SB
SEACOAST BANKING CORP OF FLORIDA (SBCF)·Q4 2024 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 2024 delivered margin-led earnings strength: net interest margin rose 22 bps to 3.39% (core NIM ex-accretion +15 bps to 3.05%), with deposit costs falling 26 bps to 2.08% and diluted EPS improving to $0.40 (adjusted EPS $0.48) .
- Adjusted pre-tax pre-provision earnings increased 22% q/q to $56.6M; adjusted net revenues climbed to $141.6M, offset in GAAP by an $8.0M loss from a strategic AFS securities repositioning, which lifted portfolio yields and has an earnback of <3 years .
- Loans grew 3.7% annualized to $10.30B on record $903M originations; pipelines ended at $693M from $831M in Q3 as year-end clearing and hurricane timing weighed near term, but management signaled strong momentum entering 2025 .
- Capital and liquidity remain robust (Tier 1 14.8%, TCE/TA 9.6%, L/D 84.3%); criticized/classified loans fell to 2.17% of loans, while NPLs rose to 0.90% on well-collateralized credits with no losses expected .
- Estimates context: S&P Global consensus EPS and revenue for Q4 2024 were unavailable at time of writing, so beat/miss cannot be assessed (S&P Global request limit exceeded).
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
- What Went Well
- Strong core margin expansion: “Net interest margin expanded 22 bps to 3.39%, and excluding accretion, expanded 15 bps to 3.05%...cost of deposits declined 26 bps to 2.08%” .
- Record production and revenue growth despite hurricanes: “Associates weathered two successive hurricanes to deliver remarkable revenue growth, record loan production, and a 33% increase in adjusted net income” (CEO) .
- Asset quality resilience and mix actions: sale of two nonperforming CRE loans at a gain reduced criticized/classified balances; gains on SBIC investments and sale of NP CRE loans lifted other income .
- What Went Wrong
- GAAP noninterest income was depressed by the $8.0M securities repositioning loss (adjusted NI rose q/q): “Noninterest income totaled $17.1M…included an $8.0M loss…reinvested at 5.4% MBS with earnback <3 years” .
- NPLs increased to 0.90% (vs 0.79% in Q3), driven by a small number of credits, though collateral exceeded balances and losses not expected .
- Consumer fintech runoff and related $3.0M charge-down affected charge-offs (NCOs $6.1M; 0.24% of average loans) and loan yield ex-accretion (-10 bps) .
Financial Results
Noninterest income breakdown (Q4 2024):
Loan portfolio by segment (End of Q4 2024):
Key KPIs
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO (Q4 press release): “The strong net interest margin expansion in the fourth quarter evidenced the solid, granular core deposit franchise…With accelerating business momentum and tailwinds from fixed rate asset repricing, we remain focused on profitability improvement and growth in the year ahead” .
- CEO (Q4 call): “Adjusted pretax preprovision earnings were $56.6M…net interest margin expanded by 22 bps to 3.39%…record loan production with originations of $900M during the period” .
- CFO (Q4 call): “Looking ahead to the first quarter, we expect continued expansion of net interest income and expect the core net interest margin to expand another approximately 7 to 10 bps…exit the year with core net interest margin around 3.35%” .
- CFO (Q4 press release): “Noninterest income, excluding securities activity, increased $2.0M…gains on SBIC investments and gains on the sale of two nonperforming CRE loans” .
Q&A Highlights
- Loan growth trajectory: “Low- to mid-single digits early in the year and moving to high-single digits late in the year...pipeline down seasonally at year-end but building back” .
- Yields on new production: “Q4 add-on rates a little above 7%; competition exists but yield curve supportive into 2025” .
- Capital deployment/M&A: “Post-election, conversations have accelerated…we are active and will be opportunistic if pricing makes sense” .
- Loan sales: “~$20M consumer fintech sold with ~$3M charge-down; ~$20M NP CRE sold at gain reducing classified balances” .
- Deposit funding: Focus on relationship DDA growth; can grow deposits slower than loans and fully fund; >$350M securities cash flow available for 2025 .
- Purchase accounting accretion: Expect step-down toward recent lower run-rate ($9–10M/qtr), acknowledging variability .
Estimates Context
- S&P Global consensus estimates for Q4 2024 EPS and revenue were unavailable due to request limit; therefore, we cannot assess beat/miss versus Street. Values retrieved from S&P Global were not available at time of writing.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Margin inflection appears durable: deposit cost downshift and back-book repricing support further core NIM expansion in Q1 2025 (+7–10 bps), with FY25 exit ~3.35% under current rate path .
- Adjusted earnings power is stronger than GAAP optics: ex the $8.0M repositioning loss, adjusted noninterest income rose and core NIM expansion outpaced prior guidance .
- Growth runway intact: record originations and robust hires underpin loan growth ramp into 2025 despite near-term seasonal pipeline normalization .
- Credit remains well managed: criticized/classified balances declined; NPLs are well-collateralized; ACL coverage plus purchase discounts provide 2.6–2.9% total loss-absorption (period dependent) .
- Liquidity and capital give flexibility: Tier 1 at 14.8%, TCE/TA 9.6%, L/D 84% and liquidity sources at 167% of uninsured & uncollateralized deposits support organic growth and selective capital actions .
- Tactical securities actions raise earning-asset yields: the Q4 repositioning should contribute positively over its <3-year earnback horizon, enhancing portfolio returns .
- Near-term setup: management guides Q1 2025 noninterest income to $20–22M and continued NII/NIM expansion; watch deposit betas, credit normalization pace, and execution on C&I deposit capture .
Sources: Q4 2024 press release and 8‑K (financial statements, highlights, capital & liquidity, asset quality), Q4 2024 earnings call transcript (prepared remarks and Q&A), Q3 and Q2 2024 releases and calls for trend and guidance references. All data points are cited per cell or statement above.