SB
SEACOAST BANKING CORP OF FLORIDA (SBCF)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 delivered healthy core trends: net interest margin expanded 9 bps to 3.48%, cost of deposits fell 15 bps to 1.93%, loans grew 5.6% annualized and deposits 11% annualized; GAAP diluted EPS was $0.37 and adjusted EPS $0.38 .
- Against S&P Global consensus, SBCF posted a slight miss: Primary EPS $0.38 vs $0.395 est. (–4%) and Revenue $134.4m vs $137.9m est. (–3.4%). Management guided to continued net interest income growth, Q2 noninterest income of $20–$22m, and Q2 adjusted expenses of $87–$89m .
- Asset quality remained solid: NPL ratio improved to 0.68% (from 0.90% in Q4), ACL held at 1.34%; provision rose to $9.3m reflecting loan growth and macro volatility .
- Strategic positioning strengthened: pre-purchased $412m in AFS securities (5.7% TEY) ahead of Heartland acquisition expected to close in Q3; noninterest-bearing DDA grew 17% annualized and customer transaction accounts held at 50% of deposits .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- Margin and funding: NIM +9 bps to 3.48% and cost of deposits –15 bps to 1.93%, supported by granular franchise and proactive pricing .
- Core growth: Loans +5.6% annualized; deposits +11% annualized with noninterest-bearing deposits +17% annualized; late-stage loan pipeline increased 40%+ q/q .
- Management tone: “We’ve built one of the strongest balance sheets…granular highly valuable deposit franchise. This fortress balance sheet provides…optionality and durability.” – CEO Charles Shaffer .
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What Went Wrong
- Estimates: Slight miss vs S&P Global consensus on EPS and revenue in Q1 2025, driven by lower accretion and seasonal noninterest income normalization post Q4 one-offs (SBIC, loan sales)* .
- Provision/credit optics: Provision for credit losses increased to $9.3m (from $3.7m), reflecting growth and macro volatility; criticized/classified loans ticked up to 2.41% of loans, though management cited idiosyncratic items .
- Expenses seasonality: Efficiency ratio worsened to 60.28% (from 56.26%) on higher seasonal payroll taxes/401(k) and growth investments; adjusted expense also up sequentially .
Financial Results
Key KPIs and Credit Metrics
Estimates vs Actuals (S&P Global)
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Context: Company-reported net revenues were $140.7m in Q1 (FTE/definition differences explain variance to S&P “Revenue”) .
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We’ve built one of the strongest balance sheets in the country…granular highly valuable deposit franchise…fortress balance sheet provides…optionality and durability.” – Charles Shaffer, CEO .
- “Given the strong growth momentum…we expect net interest income to continue to grow through the remainder of the year.” – Tracey Dexter, CFO .
- On pre-purchasing securities for Heartland: “Unique opportunity…we just pre-purchased the securities that we would want to retain…could move in our favor if rates are lower at close.” – Michael Young, Treasurer/IR .
- On loan growth outlook: “Clear path to high single digits…investments now materially pulling through…focus on profitability enhancements.” – CEO .
Q&A Highlights
- NIM trajectory: Underlying tailwinds from back book repricing and deposit cost actions; 3.35% core NIM by year-end not explicitly updated; more rate cuts could put them higher; Heartland timing a variable .
- Credit: Increase in criticized/classified loans driven by idiosyncratic items (CRE flooding; C&I owner distributions); losses expected to be limited; many remain on accrual .
- Capital deployment: Open/ready for additional small-bank M&A; buybacks look attractive post-Heartland close, environment-dependent .
- Tariffs: Customers preparing via pass-throughs, pre-buys, and flexible contracting; too early to quantify; monitoring C&I exposure most closely .
- Expense & fees: Q2 adjusted expenses $87–$89m; Q2 noninterest income $20–$22m, with seasonal rebuild and treasury management/SBA contributions .
Estimates Context
- Q1 2025 vs S&P Global consensus: EPS $0.38 actual vs $0.395 est.; Revenue $134.4m actual vs $137.9m est. (slight misses). Company-reported net revenues were $140.7m (definition/FTE differences vs S&P “Revenue”) .
- Prior quarters: Q4 2024 EPS outperformed (actual $0.48 vs $0.338 est.), revenue slightly below ($129.2m vs $131.5m est.); Q3 2024 EPS in line ($0.36 vs $0.357 est.), revenue below ($124.1m vs $129.2m est.)*.
- Revisions watch: Momentum in NII and NIM expansion plus pipeline strength argue for upward bias to out-year NII assumptions; elevated provision and seasonal expense patterns may temper EPS trajectory near-term .
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Funding and margin tailwinds are intact: CoD down to 1.93% and NIM at 3.48% with ex-accretion margin up 19 bps q/q; supports further NII growth .
- Organic growth engine is working: Loan pipeline at $982m (up from $693m) and noninterest-bearing DDA rising signal sustained relationship gains into Q2 .
- Credit is resilient: NPL ratio improved to 0.68% and ACL coverage steady at 1.34%; criticized uptick looks idiosyncratic per management .
- Modest miss vs consensus in Q1 is more mix/seasonality than structural; watch Q2 noninterest income and expense guide execution ($20–$22m; $87–$89m) for operating leverage .
- Heartland adds earnings optionality: pre-purchase lift at 5.7% TEY should enhance asset yields; timing of close impacts NIM path; post-close buyback/M&A optionality remains .
- Near-term trading lens: Strong NII/NIM trajectory and better NPLs are positives; higher provision and small revenue/EPS misses may cap immediate upside until Q2 execution confirms trajectory.
- Medium-term thesis: Florida growth, granular deposits, high Tier 1 capital (14.7%) underpin durable ROA/ROTCE improvements as fixed-rate back book reprices and talent investments scale .
Additional Details and References
- Q1 2025 Press Release & 8-K: full financials, balance sheet, credit metrics .
- Q1 2025 Earnings Call Transcript: NII outlook, fee/expense guidance, credit and tariff commentary, Heartland pre-purchase rationale .
- Dividend: $0.18 per share declared April 17, 2025 (payable June 30, 2025) .
- Prior quarters for trend: Q4 2024 8-K; Q3 2024 8-K .