Enterprise Financial Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

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.