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FIRST HAWAIIAN, INC. (FHB)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 delivered solid operational performance: net income $59.2M and diluted EPS $0.47, with net interest margin expanding 5 bps to 3.08% and efficiency ratio improving to 58.2% .
- EPS modestly beat Wall Street consensus ($0.47 vs $0.464*), while “Revenue” (S&P Global definition) missed ($200.5M vs $210.5M*); management emphasized lower deposit costs and Q4 portfolio restructuring as primary NIM drivers .
- Guidance: management expects Q2 2025 NIM near 3.10% and reiterated full‑year noninterest expense guidance (~$510M), with a 23% tax rate framework; uncertainty elevated due to macro factors and tariffs .
- Capital returns: $25M buyback (~974K shares, avg price $25.66) and declared $0.26 quarterly dividend; programmatic repurchases likely near $25M/quarter, opportunistically increased if price dislocates .
Estimates marked with * retrieved from S&P Global
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- NIM expanded 5 bps QoQ to 3.08% on lower deposit costs and the Q4 investment portfolio restructuring; management: “declining deposit costs… and investment portfolio restructuring helped drive a 5 basis point increase in NIM” .
- Retail deposit growth of $105M offset seasonal/commercial volatility; NIB deposit ratio remained a strong 34%, supporting funding mix quality .
- Credit quality remained excellent: ACL coverage increased to 1.17% of loans, NPA held at 0.14%, annualized net charge‑offs 0.11%; CRO: “Credit risk remains low, stable and well within our expectations” .
What Went Wrong
- “Revenue” (S&P Global definition) missed consensus ($200.5M vs $210.5M*), with floating‑rate loan yield headwinds noted despite lower deposit costs .
- Total loans and leases declined $115.2M QoQ, driven by scheduled/early CRE payoffs and dealer floor plan seasonality; growth was visible intra‑quarter but timing remains uncertain .
- Provision for credit losses increased to $10.5M (vs $(0.8)M in Q4), reflecting a more pessimistic macro forecast in CECL; elevated uncertainty around tariffs and consumer resilience flagged by management .
Financial Results
Core P&L and Margins vs Prior Year and Prior Quarter
Actual vs Wall Street Consensus (S&P Global)
Estimates marked with * retrieved from S&P Global
Segment and Balance Composition
KPIs and Asset Quality
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “First Hawaiian Bank started 2025 with a solid quarter. Retail deposits continued to grow, net interest income rose… expenses were well managed, and credit quality remained strong.”
- CFO: “Net interest income was $160.5 million… increased NIM was a result of lower deposit costs and the benefit from the Q4 investment portfolio restructuring.”
- CRO: “Credit risk remains low, stable and well within our expectations… we believe that we are conservatively reserved and ready for a wide range of outcomes.”
Q&A Highlights
- Deposits and pricing: Management sees continued opportunity to reduce deposit costs with further rate cuts; CD repricing adds 20–30 bps benefit spread on rollovers .
- NIM outlook: Q2 NIM ~3.10% includes a forecast June rate cut; ability to offset subsequent cuts depends on loan growth and deposit repricing cadence .
- Buybacks: Programmatic approach, likely ~$25M per quarter, with flexibility to accelerate on dislocations; $25M executed in Q1 .
- Loans/CRE: Q1 decline due to scheduled/early CRE payoffs and dealer seasonality; pipeline remains strong though timing uncertain, with mini‑perm possible amid takeout market constraints .
- Tariffs exposure: Floor plan credit quality sound; balances trajectory depends on tariff specifics; construction costs a watchpoint; tourism bookings uncertain .
Estimates Context
- EPS beat: $0.47 actual vs $0.464* consensus; beat driven by lower deposit costs and realized benefits from Q4 portfolio restructuring, partially offset by lower floating-rate loan yields .
- Revenue miss: $200.5M* actual vs $210.5M* consensus; miss likely reflects S&P’s revenue construct vs bank-reported NII + noninterest income and floating-rate yield pressure .
- Potential estimate revisions: NIM guidance to
3.10% and expense discipline ($510M) may support upward EPS revisions, while “Revenue” estimates may be recalibrated to bank model dynamics and CECL provisioning cadence .
Estimates marked with * retrieved from S&P Global
Key Takeaways for Investors
- NIM expansion and deposit cost tailwinds are intact; Q4 portfolio actions continue to accrete to NII—supporting the near‑term earnings trajectory .
- EPS beat vs consensus contrasts with an S&P‑defined revenue miss; focus on bank‑specific earnings drivers (NII, deposit beta, CD repricing) to frame forward EPS risk/reward .
- Conservative reserving amid macro uncertainty enhances balance‑sheet resiliency; credit metrics remain strong with NPA stable at 0.14% .
- Capital returns are consistent: $0.26 dividend and programmatic ~$25M/quarter buybacks provide support, with flexibility to accelerate in volatility .
- Watch catalysts: tariff headlines (auto and construction inputs), tourism bookings, and the rate path (June cut baseline) for NIM/EPS sensitivity .
- Loan growth timing is the swing factor for NIM resilience post‑rate cuts; a stronger pipeline conversion could offset margin compression risks .
- Medium‑term thesis: deposit franchise strength (34% NIB) plus disciplined expense management positions FHB to compound tangible returns as rate normalization and portfolio repositioning play through .
Sources
- Q1 2025 8‑K and press release: financials, dividend, capital, asset quality
- Q1 2025 earnings call transcript: prepared remarks and Q&A ; –.
- Q4 2024 and Q3 2024 press releases: prior-quarter trend and context ; .
Estimates marked with * retrieved from S&P Global