Community Trust Bancorp, Inc. Reports Earnings for the 1st Quarter 2024

Community Trust Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTBI):

Earnings Summary

Community Trust Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ-CTBI) achieved earnings for the first quarter 2024 of $18.7 million, or $1.04 per basic share, compared to $18.7 million, or $1.04 per basic share, earned during the fourth quarter 2023 and $19.3 million, or $1.08 per basic share, earned during the first quarter 2023. Total revenue was $2.0 million above prior quarter and $1.1 million above prior year same quarter. Net interest revenue increased $0.6 million compared to prior quarter but decreased $0.3 million compared to prior year same quarter, and noninterest income increased $1.4 million compared to prior quarter and $1.5 million compared to prior year same quarter. Our provision for credit losses for the quarter increased $0.8 million from prior quarter and $1.5 million from prior year fourth quarter. Noninterest expense increased $0.6 million compared to prior quarter and $0.3 million compared to prior year same quarter. Noninterest expense and tax expense were impacted by an accounting method change (ASU No. 2023-02), which is intended to improve the accounting and disclosures for investments in tax credit structures. Historically, the amortization expense related to our tax credits has been booked to noninterest expense. Beginning in January 2024, the amortization expense is now booked to tax expense. Our total amortization expense related to tax credits was $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

1^st Quarter 2024 Highlights

• Net interest income for the quarter of $43.6 million was $0.6 million above prior quarter but $0.3 million below prior year same quarter, as our net interest margin increased 4 basis points from prior quarter but decreased 26 basis points from prior year same quarter.

• Provision for credit losses at $2.7 million for the quarter increased $0.8 million from prior quarter and $1.5 million from prior year same quarter.

• Our loan portfolio at $4.2 billion increased $110.3 million, an annualized 10.9%, from December 31, 2023 and $383.8 million, or 10.2%, from March 31, 2023.

• We had net loan charge-offs of $1.6 million, or 0.16% of average loans annualized, for the first quarter 2024 compared to $1.0 million, or 0.10% of average loans annualized, for the fourth quarter 2023 and $0.4 million for the first quarter 2023.

• Our total nonperforming loans increased to $15.9 million at March 31, 2024 from $14.0 million at December 31, 2023 and $12.2 million at March 31, 2023. Nonperforming assets at $17.1 million increased $1.5 million from December 31, 2023 and $2.1 million from March 31, 2024.

• Deposits, including repurchase agreements, at $5.0 billion increased $69.1 million, or an annualized 5.6%, from December 31, 2023 and $266.7 million, or 5.6% from March 31, 2023.

• Shareholders' equity at $707.7 million increased $5.5 million, or an annualized 3.2%, during the quarter and $50.9 million, or 7.7%, from March 31, 2023.

• Noninterest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 of $15.1 million was $1.4 million, or 10.3%, above prior quarter and $1.5 million, or 10.6%, above prior year same quarter.

• Noninterest expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 of $32.2 million was $0.6 million, or 1.9%, above prior quarter and $0.3 million, or 1.0%, above prior year same quarter.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the quarter of $43.6 million was $0.6 million above prior quarter but $0.3 million below prior year same quarter. Our net interest margin, on a fully tax equivalent basis, at 3.23% increased 4 basis points from prior quarter but decreased 26 basis points from prior year same quarter. Our average earning assets increased $80.2 million from prior quarter and $326.7 million from prior year same quarter. Our yield on average earning assets increased 12 basis points from prior quarter and 71 basis points from prior year same quarter, and our cost of funds increased 8 basis points from prior quarter and 129 basis points from prior year same quarter.

Our ratio of average loans to deposits, including repurchase agreements, was 82.7% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 compared to 81.8% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 and 79.8% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 of $15.1 million was $1.4 million, or 10.3%, above prior quarter and $1.5 million, or 10.6%, above prior year same quarter. The quarter over quarter increase included a $0.9 million increase in loan related fees, a $0.5 million increase in bank owned life insurance revenue, a $0.2 million increase in trust revenue, and a $0.2 million increase in brokerage revenue, partially offset by $0.3 million decrease in deposit related fees. The year over year increase included a $0.5 million increase in loan related fees, a $0.4 million increase in bank owned life insurance revenue, and a $0.4 million increase in trust revenue. The increase in loan related fees resulted from the fluctuation in the fair market value of our mortgage servicing rights.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 of $32.2 million was $0.6 million, or 1.9%, above prior quarter and $0.3 million, or 1.0%, above prior year same quarter. The increase in noninterest expense quarter over quarter included a $1.7 million increase in personnel expense, partially offset by decreases in other direct expenses ($0.7 million) and advertising expense ($0.2 million). The increase in personnel expense included a $1.0 million increase in bonuses and incentives and a $0.7 million increase in the cost of group medical and life insurance benefits. The decrease in other direct expenses was the result of the accounting change related to the amortization of tax credits discussed above. The increase year over year primarily resulted from a $1.2 million increase in personnel expense, partially offset by a $1.0 million decrease in other direct expenses related to the amortization of tax credits. The year over year increase in personnel expense included a $0.4 million increase in salaries and a $0.7 million increase in the cost of group medical and life insurance benefits.

Balance Sheet Review

Total Loans

Total Deposits and Repurchase Agreements

CTBI's total assets at $5.9 billion as of March 31, 2024 increased $80.6 million, or 5.6% annualized, from December 31, 2023 and $320.9 million, or 5.8%, from March 31, 2023. Loans outstanding at $4.2 billion increased $110.3 million, an annualized 10.9%, from December 31, 2023 and $383.8 million, or 10.2%, from March 31, 2023. The increase in loans from prior quarter included a $101.4 million increase in the commercial loan portfolio, a $22.6 million increase in the residential loan portfolio, partially offset by a $10.5 million decrease in the indirect consumer loan portfolio and a $3.3 million decrease in the consumer direct loan portfolio. CTBI's investment portfolio decreased $51.8 million, or an annualized 17.9%, from December 31, 2023 and $128.4 million, or 10.3%, from March 31, 2023. Deposits in other banks increased $24.9 million from prior quarter and $62.3 million from March 31, 2023. Deposits, including repurchase agreements, at $5.0 billion increased $69.1 million, or an annualized 5.6%, from December 31, 2023 and $266.7 million, or 5.6% from March 31, 2023. CTBI is not dependent on any one customer or group of customers for their source of deposits. As of March 31, 2024, no one customer accounted for more than 2.25% of our $5.0 billion in deposits. Only three customer relationships accounted for more than 1% each.

Shareholders' equity at $707.7 million increased $5.5 million, or an annualized 3.2%, during the quarter and $50.9 million, or 7.7%, from March 31, 2023. Net unrealized losses on securities, net of deferred taxes, were $106.9 million at March 31, 2024, compared to $103.3 million at December 31, 2023 and $112.4 million at March 31, 2023. In addition, we had a cumulative effect impact related to the adoption of ASU No. 2023-02, discussed above, that reduced retained earnings by $2.0 million. CTBI's annualized dividend yield to shareholders as of March 31, 2024 was 4.31%.

Asset Quality

Our total nonperforming loans increased to $15.9 million at March 31, 2024 from $14.0 million at December 31, 2023 and $12.2 million at March 31, 2023. Accruing loans 90+ days past due at $11.6 million increased $1.6 million from prior quarter and $5.3 million from March 31, 2023. Nonaccrual loans at $4.3 million increased $0.3 million from prior quarter but decreased $1.7 million from March 31, 2023. Accruing loans 30-89 days past due at $12.2 million decreased $3.1 million from prior quarter but increased $0.5 million from March 31, 2023. Our loan portfolio management processes focus on the immediate identification, management, and resolution of problem loans to maximize recovery and minimize loss.

We had net loan charge-offs of $1.6 million, or 0.16% of average loans annualized, for the first quarter 2024 compared to $1.0 million, or 0.10% of average loans annualized, for the fourth quarter 2023 and $0.4 million, or 0.05% of average loans annualized for the first quarter 2023.

Allowance for Credit Losses

Our provision for credit losses for the quarter increased $0.8 million from prior quarter and $1.5 million from prior year same quarter. Our reserve coverage (allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans) at March 31, 2024 was 319.0% compared to 354.7% at December 31, 2023 and 382.3% at March 31, 2023. Our credit loss reserve as a percentage of total loans outstanding at March 31, 2024 remained at 1.22% from December 31, 2023, down from the 1.24% at March 31, 2023.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. CTBI's actual results may differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "may increase," "may fluctuate," and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," and "could." These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, economic conditions, portfolio growth, the credit performance of the portfolios, including bankruptcies, and seasonal factors; changes in general economic conditions including the performance of financial markets, prevailing inflation and interest rates, realized gains from sales of investments, gains from asset sales, and losses on commercial lending activities; the effects of epidemics, pandemics, or other infectious disease outbreaks; results of various investment activities; the effects of competitors' pricing policies, changes in laws and regulations, competition, and demographic changes on target market populations' savings and financial planning needs; industry changes in information technology systems on which we are highly dependent; failure of acquisitions to produce revenue enhancements or cost savings at levels or within the time frames originally anticipated or unforeseen integration difficulties; and the resolution of legal proceedings and related matters. In addition, the banking industry in general is subject to various monetary, operational, and fiscal policies and regulations, which include, but are not limited to, those determined by the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and state regulators, whose policies, regulations, and enforcement actions could affect CTBI's results. These statements are representative only on the date hereof, and CTBI undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made.

Community Trust Bancorp, Inc., with assets of $5.9 billion, is headquartered in Pikeville, Kentucky and has 71 banking locations across eastern, northeastern, central, and south central Kentucky, six banking locations in southern West Virginia, three banking locations in northeastern Tennessee, four trust offices across Kentucky, and one trust office in Tennessee.

Additional information follows.

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