Enterprise Financial Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Second Quarter Results

• Net income of $45.4 million, or $1.19 per diluted common share, compared to $1.05 in the linked quarter and $1.29 in the prior year quarter
• Net interest margin of 4.19%, quarterly increase of 6 basis points
• Net interest income of $140.5 million, quarterly increase of $2.8 million
• Total loans of $11.0 billion, quarterly decrease of $28.5 million
• Total deposits of $12.3 billion, quarterly increase of $28.7 million
• Return on Average Assets ("ROAA") of 1.25%, compared to 1.12% and 1.44% in the linked and prior year quarters, respectively
• Return on Average Tangible Common Equity ("ROATCE")¹ of 13.77%, compared to 12.31% and 16.53% in the linked and prior year quarters, respectively
• Tangible common equity to tangible assets¹ of 9.18%, an increase of 17 basis points and 53 basis points from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively
• Tangible book value per share¹ of $35.02, annualized increase of 10%
• Repurchased 225,135 shares and increased quarterly dividend $0.01 to $0.27 per common share for the third quarter 2024

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 second quarter earnings, "I was very pleased with our second quarter results, including our strong asset quality and the growth in operating revenue, customer deposits, and tangible common equity. We had a return on average assets of 1.25% and a return on tangible common equity of 13.8%. These returns increased our tangible book value per share by 10% on an annualized basis this quarter. Over the past 10 years, we have produced a compounded annual growth rate of 10% on our tangible book value per share. With the strength of our balance sheet and our solid return profile, we opportunistically repurchased over $8 million of common stock and announced another increase to our quarterly dividend."

Highlights

• Earnings - Net income in the second quarter 2024 was $45.4 million, an increase of $5.0 million and a decrease of $3.7 million compared to the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. Earnings per share ("EPS") was $1.19 per diluted common share for the second quarter 2024, compared to $1.05 and $1.29 per diluted common share for the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. Adjusted diluted earnings per share¹ was $1.21 for the second quarter 2024, compared to $1.07 for the linked quarter.

• Pre-provision net revenue ("PPNR")¹ - PPNR of $63.3 million in the second quarter 2024 increased $5.9 million and decreased $5.7 million from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. The increase from the linked quarter was primarily due to higher noninterest income, primarily tax credit income, and higher net interest income that benefited from higher average loan balances and expanding yields on earning assets. These increases were partially offset by an increase in deposit interest expense. The decrease compared to the prior year quarter was primarily due to the higher interest rate environment that increased deposit interest expense and the cost of variable deposit services costs, which are influenced by current market rates.

• Net interest income and net interest margin ("NIM") - Net interest income of $140.5 million for the second quarter 2024 increased $2.8 million and decreased $0.2 million from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. Compared to the linked quarter, net interest income for the second quarter 2024 increased due to an expanded net interest spread and higher average loan and interest-earning asset balances. NIM was 4.19% for the second quarter 2024, compared to 4.13% and 4.49% for the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. The total cost of deposits of 2.16% for the second quarter 2024 increased 3 basis points and 70 basis points from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively.

• Noninterest income - Noninterest income of $15.5 million for the second quarter 2024 increased $3.3 million and $1.2 million from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. The increase from the linked and prior year quarters was primarily due to an increase in tax credit income on higher activity that was partially offset by an increase in market interest rates that decreased the fair value of certain tax credits.

• Noninterest expense - Noninterest expense of $94.0 million for the second quarter 2024 increased $0.5 million and $8.1 million from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. The increase from the linked quarter was primarily driven by higher variable deposit servicing costs and expenses related to the core system conversion, partially offset by a decrease in employee compensation and the FDIC special assessment. The increase from the prior year quarter was primarily due to variable deposit servicing costs and employee compensation.

• Loans - Loans totaled $11.0 billion at June 30, 2024, a decrease of $28.5 million from the linked quarter and an increase of $487.4 million from the prior year quarter. Average loans totaled $11.0 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to $10.9 billion and $10.3 billion for the linked and prior year quarters, respectively.

• Asset quality - The allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.27% at June 30, 2024, compared to 1.23% at March 31, 2024 and 1.34% at June 30, 2023. The ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.33% at June 30, 2024, compared to 0.30% and 0.12% at March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2023, respectively. The provision for credit losses recorded in the second quarter 2024 was $4.8 million, compared to $5.8 million and $6.3 million for the linked and prior year quarters, respectively.

• Deposits - Total deposits increased $28.7 million from March 31, 2024 to $12.3 billion at June 30, 2024, despite a decrease of $164.1 million in brokered certificates of deposit. Excluding brokered certificates of deposits, deposits increased $192.8 million. Average deposits were $12.3 billion, $12.2 billion and $11.4 billion for the current, linked and prior year quarters, respectively. At June 30, 2024, noninterest-bearing deposit accounts totaled $3.9 billion, or 32.0% of total deposits, and the loan to deposit ratio was 89.6%.

• Liquidity - The total available on- and off-balance-sheet liquidity was approximately $5.6 billion at June 30, 2024. On-balance-sheet liquidity consisted of cash of $392.8 million and $1.2 billion in unpledged investment securities at June 30, 2024. Off-balance-sheet liquidity consisted of $1.2 billion available through the Federal Home Loan Bank, $2.6 billion available through the Federal Reserve and $140.0 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 $1.8 billion and the tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio² was 9.18% at June 30, 2024, compared to 9.01% at March 31, 2024. Enterprise Bank & Trust remains "well-capitalized," with a common equity tier 1 ratio of 12.4% and a total risk-based capital ratio of 13.5% at June 30, 2024. The Company's common equity tier 1 ratio and total risk-based capital ratio were 11.7% and 14.6%, respectively, at June 30, 2024.
  
  
  
  The Company's board of directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.27 per common share, payable on September 30, 2024 to shareholders of record as of September 16, 2024. 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) June 15, 2024 to (but excluding) September 15, 2024. The dividend will be payable on September 15, 2024 and will be paid on September 16, 2024 to holders of record of Series A Preferred Stock as of August 30, 2024.

Net Interest Income and NIM

Average Balance Sheets

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, certain information related to the 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 of $140.5 million for the second quarter 2024 increased $2.8 million and decreased $0.2 million from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis was $142.6 million, $139.8 million and $142.8 million for the current, linked and prior year quarters, respectively. The increase from the linked quarter was primarily due to an expansion of the loan portfolio and securities yields, and to a lesser extent, an increase in average earning assets. This was partially offset by an increase in both the cost and average balance of interest-bearing deposits. The decrease from the prior year quarter reflects higher interest expense on the deposit portfolio and continued remixing into higher cost deposit categories.

Interest income increased $3.9 million during the second quarter 2024. Interest on loans benefited from a $34.6 million increase in average loan balances compared to the linked quarter, as well as an 8 basis point increase in yield. The average interest rate of new loan originations in the second quarter 2024 was 8.07%, an increase of 23 basis points from the linked quarter. Interest on cash accounts increased $0.8 million from the linked quarter due to a $57.4 million increase in average balances, and interest on securities increased $0.5 million due to an 8 basis point increase in yield.

Interest expense increased $1.1 million in the second quarter 2024 primarily due to an increase in interest expense on certificates of deposit that includes brokered amounts. Average certificates of deposit increased $70.3 million and the cost increased 10 basis points in the second quarter 2024. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits was 3.19%, an increase of 5 basis points compared to the linked quarter. The total cost of deposits, including noninterest-bearing demand accounts, was 2.16% during the second quarter 2024, compared to 2.13% in the linked quarter. While the total cost of deposits increased over the linked quarter, the monthly cost of total deposits has been stable since March 2024.

NIM, on a tax equivalent basis, was 4.19% in the second quarter 2024, an increase of 6 basis points from the linked quarter and a decrease of 30 basis points from the prior year quarter. For the month of June 2024, the loan portfolio yield was 6.92% and the cost of total deposits was 2.17%.

Investments

Investment securities totaled $2.4 billion at June 30, 2024, an increase of $18.7 million from the linked quarter. Investment purchases in the second quarter 2024 had a weighted average, tax equivalent yield of 5.43%. The tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio adjusted for unrealized losses on held-to-maturity securities³ was 8.82% at June 30, 2024, compared to 8.68% at March 31, 2024.

Loans

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

Loans totaled $11.0 billion at June 30, 2024, a decrease of $28.5 million compared to the linked quarter. During the current quarter, C&I loans and residential real estate loans decreased $156.7 million and $14.7 million, respectively, while construction loans and CRE loans increased $65.0 million and $61.7 million, respectively. Loan origination activity and advances on lines of credit were strong during the second quarter 2024, but were offset by paydowns and maturities in the current quarter that were at the highest quarterly level in the past five quarters. Average line utilization was approximately 46% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to 44% and 45% 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 $4.0 million during the second quarter 2024 and increased $32.0 million from the prior year quarter. The increase in nonperforming assets in the current quarter was primarily related to the addition of an agricultural relationship that moved into nonperforming status during the period, partially offset by a reduction from charge-offs and repayments. Included in nonperforming loans is $1.3 million of loans that are 90 days past due and accruing interest. The Company anticipates full repayment of these loans. The increase in nonperforming assets from the prior year quarter was primarily due to a $27.1 million increase in real estate loans and an $8.7 million increase in OREO and other repossessed assets, partially offset by a $2.9 million decrease in C&I loans. Annualized net charge-offs totaled 2 basis points of average loans in the second quarter 2024, compared to 22 basis points in the linked quarter and 12 basis point in the prior year quarter.

The provision for credit losses totaled $4.8 million in the second quarter 2024, compared to $5.8 million and $6.3 million in the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. The provision for credit losses in the second quarter 2024 was primarily related to an increase in reserves on individually evaluated loans and updates to qualitative factors used in the allowance calculation.

Deposits

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

Total deposits at June 30, 2024 were $12.3 billion, an increase of $28.7 million and $662.5 million from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. Excluding brokered certificates of deposits, total deposits increased $192.8 million and $1.1 billion, from the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. Reciprocal deposits, which are placed through third party programs to provide FDIC insurance on larger deposit relationships, totaled $1.2 billion at June 30, 2024, compared to $1.1 billion at March 31, 2024.

Total estimated insured deposits⁴, which includes collateralized deposits, reciprocal accounts and accounts that qualify for pass-through insurance, totaled $8.7 billion, or 71% of total deposits, at both June 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024.

Noninterest Income

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

Total noninterest income was $15.5 million for the second quarter 2024, an increase of $3.3 million from the linked quarter and an increase of $1.2 million from the prior year quarter. The increase from the linked and prior year quarters was primarily due to an increase 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 following table presents a comparative summary of the major components of other income for the periods indicated:

The decrease in other income from the linked quarter was primarily driven by gains on the sale of SBA loans that were recognized in the linked quarter, while the decrease from the prior year quarter was due to lower community development income. Community development income and private equity fund distributions are not consistent sources of income and fluctuate based on distributions from the underlying funds.

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 $0.7 million from the linked quarter primarily due to employer payroll taxes that are seasonally higher in the first quarter each year and a decline in self-insured medical claims. Deposit costs relate to certain specialized deposit businesses that receive an earnings credit allowance for deposit related expenses that are impacted by interest rates and average balances. Deposit costs increased $1.4 million from the linked quarter primarily due to the expiration of unused allowances that reduced expense in the first quarter and growth in deposits. Expenses related to the core system conversion increased $0.9 million from the linked quarter due to the continued progress on the project.

The increase in noninterest expense of $8.1 million from the prior year quarter was primarily due to an increase in the associate base, merit increases throughout 2023 and 2024, an increase in variable deposit costs due to higher earnings credit rates and average balances, and additional expenses incurred related to the core system conversion.

For the second quarter 2024, the core efficiency ratio⁵ was 58.1%, compared to 60.2% for the linked quarter and 54.0% for the prior year quarter.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate was 20.5%, compared to 20.2% and 21.6% in the linked and prior year quarters, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate from the prior year quarter was driven by tax credit opportunities the Company has deployed as part of its tax planning strategy.

Capital

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

*Capital ratios for the current quarter are preliminary and subject to, among other things, completion and filing of the Company's regulatory reports and ongoing regulatory review.

Total equity was $1.8 billion at June 30, 2024, an increase of $23.5 million from the linked quarter. Tangible common book value per share was $35.02 at June 30, 2024, compared to $34.21 and $31.23 at March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2023, 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 additional financial measures, such as tangible common equity, PPNR, ROATCE, core efficiency ratio, the tangible common equity ratio, tangible book value per common share, estimated insured deposits and adjusted diluted earnings per 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, core efficiency ratio, the tangible common equity ratio, tangible book value per common share, estimated insured deposits and adjusted diluted earnings per 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 the FDIC special assessment, core conversion expenses, 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, July 23, 2024. During the call, management will review the second quarter 2024 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 1-800-715-9871. We encourage participants to pre-register for the conference call using the following link: https://bit.ly/EFSC2Q2024EarningsCallRegistration. 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 $14.6 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", "pipeline" 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, 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, 2023, 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.