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First Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. (FGBI)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- FGBI posted a GAAP net loss of $6.2M (–$0.54 EPS) on elevated $14.5M credit loss provision tied to the sale of two deteriorating CRE loans ($70M UPB; $5.8M loss), and rising nonaccruals concentrated in six relationships .
- EPS missed S&P Global consensus by a wide margin: –$0.54 actual vs $0.17 consensus (1 estimate), driven by the provision and loan sale charges; revenue consensus was not available (S&P Global) *.
- Management is executing a de-risking plan: shrinking loans (–$181M QoQ), cutting unfunded CRE construction (to $58M), and maintaining leaner costs (~$18.0M noninterest expense; headcount down to 380) .
- NIM of 2.35% stabilized sequentially (+3 bps vs Q4) but remains below prior year (–23 bps YoY); deposits fell seasonally (–$137M QoQ) while liquidity remains elevated .
- Near-term stock drivers: credit clean-up cadence (timing/sizing of resolutions), trajectory of nonaccruals and provision, pace of CRE risk reduction, and proof points on capital/liquidity improvement and expense discipline .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- Credit de-risking actions: Sold two problem CRE loans ($70.0M), absorbing a $5.8M loss through ACL/charge-offs to reduce portfolio risk .
- Expense control: Noninterest expense at $18.0M vs $18.9M in Q1’24; FTEs reduced to 380 from 491 at 12/31/23, contributing to structural savings .
- Strategic focus reiterated: “reduce risk-weighted assets… improve capital ratios” with bank risk-weighted capital ratio at 12.74% as of 3/31/25; “approximately $12 million in annualized savings” since last year (CEO) .
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What Went Wrong
- Credit costs spiked: Provision of $14.5M (vs $2.3M Q1’24) produced a GAAP loss; gross charge-offs were $6.9M in the quarter .
- Asset quality deteriorated: Nonaccrual loans rose to $133.4M (from $108.5M at 12/31/24), concentrated in assisted living (AL) and multifamily; largest six relationships = 78% of NPLs .
- Balance sheet contraction: Loans fell to $2.51B (–$181M QoQ) and deposits to $3.34B (–$137M QoQ, largely seasonal public funds), dampening earning asset base .
Financial Results
Sequential P&L and Margin Summary
YoY Comparison (Q1)
Balance Sheet and Credit KPIs
Loan Mix (Amounts, % of total)
Key drivers and context:
- Provision and charge-offs: $14.5M provision (incl. $5.8M tied to $70M CRE loan sale) and $6.9M charge-offs drove the loss .
- Asset quality concentration: top six non-performing relationships = 78% of NPLs; includes AL centers in AL/LA, large TX multifamily, Midwest retail centers, TX land, and a residential loan in WV .
- NIM: 2.35% (–23 bps YoY) as asset mix and higher funding costs weighed; sequential stabilization vs Q4 .
- Deposits: –$136.8M QoQ largely seasonal public funds; loans down –$181.0M QoQ as part of de-risking .
Guidance Changes
Note: No formal quantitative revenue/expense/earnings guidance provided in Q1 materials .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- Prepared strategic messages (CEO, AGM): “reduce risk-weighted assets… improve the capital ratios… [RWA ratio] 12.74% as of March 31, 2025… enact cost reduction measures, approximately $12 million in annualized savings” .
- Credit clean-up and P&L impact (CFO, AGM): “sold $70 million worth of loans… resulting in a $5.8 million provision expense… total provision for the quarter was $14.5 million… loss of $0.54 per share” .
- Nonperforming asset concentration (CFO, AGM): “bulk of our nonperforming assets” in six credits (AL in AL/LA, TX multifamily, Midwest shopping center, TX land, WV residential) .
- Strategic tone (CEO): “Enough is never enough… we are working… we will continue to drive [capital] number higher” .
Q&A Highlights
- No dedicated Q1 earnings call transcript was available; the May 15, 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting included prepared remarks and procedural Q&A, but no detailed analyst Q&A transcript was provided .
- Management reiterated strategic priorities (de-risking, capital build, cost actions) without issuing formal quantitative guidance .
Estimates Context
- EPS: Consensus $0.17 vs actual –$0.54; miss driven by $14.5M provision and $5.8M loan sale loss flowing through ACL/charge-offs * .
- Revenue: No Q1 2025 revenue consensus available; S&P Global shows actual “Total Business Revenue, Net of Provision” of ~$10.03M aligning with company presentation (no estimate count) *.
- Estimate breadth: EPS had 1 estimate in the quarter *.
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Provision-driven loss masks otherwise stable core NII and disciplined expenses; direction of credit costs will drive near-term earnings power .
- Asset quality remains the key swing factor: concentrated NPAs in a handful of CRE/AL credits—resolution timing could be a material catalyst for the stock .
- De-risking is tangible (loan sales, shrinking CRE exposure/commitments, loan book contraction); expect continued balance sheet right-sizing through 2025 .
- Capital/Liquidity trajectory improving (RWA ratio 12.74%, deposit seasonal dynamics managed); continued low dividend prioritizes capital .
- NIM appears to have stabilized sequentially; further improvement likely requires funding cost relief and/or mix shift as de-risking progresses .
- Short-term trading: watch headlines on large-credit resolutions, further loan sales/charge-offs, and monthly NPA updates; large EPS beats/misses likely around provision volatility .
- Medium-term thesis: successful credit clean-up plus sustained expense discipline can reset earnings baseline; pace of CRE runoff and capital accretion will influence valuation re-rating .