SF
SVB FINANCIAL GROUP (SIVBQ)·Q3 2022 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2022 delivered resilient earnings amid deteriorating funding conditions: EPS $7.21 (vs. $5.60 in Q2 and $6.24 YoY), total revenue ~$1.56B (NII $1.20B; noninterest income $359M), and NIM (FTE) 2.28% as higher rates were offset by deposit outflows, mix shift to interest‑bearing, and increased wholesale funding .
- Management lowered FY22 outlook for deposits (mid‑20s% growth) and NII (low‑40s% growth), kept NIM range unchanged, raised core fee growth to high‑50s%; Q4 guide implies lower NIM (1.95–2.05%) and NII ($1.00–1.05B) as asset sensitivity declines and funding costs rise .
- Deposit pressure persists: period‑end deposits fell to $176.8B (−$11.1B QoQ) while noninterest‑bearing mix dropped to 53% (avg 57.1% in Q3 vs. 62.8% in Q2) and total cost of deposits rose to 0.53% (0.16% in Q2) .
- Credit remained solid (NCOs 8 bps; nonaccrual loans $76M), though criticized loans rose; provision $72M reflected growth and macro deterioration; bank CET1 15.54% .
- Wall Street consensus (S&P Global) was unavailable for SIVBQ mapping at the time of request; management noted Q4 EPS sensitivity in Q&A (~$5.50–$6.00 midpoint by analyst math) but declined to provide 2023 outlook amid uncertainty .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
-
What Went Well
- Loan growth and pricing resiliency: average loans +3% QoQ to $71.1B; ~91% variable rate with ~90% loan beta on commercial lending; spreads stable to improving in some segments despite competition .
- Core fee momentum: client investment fees rose with rates (to $119M); core fee income +10% QoQ to $316M as off‑balance sheet fund spreads improved; FX and cards remained strong .
- Balance sheet flexibility: ~$3B/quarter securities paydowns, $13.6B short‑term borrowings at Q3‑end and additional terming in October; executed $550M receive‑floating swaps in Oct; $301M remaining hedge gains to amortize into interest income .
- Quote: “We continue to see strength and momentum in our underlying business… new client acquisition at all‑time highs, strong credit quality, record core fee income” — CEO Greg Becker .
-
What Went Wrong
- Deposit outflows and mix shift: total client funds down (avg −5% QoQ; EOP −7%); noninterest‑bearing share fell; rising deposit betas and wholesale funding pressured NIM/NII .
- Market‑sensitive revenues weak: SVB Securities revenue fell to $99M (−34% QoQ) on ECM/M&A delays; net investment losses (−$127M GAAP; −$76M net of NCI) from private fund markdowns .
- Asset sensitivity down: management sees NII/NIM peaked for this rate cycle given deposit remix and borrowings; guides lower NIM in Q4 .
- Analyst concern: “guiding to both NII and NIM have now peaked… looks like liability‑sensitive” — mgmt explained shift to interest‑bearing/off‑balance sheet funding amid elevated cash burn and slower VC deployment .
Financial Results
Noninterest income breakdown
KPIs and balance sheet
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “NII and NIM have now peaked… shift in mix to higher levels of interest‑bearing… use of off‑balance sheet client funds… driving higher interest costs” — CFO Dan Beck .
- Deposit guide: “Q4 deposits $168–$172B… noninterest‑bearing exiting year 45–50%” — CFO .
- Liquidity tools: “We have $3B per quarter in securities paydowns… we’ve termed out borrowings… available‑for‑sale optionality… no intent to restructure the held‑to‑maturity portfolio” — CFO .
- Strategy & cost: “Reducing professional services aggressively… focusing on must‑have initiatives like digitization (SVB Go)” — CEO .
- Market stance: “We are steadfast in our long‑term strategy… it’s a matter of when, not if, our markets rebound” — CEO .
Q&A Highlights
- Deposit dynamics and guidance: Mix to worsen near term; deposit cost betas higher for sweep/interest‑bearing; ability to shift OBS to on‑balance sheet to offset outflows; Q4 deposits $168–$172B targeted .
- Funding and borrowings: Short‑term borrowings ~3% with terming to <1‑year at high‑3s/low‑4s; ~$13.6B at Q3‑end, more termed in Oct .
- Securities and HTM: ~$3B quarterly cash flows; no intent to restructure HTM; modest yield around ~2% for a couple quarters .
- Credit outlook: Downside scenario weighting reduced as Moody’s base aligned with mgmt; still building reserves for early‑stage/investor‑dependent risk; expect 5–25 bps NCOs in Q4 .
- EPS sensitivity: Analyst estimated Q4 EPS ~$5.50–$6.00 ex gains/losses; mgmt did not commit to trough call .
Estimates Context
- S&P Global (Capital IQ) Wall Street consensus could not be retrieved for SIVBQ due to missing CIQ mapping at the time of request. As a result, we cannot present authoritative EPS/revenue consensus comparisons for Q3 2022 and prior periods (S&P Global data unavailable).
- On the call, one analyst’s back‑of‑the‑envelope implied Q4 EPS midpoint of ~$5.50–$6.00 excluding gains/losses; management refrained from formal 2023 guidance given uncertainty .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Near‑term NIM/NII headwinds: Asset sensitivity compressed by deposit outflows, remix to interest‑bearing, and higher wholesale funding; Q4 NIM guided down to ~2.0% and NII to $1.00–$1.05B .
- Watch deposit stabilization: Improvement hinges on slower client cash burn and better VC/public funding; mgmt expects noninterest‑bearing share ~45–50% by year‑end (down from 61% mid‑year) .
- Fee income is a partial offset: Client investment fees rise with short rates; core fees guided to $345–$360M in Q4; but SVB Securities stays subdued on ECM/M&A delays .
- Credit is a relative strength: NCOs low; ACL stable at 0.77% of loans; continued vigilance on investor‑dependent/early‑stage exposures; bank CET1 15.54% offers buffer .
- Liquidity/ALM flexibility: ~$3B/quarter securities cash flows, hedge gains amortization, ability to shift OBS/on‑balance sheet, and term funding reduce pressure as markets normalize .
- Catalysts: Signs of VC deployment stabilization and reduced client burn; improvement in deposit mix/cost; pickup in ECM/M&A; evidence of NIM troughing could re‑rate the story .
- Risk factors: Prolonged market volatility and elevated cash burn, further deposit mix deterioration and funding cost increases, potential early‑stage credit migration, and weaker fee environment .
Notes on sources and process:
- Primary documents reviewed in full: Q3 2022 earnings call transcript (10/20/22) ; Q3 2022 earnings 8‑K release with detailed tables and “Q3 2022 Financial Highlights” (10/20/22) .
- Prior quarters for trend analysis: Q2 2022 8‑K (7/21/22) ; Q1 2022 8‑K (4/21/22) .
- Consensus from S&P Global was unavailable for SIVBQ at time of request; management/analyst commentary used where relevant .