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HOPE BANCORP INC (HOPE)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q1 2025 EPS of $0.17 GAAP ($0.19 ex-notables) and “Revenue” (company-defined) of $116.5M; Primary EPS beat S&P Global consensus by ~$0.01 while S&P revenue missed as definitions differ (company revenue $116.5M vs S&P “revenue” actual $109.7M) . EPS upside was driven by a 4 bps NIM expansion and a lower provision on sequentially lower net charge-offs .
  • Deposit mix improved: total deposits +1% QoQ to $14.49B with brokered deposits falling to <7% of total; cost of interest-bearing deposits fell 24 bps QoQ to 4.14% helping NIM +4 bps to 2.54% .
  • Territorial Bancorp acquisition closed Apr 2 (after quarter-end): adds ~$1.7B low-cost deposits (1.96% WA cost) and ~$1.0B residential mortgages; 2025 accretion income now ~+$14M; one-time Q2 acquisition costs expected at ~$18M .
  • 2025 guidance updated: NII growth trimmed to high single-digits (from low double-digits), noninterest income raised to mid-20s% growth, loans still high single-digit, opex (ex-notables) low double-digit; dividend maintained at $0.14/share .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well

    • NIM inflected +4 bps QoQ to 2.54% as interest-bearing deposit costs fell; management highlighted lower Fed funds and mix efforts as drivers .
    • Deposit quality improved: customer deposits rose, brokered time deposits reduced to <7% of total; total deposits +1% QoQ to $14.49B; loan-to-deposit ratio improved to 92% .
    • Credit trends stabilizing: NPAs down 8% QoQ to 0.49% of assets; net charge-offs fell to 0.25% (from 0.38%); ACL coverage steady at 1.11% .
    • Quote: “Our healthy levels of capital and ample liquidity provide us a robust cushion to support prudent growth opportunities...” – Kevin S. Kim, CEO .
  • What Went Wrong

    • Net interest income modestly down 1% QoQ (two fewer days, lower floating loan yields, lower average loans), partially offset by deposit cost relief .
    • Noninterest expense up to $83.9M GAAP (ex-notables $81.3M; +6% QoQ) on seasonal payroll taxes/bonus true-ups/vacation accruals and merger costs .
    • Loan balances declined 2% QoQ; C&I −5% and CRE −2% as aggressive pricing, paydowns/payoffs, and selective renewals weighed on growth .

Financial Results

Headline P&L and Ratios (Company-reported “Revenue,” GAAP unless noted)

MetricQ1 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Revenue (Net interest income before provision + Noninterest income) ($M)$123.3 $118.0 $116.5
Net Interest Income Before Provision ($M)$115.0 $102.1 $100.8
Provision for Credit Losses ($M)$2.6 $10.0 $4.8
Noninterest Income ($M)$8.3 $15.9 $15.7
Noninterest Expense ($M)$84.8 $77.6 $83.9
Efficiency Ratio (GAAP)68.79% 65.75% 71.98%
Efficiency Ratio ex-notables66.81% 65.81% 69.82%
Diluted EPS ($)$0.21 $0.20 $0.17
EPS ex-notables ($)$0.23 $0.20 $0.19
ROA (annualized)0.54% 0.57% 0.49%
ROTCE (annualized)6.24% 5.76% 5.02%
Net Interest Margin2.55% 2.50% 2.54%

Consensus vs. Actuals (S&P Global definitions)

MetricQ1 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Primary EPS Consensus Mean$0.262*$0.200*$0.185*
Primary EPS Actual$0.23*$0.20*$0.19*
Revenue Consensus Mean ($M)$130.5*$119.8*$115.0*
Revenue Actual ($M)$118.6*$114.6*$109.7*

Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Note: S&P “Primary EPS” aligns with company EPS excluding notable items; S&P “revenue” may differ from company-defined “Revenue” used for PPNR .

Credit and Balance Sheet KPIs

KPIQ1 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Total Deposits ($B)$14.75 $14.33 $14.49
Gross Loan-to-Deposit Ratio93.0% 95.2% 92.0%
NIB Demand Deposits (% of total)24.7% 23.6% 23.2%
IB MM/IDD/Savings (% of total)36.0% 36.1% 37.3%
Time Deposits (% of total)39.3% 40.3% 39.5%
Brokered Deposits (% of total)<7%
NPA / Assets0.59% 0.53% 0.49%
Net Charge-off Ratio (annualized)0.10% 0.38% 0.25%
ACL / Loans1.16% 1.11% 1.11%
CET1 / Tier 1 / Total Capital12.47% / 13.17% / 14.19% 13.06% / 13.79% / 14.78% 13.28% / 14.02% / 15.06%

Loan Mix (End of Period)

Loan TypeQ1 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
CRE ($B, % of loans)$8.71 (63.5%) $8.53 (62.6%) $8.38 (62.8%)
C&I ($B, % of loans)$4.04 (29.4%) $3.97 (29.1%) $3.76 (28.2%)
Residential & Other ($B, % of loans)$0.97 (7.1%) $1.12 (8.2%) $1.20 (9.0%)

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
End-of-Period Loans (incl. HFS)FY 2025 vs 2024High single-digit % growthHigh single-digit % growthMaintained
Net Interest IncomeFY 2025 vs 2024Low double-digit % growthHigh single-digit % growthLowered
Noninterest IncomeFY 2025 vs 2024Mid-teen % growthMid-20s % growthRaised
Noninterest Expense (ex-notables)FY 2025 vs 2024Low double-digit % growthLow double-digit % growthMaintained
One-time Merger CostsQ2 2025~$18M pre-tax expectedNew detail
Accretion Income from TerritorialFY 2025Prior higher view~+$14M for 2025Updated lower
DividendOngoing$0.14 per share declaredAffirmed

Assumptions noted by management include three 25 bps Fed cuts in June, September, December 2025 embedded in outlook .

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q3 2024 and Q4 2024)Current Period (Q1 2025)Trend
NIM/Deposit CostsQ3: NIM 2.55% with rising deposit costs; signs of deposit cost inflection by Sept-end . Q4: NIM 2.50% (2.54% ex nonaccrual reversal effect); cost of total deposits down 12 bps QoQ .NIM +4 bps QoQ to 2.54%; IB deposit cost −24 bps QoQ to 4.14% .Improving as deposit costs decline.
Deposit Mix/BrokeredQ3: Customer deposits +; brokered reduced; NIB improved . Q4: Brokered deposits down to 7% of total .Deposits +1% QoQ; brokered <7% of total .Continued mix improvement.
Credit QualityQ3: NPAs rose due to one relationship; ACL 1.13% . Q4: NPAs 0.53%; criticized loans −11% QoQ .NPAs 0.49%; NCOs 0.25% (from 0.38%) .Stabilizing to improving.
Loan Growth/PipelinesQ3: Loans up modestly; SBA sales active . Q4: Loans flat QoQ .Loans −2% QoQ; pipelines building in Korean subsidiaries and specialized C&I (healthcare, project/structured finance) .Near-term muted; back-half acceleration targeted.
Territorial MergerQ3: Pending; strategic benefits highlighted . Q4: Expect close in Q1 2025 .Closed 4/2; $1.7B deposits (1.96% cost), $1.06B loans, ~$14M 2025 accretion; $18M Q2 one-time costs .Integration underway; EPS accretive per management.
Macro/PolicyQ4: Multiple Fed cuts impacted yields; renewable energy tax credits reduced ETR .Rate cuts in late 2024 flowed through; tariff/macro uncertainty monitored .Rate tailwind vs macro caution.

Management Commentary

  • “We continued to focus on enhancing our deposit mix, and growth in customer deposits more than offset planned reductions in brokered time deposits.” – Kevin S. Kim, CEO .
  • “Net interest margin…expanded by four basis points to 2.54%…primarily driven by the decrease in interest bearing deposit costs.” – Company commentary .
  • “Our updated accretion income expectations for ’25 are $14 million…[and] we expect our 2025 second quarter results will include onetime pretax acquisition-related expenses of approximately $18 million.” – Julianna Balicka, CFO .
  • “Asset quality has remained stable…borrowers are being proactive to mitigate…potential impact from tariffs by diversifying supply chains.” – Peter Koh, COO .

Q&A Highlights

  • Rate sensitivity of NII/NIM: Fewer than three assumed Fed cuts would be “modestly” negative; each 25 bps cut roughly nets out (loan yield compression vs deposit repricing), with slight downward bias depending on execution .
  • Loan growth composition: Expect moderate organic growth from Korean subsidiary sectors and specialized C&I (healthcare, project finance, structured finance); recent hiring supports pipeline build .
  • Credit watch items: Monitoring tariff environment; borrowers diversifying supply chains; asset quality viewed as “healthy and stable” .
  • Guidance context: 2025 NII trimmed to high single-digits on updated merger accretion and growth timing; fee income outlook raised to mid‑20s% on broad-based momentum .

Estimates Context

  • Q1 2025 vs S&P Global consensus: Primary EPS $0.19 actual vs $0.185 est (beat); revenue $109.7M actual vs $115.0M est (miss). Company-defined “Revenue” was $116.5M, illustrating definitional differences. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
  • Implications: Modest EPS beat on mix/NIM and lower provision; revenue shortfall (S&P def.) should be parsed vs company “Revenue.” Street models may raise fee income lines and trim NII trajectory given the guidance change, while incorporating Q2 one-offs and ~$14M 2025 accretion (and subsequent run-rate effects) .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Deposit-cost tailwind emerging: IB deposit costs −24 bps QoQ supported a 4 bps NIM lift; if the Fed cuts continue, NIM trajectory can stabilize to slightly up despite floating-rate loan resets .
  • Mix improvement is tangible: Brokered deposits <7% with total deposits +1% QoQ; LDR now 92%, giving balance sheet flexibility for prudent growth .
  • Credit normalizing: NPAs down and NCOs improved; ACL coverage steady at 1.11%; watch C&I/CRE delinquency buckets but overall trends are manageable .
  • Territorial acquisition is strategically and financially additive: ~$1.7B low-cost deposits and ~$1.0B high-quality mortgages; ~$14M 2025 accretion, but expect ~$18M Q2 one-time costs .
  • 2025 outlook mixed: NII growth reduced to high single-digits, but fee income raised to mid‑20s%; Street likely to reallocate earnings mix and adjust quarterly cadence (Q2 one-time noise) .
  • Expense discipline remains a lever: Q1 seasonal comp lifted opex; ex-notables efficiency 69.8% suggests room to improve as accretion/scale benefits materialize in 2H .
  • Positioning: Near-term trading may hinge on integration updates and NIM trajectory; medium-term thesis rests on deposit-cost normalization, back-half loan growth, and Territorial synergy capture .
All data points from company materials are cited. S&P Global consensus and actuals are marked with an asterisk and are Values retrieved from S&P Global.