Enterprise Financial Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

Third Quarter Results

• Net income of $44.7 million, $1.17 per diluted common share
• Net interest margin of 4.33%, quarterly decrease of 16 basis points
• Net interest income of $141.6 million, quarterly increase of $0.9 million
• Total loans of $10.6 billion, quarterly increase of $104.2 million
• Total deposits of $11.9 billion, quarterly increase of $290.0 million
• Tangible common equity to tangible assets¹ of 8.51%

Jim Lally, President and Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Financial Services Corp (Nasdaq: EFSC) (the “Company” or “EFSC”), said today upon the release of EFSC’s third quarter earnings, “We had strong third quarter operating results with earnings per share of $1.17, a net interest margin of 4.33%, and a return on average assets of 1.26%. In a challenging environment, we continued to expand net interest income while strengthening liquidity and increasing our customer base. In line with our expectations, loan growth moderated this quarter, and we successfully increased customer deposits and reduced wholesale funding. The strength of our balance sheet and operating revenue has us well-positioned to continue delivering long-term shareholder value.”

Highlights

• Earnings - Net income in the third quarter 2023 was $44.7 million, a decrease of $4.5 million, compared to the linked quarter and a decrease of $5.5 million from the prior year quarter. Earnings per share (“EPS”) was $1.17 per diluted common share for the third quarter 2023, compared to $1.29 and $1.32 per diluted common share for the linked and prior year quarters, respectively.
• Pre-provision net revenue² (“PPNR”) - PPNR of $65.1 million in the third quarter 2023 decreased $3.8 million from the linked quarter and increased $0.2 million from the prior year quarter.
• Net interest income and net interest margin (“NIM”) - Net interest income of $141.6 million for the third quarter 2023 increased $0.9 million and $17.3 million from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. NIM was 4.33% for the third quarter 2023, compared to 4.49% and 4.10% for the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. Net interest income has benefited from higher average loan and investment balances combined with expanding yields on earning assets. NIM decreased 16 basis points from the linked quarter, primarily due to the increase in deposit interest expense and increased 23 basis points from the prior year quarter primarily due to an increase in earning asset yields.
• Noninterest income - Noninterest income of $12.1 million for the third quarter 2023 decreased $2.2 million and increased $2.6 million from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. The decline from the linked quarter was primarily due to a decrease in tax credit and community development income, partially offset by a gain on the sale of SBA loans. The increase from the prior year quarter was primarily due to the gain on sale of SBA loans.
• Noninterest expense - Noninterest expense of $88.6 million for the third quarter 2023 increased $2.7 million and $19.8 million from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. The increase from both the linked and prior year quarters was primarily due to an increase in variable deposit costs and employee compensation.
• Loans - Loans totaled $10.6 billion at September 30, 2023, an increase of $104.2 million, or 3.9% on an annualized basis, from the linked quarter and an increase of $1.3 billion, or 13.5%, from the prior year period. Average loans totaled $10.5 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, compared to $10.3 billion and $9.2 billion for the linked and prior year quarters, respectively.
• Asset quality - The allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.34% at both September 30, 2023 and June 30, 2023 and 1.50% at September 30, 2022. The ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.40% at September 30, 2023, compared to 0.12% and 0.14% at June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, respectively. The provision for credit losses of $8.0 million recorded in the third quarter 2023 was primarily related to net charge-offs of $6.9 million and the increase in nonperforming assets.
• Deposits - Total deposits increased $290.0 million from the linked quarter to $11.9 billion as of September 30, 2023. Average deposits totaled $11.9 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, compared to $11.4 billion and $11.2 billion for the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. At September 30, 2023, noninterest-bearing deposit accounts totaled $3.9 billion, or 32.3% of total deposits, and the loan to deposit ratio was 89.1%.
• Liquidity - The Company’s total available on- and off-balance-sheet liquidity was approximately $4.7 billion at September 30, 2023. On-balance-sheet liquidity consisted of cash of $370.7 million and $790.9 million in unpledged investment securities at September 30, 2023. Off-balance-sheet liquidity consisted of $945.1 million available through the Federal Home Loan Bank, $2.5 billion available through the Federal Reserve and $120.0 million through correspondent bank lines. The Company also has an unused $25.0 million revolving line of credit and maintains a shelf registration allowing for the issuance of various forms of equity and debt securities.
• Capital - Total shareholders’ equity was $1.6 billion and the tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio³ was 8.51% at September 30, 2023, compared to 8.65% at June 30, 2023. The tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio, adjusted for unrealized losses on held-to-maturity securities,³ was 7.91% at September 30, 2023 and 8.25% at June 30, 2023. Enterprise Bank & Trust remains “well-capitalized,” with a common equity tier 1 ratio of 12.1% and a total risk-based capital ratio of 13.1% as of September 30, 2023. The Company’s common equity tier 1 ratio and total risk-based capital ratio were 11.2% and 14.1%, respectively, at September 30, 2023.
  
  
  
  The Company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per common share, payable on December 29, 2023 to shareholders of record as of December 15, 2023. The board of directors also declared a cash dividend of $12.50 per share of Series A Preferred Stock (or $0.3125 per depositary share) representing a 5% per annum rate for the period commencing (and including) September 15, 2023 to (but excluding) December 15, 2023. The dividend will be payable on December 15, 2023 to holders of record of Series A Preferred Stock as of November 30, 2023.

Net Interest Income and NIM

Average Balance Sheets

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, certain information related to our average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, as well as the corresponding average interest rates earned and paid, all on a tax-equivalent basis.

Net interest income for the third quarter 2023 was $141.6 million, an increase of $0.9 million, compared to the linked quarter and an increase of $17.3 million from the prior year quarter. Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis was $143.7 million, $142.8 million and $126.1 million for the current, linked and prior year quarters, respectively. The increase from the linked and prior year quarters reflects the benefit of higher market interest rates on the Company’s asset sensitive balance sheet combined with organic growth.

Interest income increased $13.0 million during the third quarter 2023 primarily due to an increase of $10.1 million in loan interest income and a $2.4 million increase in interest on cash accounts. Loan interest income has increased from continued loan growth and higher loan yields. Interest on loans benefited from a 16 basis point increase in yield and a $237.1 million increase in average loan balances, compared to the linked quarter. The average interest rate of new loan originations in the third quarter 2023 was 7.89%. Interest on cash accounts increased due to a 49 basis point increase in yield and a $162.0 million increase in average balances.

Interest expense increased $12.1 million in the third quarter 2023 primarily due to a $14.0 million increase in deposit interest expense. This increase was partially offset by a $1.1 million decrease in interest expense on other borrowings. The increase in deposit interest expense reflects a shift in the deposit mix from demand deposits to interest-bearing deposits, particularly money market accounts and certificates of deposit, as well as higher rates paid on deposits. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits was 2.77%, an increase of 51 basis points compared to the linked quarter. The increase in cost was primarily due to higher interest rates paid on commercial balances. The total cost of deposits, including noninterest-bearing demand accounts, was 1.84% during the third quarter 2023, compared to 1.46% in the linked quarter. The decrease in interest expense on other borrowings was primarily due to a decline in average borrowings that were reduced due to the increase in liquidity from the growth in core deposits.

NIM, on a tax equivalent basis, was 4.33% in the third quarter 2023, a decrease of 16 basis points from the linked quarter and an increase of 23 basis points from the prior year quarter. For the month of September 2023, the loan portfolio yield was 6.89% and the cost of total deposits was 2.0%.

Investments

Investment securities totaled $2.2 billion at September 30, 2023, a decrease of $56.6 million from the linked quarter. The decrease was primarily due to a $55.2 million decline in the fair value of available-for-sale securities due to a decline in longer-term rates in the quarter. Investment purchases in the third quarter 2023 had a weighted average, tax equivalent yield of 5.60%.

The average duration of the investment portfolio was 5.6 years at September 30, 2023. The Company utilizes the investment portfolio to lengthen the overall duration of the balance sheet. The expected cash flow from pay downs, maturities and interest over the next 12 months is approximately $270 million. The tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio adjusted for unrealized losses on held-to-maturity securities⁴ was 7.91% at September 30, 2023, compared to 8.25% at June 30, 2023.

Loans

The following table presents total loans for the most recent five quarters:

Loans totaled $10.6 billion at September 30, 2023, increasing $104.2 million, compared to the linked quarter. The increase was primarily in tax credit and owner-occupied CRE loans. Loan sales of $33.3 million mitigated growth in the SBA category during the current quarter. Total loan growth in the third quarter was moderated by net line paydowns of $212.8 million. Average line utilization was approximately 41% for the third quarter 2023, compared to 45% and 43% for the linked and prior year quarters, respectively.

Asset Quality

The following table presents the categories of nonperforming assets and related ratios for the most recent five quarters:

Nonperforming assets increased $39.8 million during the third quarter 2023 and increased $37.4 million from the prior year quarter. Nonperforming loans increased $32.8 million and $30.7 million from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. OREO and repossessed assets increased $6.9 million and $6.7 million from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. The increase in nonperforming loans in the third quarter 2023 was primarily due to three relationships in the C&I and CRE categories of $1.8 million and $31.0 million, respectively. The increase in OREO and repossessed assets in the third quarter 2023 represented one relationship that had a related charge-off of $4.7 million in the current period. Annualized net charge-offs totaled 26 basis points of average loans in the third quarter 2023, compared to 12 basis points and two basis points in the linked and prior year quarters, respectively.

The provision for credit losses totaled $8.0 million in the third quarter 2023, compared to $6.3 million and $0.7 million in the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. The provision for credit losses in the third quarter 2023 was primarily related to net charge-offs, an increase in nonperforming loans, and loan growth, partially offset by an improvement in forecasted economic factors. The allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.34% at both September 30, and June 30, 2023 compared to 1.50% in the prior year quarter.

Deposits

The following table presents deposits broken out by type for the most recent five quarters:

Total deposits at September 30, 2023 were $11.9 billion, an increase of $290.0 million and $852.3 million from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. Excluding brokered certificates of deposits, deposits increased $488.0 million and $285.8 million, from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. The mix of the deposit portfolio continued the shift from noninterest bearing demand deposits to higher cost categories that began in the first quarter 2023. Competitive pricing pressures and the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy actions have continued to pressure industry-wide deposit flows. Reciprocal deposits, which are placed through third party programs to provide FDIC insurance on larger deposit relationships, totaled $1.1 billion at September 30, 2023, compared to $926.6 million at June 30, 2023.

Total estimated insured deposits, which includes collateralized deposits, reciprocal accounts and accounts that qualify for pass-through insurance, totaled $8.5 billion, or 71% of total deposits, at the end of September 30, 2023, compared to $8.3 billion, or 72% of total deposits, in the linked quarter.

Noninterest Income

The following table presents a comparative summary of the major components of noninterest income for the periods indicated:

Total noninterest income was $12.1 million for the third quarter 2023, a decrease of $2.2 million from the linked quarter and an increase of $2.6 million from the prior year quarter. The decrease from the linked quarter was primarily due to a decrease in tax credit income. Tax credit income is typically highest in the fourth quarter of each year and will vary in other periods based on transaction volumes and fair value changes on credits carried at fair value. The discount rate used in the fair value determination is the 10-year SOFR swap rate, which increased 70 basis points in the third quarter. The increase from the prior year quarter was primarily due to Other income, as further discussed below.

The following table presents a comparative summary of the major components of other income for the periods indicated:

Community development and private equity distributions included in other income are not consistent sources of income and fluctuate based on distributions from the underlying funds. Servicing fee income may also fluctuate based on prepayment experience and changes to the discount rate used in the valuation of the servicing rights. Swap fee income is generated from customer hedging activities and varies based on customer transaction volume. The decrease in community development income of $1.7 million compared to the linked quarter was partially offset by a $1.5 million gain on the sale of SBA loans in the third quarter 2023. The $2.4 million increase in Other income from the prior year quarter was primarily due to the gain on sale of SBA loans.

Noninterest Expense

The following table presents a comparative summary of the major components of noninterest expense for the periods indicated:

Employee compensation and benefits decreased $0.9 million from the linked quarter due to a decrease in benefit costs, primarily due to lower claims on self-insured medical policies. Deposit costs relate to certain specialized deposit businesses that are impacted by higher interest rates as well as increasing average balances. Deposit costs increased $4.0 million from the linked quarter primarily due to higher average balances and an increase in expenses related to the earnings credit earned on these accounts.

The increase in noninterest expense of $19.8 million from the prior year quarter was primarily an increase in the associate base, merit increases throughout 2022 and 2023, and an increase in variable deposit costs.

For the third quarter 2023, the Company’s core efficiency ratio⁵ was 56.2%, compared to 54.0% for the linked quarter and 49.8% for the prior year quarter.

Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate was 22% for each of the current, linked and prior year quarters.

Capital

The following table presents total equity and various EFSC capital ratios for the most recent five quarters:

Total equity was $1.6 billion at September 30, 2023, a decrease of $6.4 million from the linked quarter. The decrease was primarily due to a $44.4 million decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income, primarily due to a net fair value decrease in the Company’s fixed-rate, available-for-sale investment portfolio, and common and preferred stock dividends of $10.3 million. The decrease was partially offset by current period net income of $44.7 million. The Company’s tangible common book value per share was $31.06 at September 30, 2023, compared to $31.23 and $26.62 in the linked and prior year quarters, respectively.

The Company’s regulatory capital ratios continue to exceed the “well-capitalized” regulatory benchmark. Capital ratios for the current quarter are subject to, among other things, completion and filing of the Company’s regulatory reports and ongoing regulatory review.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company’s accounting and reporting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) and the prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, the Company provides other financial measures, such as tangible common equity, PPNR, ROATCE, PPNR return on average assets (“PPNR ROAA”), core efficiency ratio, the tangible common equity ratio, and tangible book value per common share, in this release that are considered “non-GAAP financial measures.” Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s financial performance, financial position, or cash flows that exclude (or include) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

The Company considers its tangible common equity, PPNR, ROATCE, PPNR ROAA, core efficiency ratio, the tangible common equity ratio, and tangible book value per common share, collectively “core performance measures,” presented in this earnings release and the included tables as important measures of financial performance, even though they are non-GAAP measures, as they provide supplemental information by which to evaluate the impact of certain non-comparable items, and the Company’s operating performance on an ongoing basis. Core performance measures exclude certain other income and expense items, such as merger-related expenses, facilities charges, and the gain or loss on sale of investment securities, that the Company believes to be not indicative of or useful to measure the Company’s operating performance on an ongoing basis. The attached tables contain a reconciliation of these core performance measures to the GAAP measures. The Company believes that the tangible common equity ratio provides useful information to investors about the Company’s capital strength even though it is considered to be a non-GAAP financial measure and is not part of the regulatory capital requirements to which the Company is subject.

The Company believes these non-GAAP measures and ratios, when taken together with the corresponding GAAP measures and ratios, provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s performance and capital strength. The Company’s management uses, and believes that investors benefit from referring to, these non-GAAP measures and ratios in assessing the Company’s operating results and related trends and when forecasting future periods. However, these non-GAAP measures and ratios should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or preferable to, ratios prepared in accordance with GAAP. In the attached tables, the Company has provided a reconciliation of, where applicable, the most comparable GAAP financial measures and ratios to the non-GAAP financial measures and ratios, or a reconciliation of the non-GAAP calculation of the financial measures for the periods indicated.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The Company will host a conference call and webcast at 10:00 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. During the call, management will review the third quarter 2023 results and related matters. This press release as well as a related slide presentation will be accessible on the Company’s website at www.enterprisebank.com under “Investor Relations” prior to the scheduled broadcast of the conference call. The call can be accessed via this same website page, or via telephone at 1-888-330-2413 (Conference ID 70045, press # to reach an operator). We encourage participants to pre-register for the conference call using the following link: https://bit.ly/EFSC3Q2023EarningsCallRegistration. Callers who pre-register will be given a conference passcode and unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. A recorded replay of the conference call will be available on the website after the call’s completion. The replay will be available for at least two weeks following the conference call.

About Enterprise Financial Services Corp

Enterprise Financial Services Corp (Nasdaq: EFSC), with approximately $14.0 billion in assets, is a financial holding company headquartered in Clayton, Missouri. Enterprise Bank & Trust, a Missouri state-chartered trust company with banking powers and a wholly-owned subsidiary of EFSC, operates branch offices in Arizona, California, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, and New Mexico, and SBA loan and deposit production offices throughout the country. Enterprise Bank & Trust offers a range of business and personal banking services and wealth management services. Enterprise Trust, a division of Enterprise Bank & Trust, provides financial planning, estate planning, investment management and trust services to businesses, individuals, institutions, retirement plans and non-profit organizations. Additional information is available at www.enterprisebank.com.

Enterprise Financial Services Corp’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “EFSC.” Please visit our website at www.enterprisebank.com to see our regularly posted material information.

Forward-looking Statements

Readers should note that, in addition to the historical information contained herein, this press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of, and intended to be covered by, the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company including, without limitation, plans, strategies and goals, and statements about the Company’s expectations regarding revenue and asset growth, financial performance and profitability, loan and deposit growth, liquidity, yields and returns, loan diversification and credit management, shareholder value creation and the impact of acquisitions.

Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “pro forma” and other similar words and expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. While there is no assurance that any list of risks and uncertainties or risk factors is complete, important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the following, without limitation: the Company’s ability to efficiently integrate acquisitions into its operations, retain the customers of these businesses and grow the acquired operations, as well as credit risk, changes in the appraised valuation of real estate securing impaired loans, outcomes of litigation and other contingencies, exposure to general and local economic and market conditions, high unemployment rates, higher inflation and its impacts (including U.S. federal government measures to address higher inflation), U.S. fiscal debt, budget and tax matters, and any slowdown in global economic growth, risks associated with rapid increases or decreases in prevailing interest rates, our ability to attract and retain deposits and access to other sources of liquidity, consolidation in the banking industry, competition from banks and other financial institutions, the Company’s ability to attract and retain relationship officers and other key personnel, burdens imposed by federal and state regulation, changes in legislative or regulatory requirements, as well as current, pending or future legislation or regulation that could have a negative effect on our revenue and businesses, including rules and regulations relating to bank products and financial services, changes in accounting policies and practices or accounting standards, changes in the method of determining LIBOR and the phase out of LIBOR, natural disasters, terrorist activities, war and geopolitical matters (including the war in Israel and potential for a broader regional conflict and the war in Ukraine and the imposition of additional sanctions and export controls in connection therewith), or pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and their effects on economic and business environments in which we operate, including the related disruption to the financial market and other economic activity, and those factors and risks referenced from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and the Company’s other filings with the SEC. The Company cautions that the preceding list is not exhaustive of all possible risk factors and other factors could also adversely affect the Company’s results.

For any forward-looking statements made in this press release or in any documents, EFSC claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, EFSC disclaims any obligation to revise or publicly release any revision or update to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date on which such statements were made.