WB
WEST BANCORPORATION INC (WTBA)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 2025 delivered clean results and incremental operating improvement: net income $8.0M and diluted EPS $0.47, both up vs Q1 2025 and Q2 2024, with net interest margin at 2.27% and efficiency ratio at 56.45% .
- Versus S&P Global Wall Street consensus, WTBA posted a modest beat on EPS (+$0.02) and revenue (+$0.33M), continuing a pattern of estimate outperformance since Q4 2024; estimate counts remain thin (one estimate) which can amplify surprises [Q2 2025 EPS and revenue consensus/actuals]*.
- Credit quality remains pristine: zero nonaccruals, zero substandard, watchlist limited and well-secured; ACL/loans rose to 1.03% and net recoveries were $13K, supporting confidence in forward earnings durability .
- Deposits rose $67.5M QoQ, mix improved as brokered fell by $127.2M; a $243.0M municipal bond deposit inflow lifts liquidity, while uninsured deposits dropped to ~27.2%—a favorable funding/capital narrative for the stock .
- Forward catalysts: continued asset repricing tailwinds, deposit-gathering momentum, and stable expense outlook; management sees H2 margin “opportunity” with deposit costs flat-to-up a few bps absent Fed action .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- “Enviable zeros” in credit: zero nonaccruals, zero substandard, zero OREO; watchlist limited and secured, with office CRE LTV ~65% and DSC ~1.35x—clear asset quality strength underpinning risk-adjusted returns .
- Funding mix improved: deposits +$67.5M QoQ, brokered -$127.2M, uninsured deposits ~27.2%; a $243.0M municipal inflow supports liquidity and lower wholesale reliance .
- Margin resilience: NIM held at 2.27% (FTE), loan yields +7 bps QoQ to 5.59% as originations/renewals price higher; efficiency ratio stable at 56.45% .
- CEO: “We are well positioned for continued improvement in earnings through asset repricing while controlling funding costs and maintaining our pristine credit quality” .
What Went Wrong
- Loan balances -$50.1M QoQ amid payoffs/refis and lower line utilization; average loans fell ~$26.5M, tempering balance-sheet growth momentum .
- Deposit costs +4 bps QoQ (3.19%), with pockets of upward pricing pressure; NIM ticked down 1 bp QoQ to 2.27%, reflecting competitive funding dynamics .
- Limited formal guidance and thin Street coverage (single estimate) keep investor visibility modest; outsized municipal deposit inflow will be withdrawn over ~24 months, normalizing liquidity over time .
Financial Results
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO Dave Nelson: “We still have a fair amount of asset repricing to benefit from this year and also during 2026, which will continue to improve our margin [and] earnings… We have declared a $0.25 per share dividend… yield in excess of 5%.”
- CRO Harlee Olafson: “We have a number of enviable zeros… zero non-accruals… zero substandard loans… average LTV on non-owner-occupied office property is 65%, and the debt service coverage is 1.35x.”
- CFO Jane Funk: “Core deposit balances increased approximately $195 million… municipal customer raised funds through a bond offering… expected to be withdrawn over the next couple of years… loan yield was 5.59% vs. 5.52% in Q1; deposit costs up four basis points.”
Q&A Highlights
- Loan growth outlook: Pipeline “robust” with disciplined pricing; expected to maintain/grow portfolio despite payoffs .
- Margin trajectory: Management sees H2 margin “opportunity” mainly from asset repricing; deposit costs likely flat-to-up a few bps without Fed cuts .
- Market share/M&A disruption: MN markets present hiring and share-gain opportunities as larger banks exit regional centers .
- Deposit growth: Pipeline as focused on deposits as credit; strategy targets deposit-rich business banking and high-value retail deposits .
- Expense outlook: Q2 run-rate is a good guide for H2; no significant items expected .
Estimates Context
- Beat/miss summary:
- Q2 2025: EPS beat (+$0.02, +4%); revenue beat (+$0.33M, +1.4%)*.
- Q1 2025: EPS beat (+$0.08); revenue beat (+$1.49M)*.
- Q2 2024: EPS slight miss (-$0.01); revenue beat (+$0.29M).
Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Funding mix and liquidity improved materially; brokered down, uninsured down—supporting lower risk and potential cost-of-funds leverage as rates evolve .
- Asset repricing tailwinds should continue into 2026; loan yields rising while credit costs remain negligible, a constructive spread backdrop even with modest deposit pricing pressure .
- Credit quality is a differentiator: zero NPAs/substandard, disciplined office CRE metrics (LTV/DSC) and diversified CRE sectors—reduces tail-risk perception for the stock .
- Expense discipline intact; stable efficiency ratio and run-rate guide lend visibility to operating leverage if NIM expands in H2 .
- Thin Street coverage (one estimate) can heighten quarterly surprise risk; recent beats suggest upward estimate revisions bias if asset repricing persists [Q2/Q1 consensus vs actuals]*.
- Dividend stability with ~5% yield and CET1/TCE trends reinforce total-return profile for defensive bank exposure .
- Near-term trading: Favor on clean credit and funding mix improvement; watch deposit-cost prints and municipal outflow cadence. Medium-term: thesis hinges on sustained margin accretion via repricing and continued core deposit wins .
Additional Notes
- No separate Q2 2025 press releases beyond the 8-K exhibits were found [press release search result].
- Non-GAAP metrics: NIM and efficiency are presented on FTE basis with reconciliations; comparisons use the company’s standard industry measures .
- Closing stock price at quarter-end: $19.63; annualized dividend yield 5.09%—context for investor yield positioning .