs halved QoQ to 50 bps .
Management quote: “We’re successfully improving profitability, evidenced by another quarter of NIM expansion and pre-provision net revenue at its highest level in nearly three years” — John R. Buran .
What Went Wrong
- Period-end deposits declined
5.6% QoQ ($429M), reflecting seasonal government deposit outflows; management expects further seasonal pressure in Q3 before recovery in Q4 . - Nonperforming assets rose modestly QoQ (0.75% of assets vs 0.71% Q1), driven largely by CRE office exposures (3% of gross loans); NPLs to loans increased to 0.74% .
- Funding costs up 8 bps QoQ (cost of deposits to 3.1%) due to swap dynamics; management noted limited ability to reduce funding costs absent Fed rate cuts, shifting the margin lever to asset repricing .
Financial Results
Income and EPS
Margins and Rate Metrics
Consensus vs Actual (S&P Global)
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Highlights:
- EPS beat in Q2 2025: $0.32 vs $0.31 consensus — bold: beat.*
- Revenue in Q2 2025: $59.29M vs $59.27M — bold: in line/slight beat.*
- Q1 2025 revenue: $53.75M vs $55.38M — bold: miss.*
Loan Composition (Period-End)
KPIs
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Both GAAP and core net interest margin expanded 3 basis points quarter-over-quarter… This marks continued improvement… from a year ago levels in the 200 basis point range.” — John R. Buran .
- “Real estate loans are expected to reprice approximately 160 basis points higher through 2027… Contractually… NII will increase $5M (2025), $12M (2026), and $16M (2027).” — Susan K. Cullen .
- “Our liquidity position remains exceptionally strong… approximately $4 billion in undrawn lines and resources at quarter end… uninsured and uncollateralized deposits representing only 17% of total deposits.” — Susan K. Cullen .
- “We’ve lowered our expected core noninterest expense growth to 4.5%–5.5%… and our expected effective tax rate to 24.5%–26.5% for the remainder of 2025.” — John R. Buran .
Q&A Highlights
- Deposits: ~$400M decline QoQ driven by seasonal government deposits; more Q3 outflows expected, then recovery .
- Yield curve sensitivity: A 25 bp Fed cut and 25 bp steepening would be “good news,” adding a couple of bps to margin .
- Capital return: Despite stock at ~58% of tangible book, buybacks are unlikely near term; priority remains profitable growth and dividend .
- Expense outlook and hiring: Reduced expense growth guide reflects accrual true-ups and tighter cost management; branch openings (Jackson Heights, second Chinatown) and team hiring continue .
- Funding costs: Limited opportunity to lower deposit costs until Fed cuts; margin support to come mainly from asset-side loan repricing .
- Credit impact from repricing: No stress observed on loans repriced +154–166 bps; ~92–97% retention; minor delinquencies being cleared .
Estimates Context
- EPS: Q2 2025 Primary EPS actual $0.32 vs consensus $0.31 — bold: beat.* Core EPS matches S&P “Primary EPS,” while GAAP EPS was higher ($0.41) due to non-GAAP items .
- Revenue: Q2 2025 actual $59.29M vs $59.27M consensus — bold: in line/slight beat.*
- Implications: Lower OpEx and tax-rate guidance support upward revisions to EPS; NIM trajectory (asset repricing, episodic fees) could sustain modest beats. Seasonal deposit pressure in Q3 may temper revenue/NII expectations near-term .
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- The quarter’s core EPS beat and NIM expansion demonstrate improving earning power; multi-year loan repricing provides a visible tailwind to NII and margin .
- Expect Q3 seasonal deposit outflows to pressure funding costs and balances; watch retention rates and pricing on ~$391M CDs maturing at 3.93% average .
- Operating leverage should improve with tighter OpEx guidance (4.5%–5.5%) and a lower effective tax rate (24.5%–26.5%), both supportive of EPS estimate revisions higher .
- Credit remains resilient with improving NCOs and declining criticized/classified loans; multifamily NPLs halved QoQ, mitigating CRE office concentration concerns (only ~3% of gross loans) .
- Liquidity and capital are robust (TCE/TA 8.04%); near-term buybacks remain unlikely as management prioritizes capital and dividends—focus instead on execution in Asian markets growth and SBA pipeline .
- Trading lens: Short term, Q3 seasonality and funding swaps may cap margin upside; medium term, loan repricing and deposit franchise growth underpin a constructive EPS/NIM trajectory under any yield curve normalization .
- Cross-check: Press release cites $3.6B undrawn lines; call references ~$4B—view difference as rounding/timing; overall liquidity remains ample .