SF
SB FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. (SBFG)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Adjusted EPS of $0.42 beat S&P Global consensus of $0.40; GAAP EPS of $0.33 was down year over year due to $0.7M merger-related expenses; operating revenue strength and NIM expansion were notable . EPS and revenue estimates from S&P Global; values retrieved from S&P Global.*
- Revenue outperformed consensus materially: $14.99M vs $11.30M estimate; company-reported operating revenue was $15.39M, with the difference likely due to S&P revenue definition; net interest margin expanded to 3.40% from 3.35% in Q4 and 3.17% in Q3 . Revenue estimates from S&P Global; values retrieved from S&P Global.*
- Loan growth of $96.7M (+9.8% YoY) and deposits +$158.9M (+14.3% YoY), aided by the Marblehead Bank acquisition ($56M deposits, $19M loans), strengthened liquidity and lowered loan/deposit ratio to ~86% .
- Management expects NIM to trend higher by ~4–5 bps per quarter to ~3.55–3.60% by Q4 2025, supported by ~$90M of scheduled loan repricing (+140 bps on average) and redeployment of liquidity into loans; dividend raised to $0.15 per share (payout expected to normalize toward ~30%) .
- Near-term stock reaction catalysts: accelerating margin trajectory, integration synergies, and loan pipeline conversion vs. temporary deposit seasonality and modest uptick in NPAs; buyback paused above TBV ~130% but may resume at lower price/tangible book .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Margin and revenue momentum: NIM rose to 3.40% (Q1) vs. 3.35% (Q4) and 3.17% (Q3), with net interest income +22.9% YoY; CEO: “Merger adjusted net income… up 22.3%… successful closing… strengthened our liquidity position” .
- Deposit and loan growth: Deposits reached a record $1.27B (+14.3% YoY) and loans $1.09B (+9.8% YoY), with Marblehead adding $56M deposits and $19M loans; CFO: Marblehead deposits averaged 1.53% cost .
- Title and mortgage sale gains supported diversified fee income; title revenue up ~50% YoY contribution in quarter; “Peak’s title revenue business… helped drive… 31%” .
What Went Wrong
- GAAP EPS declined YoY to $0.33 vs $0.35 (Q1’24) due to $726K merger costs and $387K provision; efficiency ratio elevated at 80.0% (76% ex-merger costs) .
- Nonperforming assets increased to $6.1M (0.41% of assets) from $5.5M (Q4) and $2.9M (Q1’24), driven by three credits; reserve coverage dipped vs. prior quarter (ACL/NPL 254% vs. 274%) .
- Mortgage banking revenues softened sequentially ($1.46M vs $2.01M in Q4) amid lower originations; pipeline recovery expected for Q2–Q3, but near-term noninterest income mix skewed lower vs. historical .
Financial Results
Headline Financials vs Prior Periods
Consensus vs Actuals (Q1 2025)
Values with asterisk (*) retrieved from S&P Global.
Note: Company-reported operating revenue was $15.39M; S&P’s “Revenue” actual of $14.99M reflects a differing revenue definition vs. company “total operating revenue” (net interest income plus noninterest income) .
Segment and Revenue Mix
Balance Sheet KPIs
Loan and Deposit Composition
Guidance Changes
No explicit revenue, OpEx, OI&E, tax-rate quantitative guidance was provided; management discussed directional drivers (margin, pipeline, deposits) .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Merger adjusted net income for the quarter was $2.7 million… GAAP EPS of $0.33 slightly down… The successful closing of the acquisition… strengthened our liquidity position… expanded our market presence in Northern Ohio.” — Mark Klein, CEO .
- “Net interest margin improved… to 3.4%… we have approximately $90 million of loans… scheduled to reprice… drive loan yields higher by 140 basis points… margins up 4 to 5 bps a quarter… 3.55% to 3.60% best case in Q4.” — Tony Cosentino, CFO .
- “We named a Digital Banking Officer to drive our digital innovation… recommitted to Fiserv… broaden credit card offering… enhance online banking.” — Mark Klein, CEO .
Q&A Highlights
- Loan growth outlook: Management remains confident in upper-single-digit growth (8–10%), with strong Columbus contribution; tariffs viewed as a potential cloud but no borrower pullback yet .
- Deposits: Expect Q2 headline deposits to be negative due to public fund seasonality, but core deposits up 4–5%; funding pipeline with liquidity redeployment at attractive spreads .
- Margin trajectory: Assumes two Fed cuts; NIM guided to rise through year, aided by repricing and funding cost moderation .
- Reserves and credit quality: Comfortable at ~1.40% ACL/loans; provisioning to keep pace with loan growth; asset quality described as stable to improving .
- Capital allocation: CET1 >12%; buyback viable at lower P/TBV; dividend increased to $0.15, payout to normalize near ~30% .
Estimates Context
- Q1 2025 EPS: $0.42 actual vs $0.40 consensus; beat of $0.02; consensus based on 1 estimate. S&P Global data; values retrieved from S&P Global.*
- Q1 2025 Revenue: $14.99M actual vs $11.30M consensus; beat of $3.69M; consensus based on 1 estimate. S&P Global data; values retrieved from S&P Global.*
- With only one covering estimate, Street dispersion is limited; given margin trajectory and pipeline, estimates may need upward revision for NIM and net interest income with some caution around noninterest income seasonality .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Adjusted EPS beat and pronounced revenue beat signal underlying strength despite merger costs; watch for continued margin expansion to drive earnings leverage . EPS/revenue consensus comparisons from S&P Global; values retrieved from S&P Global.*
- Loan repricing and liquidity redeployment are tangible catalysts for NII/NIM over 2025; guided +4–5 bps per quarter toward ~3.55–3.60% .
- Deposit mix improved with low-cost Marblehead base; near-term Q2 seasonal outflows should be transitory; core growth intact .
- Asset quality remains solid with low net charge-offs; NPA uptick tied to known credits expected to resolve favorably in 2025; coverage remains robust .
- Fee diversification via title services and mortgage sale gains provides ballast; mortgage pipeline implies stronger Q2–Q3 activity .
- Capital deployment is disciplined: dividend raised to $0.15 and buyback opportunistic below ~130% TBV; CET1 >12% supports growth .
- Trading lens: Near-term upside catalysts include margin beats and pipeline conversion; watch for any macro tariff impacts and Q2 deposit seasonality to avoid misreading transient headwinds .