Stellar Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company” or “Stellar”) (NYSE: STEL) today reported net income of $29.8 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.56, for the second quarter of 2024 compared to net income of $26.1 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.49, for the first quarter of 2024.

“We are pleased to announce our second quarter 2024 results,” said Robert R. Franklin, Jr., Stellar’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our disciplined focus on capital, credit and liquidity gives us strength and optionality as we move into the back half of the year. Although many anticipate lower interest rates in September, we are prepared if that does not come to pass,” said Mr. Franklin. “Stellar Bank is well-positioned for either outcome.”

“In addition to building capital, we have reduced our commercial real estate exposure and are pursuing a more balanced approach to our lending through new additions to our team to help us build our commercial and industrial portfolio. Our credit quality remains steady as the economy in our markets remains solid. We operate in some of, if not the best, markets in the country and they have shown resilience throughout this tightening cycle,” Mr. Franklin continued.

“Our focus on capital, credit and liquidity will not change. We will continue to monitor effects of higher interest rates and the contentious presidential election on our markets. We believe that building and maintaining a strong balance sheet, positions us to take advantage of opportunities that arise from this economic cycle. Our focus remains on building long-term shareholder value as we embark on the second half of 2024 and the future is bright,” concluded Mr. Franklin.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

• Solid Profitability: Second quarter 2024 net income of $29.8 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.56, translated into an annualized return on average assets of 1.13%, an annualized return on average equity of 7.78% and an annualized return on average tangible equity of 12.82%⁽¹⁾.
• Meaningful Regulatory Capital Build: Total risk-based capital ratio increased to 15.34% at June 30, 2024 from 14.62% at March 31, 2024 and Tier 1 leverage ratio increased to 10.93% at June 30, 2024 from 10.55% at March 31, 2024.
• Strong Net Interest Margin: Tax equivalent net interest margin was 4.24% for the second quarter of 2024 compared to 4.26% for the first quarter of 2024. The tax equivalent net interest margin, excluding purchase accounting accretion (“PAA”), was 3.82%⁽¹⁾ for the second quarter of 2024 compared to 3.91%⁽¹⁾ for the first quarter of 2024.
• Stable Credit Performance: Net charge-offs of $715 thousand, or 0.02%, for the year-to-date 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Results

Net interest income in the second quarter of 2024 decreased $708 thousand, or 0.7%, to $101.4 million from $102.1 million for the first quarter of 2024. The net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis decreased 2 basis points to 4.24% for the second quarter of 2024 from 4.26% for the first quarter of 2024. The decrease in the net interest margin from the prior quarter was primarily due to the impact of increased interest rates on our cost of funding only partially offset by increased income on interest earning assets. Net interest income for the second quarter of 2024 benefited from $10.1 million of income from purchase accounting adjustments compared to $8.6 million in the first quarter of 2024. Excluding purchase accounting adjustments, net interest income (tax equivalent) for the second quarter 2024 would have been $91.4 million⁽¹⁾ and the tax equivalent net interest margin would have been 3.82%⁽¹⁾.

Noninterest income for the second quarter of 2024 was $5.4 million, a decrease of $880 thousand, or 14.0%, compared to $6.3 million for the first quarter of 2024. Noninterest income decreased in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2024 primarily due to a decrease in gains on sales of assets in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2024.

Noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2024 decreased $194 thousand, or 0.3%, to $71.2 million compared to $71.4 million for the first quarter of 2024. The decrease in noninterest expense in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2024 was primarily due to a $2.3 million decrease in salaries and employee benefits and a $1.0 million decrease in professional fees partially offset by other expenses.

The efficiency ratio was 66.63% for the second quarter of 2024 compared to 66.18% for the first quarter of 2024. Annualized returns on average assets, average equity and average tangible equity were 1.13%, 7.78% and 12.82%⁽¹⁾ for the second quarter of 2024, respectively, compared to 0.98%, 6.88% and 11.47%⁽¹⁾, respectively, for the first quarter of 2024.

Financial Condition

Total loans at June 30, 2024 decreased $194.2 million to $7.71 billion compared to $7.91 billion at March 31, 2024. At June 30, 2024, the remaining balance of the purchase accounting adjustments on loans was $87.4 million.

Total deposits at June 30, 2024 decreased $69.4 million to $8.73 billion compared to $8.79 billion at March 31, 2024, due to decreases in certificates and other time deposits, noninterest-bearing deposits and interest-bearing demand deposits, partially offset by increases in money market and savings deposits. Shifts in the deposit mix were primarily driven by the current interest rate environment and an intensely competitive market for deposits. Estimated uninsured deposits totaled $4.79 billion and estimated uninsured deposits net of collateralized deposits of $1.01 billion were $3.78 billion, or 43.3%, of total deposits at June 30, 2024.

Total assets at June 30, 2024 were $10.72 billion, a decrease of $5.6 million, compared to $10.73 billion at March 31, 2024.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets totaled $53.4 million, or 0.50% of total assets, at June 30, 2024, compared to $57.1 million, or 0.53% of total assets, at March 31, 2024. The allowance for credit losses on loans as a percentage of total loans was 1.23% at June 30, 2024 and 1.22% at March 31, 2024.

The second quarter of 2024 included a reversal of provision for credit losses expenses of $1.9 million compared to a $4.1 million provision for credit losses recorded during the first quarter of 2024. Net charge-offs for the second quarter of 2024 were $1 thousand, or 0.00% (annualized) of average loans, compared to net charge-offs of $714 thousand, or 0.04% (annualized) of average loans, for the first quarter of 2024.

GAAP Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Stellar’s management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate its performance. Please refer to the GAAP Reconciliation and Management’s Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures on page 10 of this earnings release for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures.

Conference Call

Stellar’s management team will host a conference call and webcast on Friday, July 26, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. Central Time (9:00 a.m. Eastern Time) to discuss its results for the second quarter of 2024. Participants may register for the conference call at https://registrations.events/direct/Q4I635860 to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN to access the call. If you need assistance in obtaining a dial-in number, please contact IR@stellar.bank. A simultaneous audio-only webcast may be accessed at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/232230638. If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the webcast will be accessible via the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at ir.stellar.bank.

About Stellar Bancorp, Inc.

Stellar Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Stellar’s principal banking subsidiary, Stellar Bank, provides a diversified range of commercial banking services primarily to small- to medium-sized businesses and individual customers across the Houston, Dallas, Beaumont and surrounding communities in Texas.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the Company’s merger with Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. (the “Merger”), including future financial performance and operating results, the Company’s plans, business and growth strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts, including projections of macroeconomic and industry trends, which are inherently unreliable due to the multiple factors that impact economic trends, and any such variations may be material. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “scheduled,” “plans,” “intends,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “potential,” “would,” or “continue” or negatives of such terms or other comparable terminology.

All forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Stellar to differ materially from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the risk that the cost savings and any revenue synergies from the Merger may not be fully realized or may take longer than anticipated to be realized; disruption to our business as a result of the Merger; the risk that the integration of operations will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than we expected or that we are otherwise unable to successfully integrate our legacy businesses; the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the Merger; reputational risk and the reaction of our customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners to the Merger; changes in the interest rate environment, the value of Stellar’s assets and obligations and the availability of capital and liquidity; general competitive, economic, political and market conditions; and other factors that may affect future results of Stellar including changes in asset quality and credit risk; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates and capital markets; inflation; customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; capital management activities; disruptions to the economy and the U.S. banking system caused by recent bank failures, risks associated with uninsured deposits and responsive measures by federal or state governments or banking regulators, including increases in the cost of our deposit insurance assessments and other actions of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Texas Department of Banking and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.

Additional factors which could affect the Company’s future results can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, in each case filed with the SEC and available on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov. We disclaim any obligation and do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this communication, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by federal securities laws. As forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on such statements.