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ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (SFBS)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 2025 delivered stronger core spread income and loan growth, but GAAP EPS of $1.12 was down 3% QoQ due to an $8.6M securities loss; adjusted EPS rose to $1.21, up 27% YoY, and net interest margin improved to 3.10% from 2.92% in Q1 .
- Loans grew $346M (11% annualized) to $13.23B; deposits fell $567M (15.8% annualized) to $13.86B as expected municipal outflows normalized, while liquidity remained strong with $1.71B in cash equivalents (10% of assets) .
- Non-interest income plunged to $0.4M on the $8.6M AFS portfolio restructuring loss (payback ~3.8 years), partially offset by a $2.3M legal accrual reversal in interest expense; adjusted NIM was 3.06% and spot margin improved to 3.19% by June .
- Management guided to continued NIM expansion (~3.20–3.25% by year end), deposit costs normalizing ~3.57%, and noninterest expense ~$46–$46.5M per quarter, with Treasury Management fee increases effective July 1 and Merchant services ramp as catalysts .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Net interest income rose to $131.7M (+6.6% QoQ, +24.4% YoY); NIM improved to 3.10% (adjusted 3.06%) on disciplined pricing and asset repricing; CFO: “We expect our margin to continue to increase throughout the year” .
- Loan growth remained robust: +$345.7M to $13.23B (10.8% annualized); CEO: “We did see solid loan growth… pipeline being very robust” .
- Capital and book value strengthened: CET1 11.38%; book value/share $31.52 (+14% YoY); CFO: “Tangible book value grew… ending at $31.27 per share” .
What Went Wrong
- Non-interest income fell to $0.42M (–$8.48M YoY) due to an $8.6M securities loss; provision rose to $11.3M on higher loan growth and a ~$5M single-loan charge-off; NPAs increased to 0.42% of assets .
- Deposits declined to $13.86B (–$567M QoQ) as anticipated municipal outflows normalized; CEO flagged elevated CRE payoffs and “good, not great” loan demand amid higher-rate project feasibility .
- Reported deposit cost was artificially lowered by a $2.3M accrual reversal (–7 bps); CFO cautioned reported 3.50% cost would not sustain, guiding back to ~3.57% .
Financial Results
P&L and Margins (GAAP)
Q2 2025 Actual vs Wall Street Consensus (S&P Global)
Drivers: Revenue miss driven by $8.6M AFS securities loss recorded in non-interest income as part of portfolio restructuring (expected 3.8-year payback), while adjusted margin improved QoQ and spot margin rose through quarter-end .
Segment/Balance Mix
KPIs and Capital
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “We did see solid loan growth in the quarter. Net of payoffs, our growth was 11% annualized… loan demand is good, not great… elevated payoffs on the commercial real estate side” .
- CFO: “We decided to strategically sell about $70 million of bonds… reinvested $62 million… yield average of 6.28%. The expected payback period… is 3.8 years… we expect our margin to continue to increase throughout the year” .
- Chief Credit Officer: “Total charge-offs… just under $6.5 million… driven primarily by a charge-off of just over $5 million related to one loan… we haven’t identified any systemic issues” .
- CFO: “Adjusted margin is 3.05%… normalized spot rate… increased from 3.06% in March to 3.19% in June… noninterest expense to be in the $46–$46.5 million range per quarter” .
Q&A Highlights
- NIM path: Adjusted margin 3.06% in Q2; management anticipates ~10 bps per quarter, ending 2025 ~3.20–3.25% absent Fed cuts .
- Deposit dynamics: Reported deposit cost 3.50% reflected a one-time accrual reversal; adjusted ~3.57% expected going forward; deposit growth to match funding needs vs excess .
- Hiring/markets: Net FTE up 23 QoQ (14 interns); seven new producers across footprint; focus on Merchant services penetration from ~1% toward ~8% among existing clients .
- Repricing: ~$1B fixed-rate loans to reprice over next 12 months; weighted average yield ~4.87% on ~$1.5B cohort; securities cash flows ~$1.9–$2.0B/year .
- Loan-to-deposit ratio: Adjusted including Fed funds purchased in mid-80s% range; liquidity and funding described as “in good shape” .
Estimates Context
- EPS: S&P Global consensus 1.2067 vs actual 1.21 (slight beat)*. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.12; adjusted EPS was $1.21, reflecting non-GAAP reconciliation for portfolio restructuring and legal accrual reversal .
- Revenue: S&P Global consensus $140.26M vs actual $120.81M (miss), largely due to the $8.6M securities loss in non-interest income impacting GAAP revenue recognition in the quarter*.
Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Implication: Street revenue models likely need to reflect lower non-interest income run-rate from the restructuring, while margins and PPNR trend support upward NIM trajectory. Management’s guidance suggests EPS sensitivity positive to margin expansion and fee increases, offset by credit provisioning normalization .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Core spread momentum: NIM improved to 3.10% (adjusted 3.06%); spot margin 3.19% by June; management targets ~3.20–3.25% by YE on repricing and pricing discipline .
- Portfolio repositioning: $8.6M securities loss depresses near-term revenue; 3.8-year payback expected with reinvestment at ~6.28% yields, improving forward NII .
- Loan growth vs CRE payoffs: Loans +$346M QoQ; pipeline “good, not great” amid higher-rate feasibility; construction balances rising with higher CECL reserve needs .
- Credit normalizing: Provision $11.3M; single ~$5M charge-off; NPAs 0.42% vs 0.40% in Q1; ACL 1.28% steady—no systemic issues flagged .
- Expense discipline: Efficiency ratio 33.46% (adjusted 31.94%); noninterest expense expected ~$46–$46.5M/quarter; core processing changes to drive savings .
- Deposits and pricing: Q2 deposit decline from expected municipal outflows; adjusted deposit cost ~3.57% outlook; Treasury fee increases and Merchant initiatives to lift fees/NIB balances from Q3 .
- Capital and book value: CET1 11.38%; book value/share $31.52; dividend maintained at $0.335 in Q2 (12% increase announced in Q4 2024) .