ASHEVILLE, N.C., Oct. 25, 2023 — HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTBI) (“Company”), the holding company of HomeTrust Bank (“Bank”), today announced preliminary net income for the first quarter of the six-month transition period ending December 31, 2023* and an increase in its quarterly cash dividend.
For the quarter ended September 30, 2023 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2023:
- net income was $14.8 million compared to $15.0 million;
- diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) was $0.88 compared to $0.90;
- annualized return on assets (“ROA”) was 1.33% compared to 1.39%;
- annualized return on equity (“ROE”) was 12.23% compared to 12.85%;
- net interest income was $42.2 million compared to $43.9 million;
- net interest margin was 4.02% compared to 4.32%;
- provision for credit losses was $2.6 million compared to $405,000;
- noninterest income was $8.6 million compared to $6.9 million;
- tax-free death benefit proceeds from life insurance of $1.1 million compared to $0, which was the primary driver of the change in noninterest income noted above;
- net portfolio loan growth was $1.1 million, or 0.1% annualized, compared to $9.8 million, or 1.1% annualized; and
- quarterly cash dividends continued at $0.10 per share totaling $1.7 million for both periods.
The unrealized loss on our available for sale investment portfolio was $6.0 million, or 4.3% of book value, compared to $5.3 million, or 3.4% of book value as of September 30, 2023 and June 30, 2023, respectively. No held to maturity securities were held as of either date.
The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.11 per common share, reflecting a $0.01, or 10.0%, increase over the previous quarter’s dividend. This is the fifth increase of the quarterly dividend since the Company initiated cash dividends in November 2018. The dividend is payable on November 30, 2023 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 16, 2023.
“We are pleased to report another quarter of strong financial results,” said Hunter Westbrook, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our well-positioned balance sheet and resilient performance despite the most challenging interest rate environment of my 35-year banking career validates the strategic makeover of HomeTrust Bank.
“Our net interest margin remains in the top quartile despite the funding pressure being experienced across the industry. We are intentionally focused on prudent loan growth which is reflected in the minimal loan growth for the quarter. In addition, our credit quality metrics remain strong when compared to the industry and historical periods.
“This performance is a direct result of our strategic decisions and investments over the last several years, and the required buy-in, focused execution, and ongoing hard work of our teammates. I couldn’t be more proud of our HomeTrust family.”
*As previously announced, on July 24, 2023, the Board of Directors approved a change in the Company’s fiscal year end from June 30 to December 31. The transition period of July 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 will be covered on a Transition Report Form 10-KT.
About HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc.
HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for the Bank. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had assets of $4.7 billion. The Bank, founded in 1926, is a North Carolina state chartered, community-focused financial institution committed to providing value added relationship banking with over 30 locations as well as online/mobile channels. Locations include: North Carolina (including the Asheville metropolitan area, the “Piedmont” region, Charlotte, and Raleigh/Cary), Upstate South Carolina (Greenville), East Tennessee (including Kingsport/Johnson City, Knoxville, and Morristown), Southwest Virginia (including the Roanoke Valley) and Georgia (Greater Atlanta).
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact, but instead are based on certain assumptions including statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, assumptions, and statements about future economic performance and projections of financial items. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or implied by forward-looking statements. The factors that could result in material differentiation include, but are not limited to the impact of bank failures or adverse developments of other banks and related negative press about the banking industry in general on investor and depositor sentiment; the remaining effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on general economic and financial market conditions and on public health, both nationally and in the Company’s market areas; expected revenues, cost savings, synergies and other benefits from merger and acquisition activities, including the Company’s recent merger with Quantum Capital Corp., might not be realized to the extent anticipated, within the anticipated time frames, or at all, and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention, might be greater than expected; goodwill impairment charges might be incurred; increased competitive pressures; changes in the interest rate environment; changes in general economic conditions and conditions within the securities markets; legislative and regulatory changes; and the effects of inflation, a potential recession, and other factors described in the Company’s latest annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission – which are available on the Company’s website at www.htb.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Any of the forward-looking statements that the Company makes in this press release or the documents they file with or furnish to the SEC are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made and may turn out to be wrong because of inaccurate assumptions they might make, because of the factors described above or because of other factors that they cannot foresee. The Company does not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.