WaFd Announces Quarterly Earnings Per Share of $0.54

WaFd, Inc. (NASDAQ:WAFD): 

WaFd, Inc. (NASDAQ:WAFD) (the "Company"), parent company of Washington Federal Bank ("WaFd Bank" or the "Bank"), today announced quarterly earnings of $47,267,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of 23% from net earnings of $61,140,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 and a decrease of 19% from net earnings of $58,453,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. After the effect of dividends on preferred stock, net income available for common shareholders was $0.54 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to $0.71 per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, a $0.17 or 24% decrease, and $0.85 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, a $0.31 or 36% decrease in fully diluted earnings per common share. The current quarter results reflect one-time charges of $5,390,000 as a result of restructuring activities described below. After adjusting for these charges and other non-operating items, earnings per share for the quarter was $0.62 per diluted share. For a reconciliation, see the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below.

"In the first quarter of fiscal 2025 our results were impacted by greater than expected margin compression. On a linked quarter basis our margin contracted from 2.62% to 2.39%. Excluding a valuation adjustment to hedges obtained in the Luther Burbank acquisition, the Q1 margin would have been 2.45%. The Federal Reserve started reducing interest rates with a 50 basis point cut on September 18, 2024, followed by two 25 basis point cuts in October and December. With each cut, our variable rate assets (loans and investments) repriced quickly, while the repricing of our liabilities has lagged, causing margin compression. On a linked quarter basis, the yield on earning assets declined by 36 basis points, while the yield on paying liabilities decreased by only 14 basis points. We are pleased to report that credit quality remains strong with minimal net charge-offs and delinquencies of only 0.30%. Capital has grown nicely over the last three quarters, with tangible common equity to tangible assets increasing from 8.31% to 9.45% since our acquisition in March of last year.

Today we are announcing a significant shift in focus for our business model. After over 100 years of making home loans, we are exiting the single-family mortgage lending market and have recorded a restructuring expense of $5.4 million this quarter. As a result, by the end of June 2025, we anticipate annual expense savings of approximately $17 million. Importantly, we will retain all existing home loans and HELOC's on our books, ensuring no disruption for our current customers. We have come to this conclusion after thoughtful deliberation for two primary reasons. First, home loans are seen as a commodity with nearly 70% of originations sold to US government sponsored enterprises like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, which has caused profitability to decrease and credit risk to increase. Second, technology has made it easy for consumers to refinance (which is a good thing for homeowners), but it increases the interest rate risk for banks that hold mortgages. Our aim is to always offer products and services to our customers where WaFd Bank can add value, and we have concluded that we no longer do so in the mortgage sector. Exiting mortgage lending and right sizing other support areas will result in an 8% reduction in our workforce.

While not the primary factor, but certainly a contributing factor, the regulatory burden associated with mortgage lending also played a role in our decision. Recently we were notified that WaFd Bank has received an overall "Needs to Improve" rating regarding our Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA") compliance because we did not make enough loans to low and moderate income ("LMI") borrowers and communities. For the individual components of the exam, we received a "High Satisfactory" rating in both the investment and service tests, and a "Needs to Improve" on the lending test. We are committed to serving all of our communities and have done so as a portfolio lender since 1917. Today, we compete against government-sponsored financing programs with less stringent underwriting than we are comfortable offering as a lender that retains all loans on our balance sheet. For example, there are multiple government programs that require no down payment, and our performance is being compared to lenders who offer these programs and originate to sell. We strongly disagree with this rating and plan to appeal this conclusion.

Through our involvement in the PPP program during the Pandemic, we have seen just how important small business is to us, and to the communities we serve, and how underserved many small businesses are when it comes to their banking needs. Technology is excellent and abundant; what small businesses need is a trusted advisor to help them navigate complex financial matters and exercise professional skepticism. We aim to fill that need. Going forward, in addition to serving consumers, WaFd will concentrate its focus, offerings and efforts on business banking and commercial real estate lending. We will also begin offering SBA lending products that will allow us to broaden our offerings for small businesses.

We have also re-aligned our management structure. On the executive team, Cathy Cooper will transition to the role of Chief Experience Officer, responsible for enhancing overall client experience through digital channels and in person processes. James Endrizzi will step aside from his current role and will assume leadership responsibility for Commercial Real Estate in both Utah and Nevada in a non-executive role. The Business Bank Division will be led by Michelle Coons, Dan LaCoste and Doron Joseph. The Commercial Real Estate Division will be led by Tony Barnard and Tom Pozarycki. All five of these leaders have been promoted to the role of Executive Director but are not deemed executive officers under SEC rules.

Here at WaFd, we strive to be a bank with heart. That does not mean we ignore issues or avoid difficult decisions. We firmly believe the actions being announced today will position us to better serve our clients and deliver solid returns to our shareholders for years to come."

Brent Beardall

President and CEO of WaFd Bank

The Company acquired Luther Burbank Corporation ("LBC") on February 29, 2024. As such, the Company's financial results are not directly comparable to the results of periods prior to that date. The following table provides the Company's financial scorecard for the last five quarters:

Balance Sheet Total assets were $27.7 billion as of December 31, 2024, compared to $28.1 billion at September 30, 2024, primarily due to cash used to reduce borrowings during the quarter. Net loans increased by $144 million, or 0.7%, and cash decreased $873 million, or 36.7%. Investment securities increased by $271 million, or 9.0%, during the quarter.

Customer deposits totaled $21.4 billion as of December 31, 2024, largely unchanged from September 30, 2024. Transaction accounts increased by $37 million or 0.3% during the quarter, while time deposits increased $28 million, also 0.3%. As of December 31, 2024, 55.3% of the Company's deposits were transaction accounts, unchanged from September 30, 2024. Core deposits, defined as all transaction accounts and time deposits less than $250,000, totaled 78.3% of deposits at December 31, 2024. Deposits that are uninsured or not collateralized were 24.8% as of December 31, 2024, a slight increase from 24.0% as of September 30, 2024.

Borrowings totaled $2.9 billion as of December 31, 2024, down from $3.3 billion at September 30, 2024. The effective weighted average interest rate of borrowings was 3.62% as of December 31, 2024, compared to 3.93% at September 30, 2024.

Loan originations totaled $0.9 billion for the first fiscal quarter of 2025, compared to $0.9 billion of originations in the same quarter one year ago. Offsetting loan originations in each of these quarters were loan repayments of $1.0 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively. The Bank had intentionally slowed new loan production to temper net loan growth. Commercial loans represented 68% of all loan originations during the first fiscal quarter of 2025 and consumer loans accounted for the remaining 32%. Commercial loans are viewed by the Bank as preferable as they generally have floating interest rates and shorter durations. The weighted average period end interest rate on the loan portfolio was 5.16% as of December 31, 2024, a decrease from 5.26% as of September 30, 2024.

Credit Quality Credit quality continues to be monitored closely in light of the shifting economic and monetary environment. As of December 31, 2024, non-performing assets increased slightly to $79 million, or 0.3% of total assets, from $77 million, or 0.3%, at September 30, 2024. The change fiscal year to date is due primarily to non-accrual loans increasing by $2.9 million, or 4%, since September 30, 2024. Delinquent loans were slightly increased at 0.30% of total loans at December 31, 2024, compared to 0.25% at September 30, 2024. The allowance for credit losses (including the reserve for unfunded commitments) totaled $225 million as of December 31, 2024, and was 1.00% of gross loans outstanding, as compared to $225 million, or 1.01% of gross loans outstanding, as of September 30, 2024. Net charge-offs were $231,000 for the first fiscal quarter of 2025, compared to $70,000 for the prior quarter.

Profitability Net interest income was $155 million for the first fiscal quarter of 2025, a decrease of $17.4 million or 10% from the prior quarter. The decrease in net interest income was primarily due to a 36 basis point decrease in the rate earned on interest earning assets offset by a smaller 14 basis point decrease in the average rate paid on interest bearing liabilities. Interest income was also affected by a valuation adjustment to hedges obtained in the Luther Burbank acquisition resulting in a reduction of $3.9 million. Net interest margin was 2.39% in the first fiscal quarter of 2025 compared to 2.62% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Total non-interest income was $15.7 million for the first fiscal quarter of 2025 compared to $15.9 million the prior quarter. The small decrease in other income compared to prior quarter was primarily due to slightly decreased commission income from the Bank's insurance subsidiary.

Total non-interest expense was $111.3 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2025, an increase of $3.4 million, or 3.1%, from the prior quarter. The overall increase is the result of the $5.4 million of restructuring costs incurred in the quarter offset by a decrease in FDIC premiums of $2.0 million in the same period. Increased expenses combined with decreased net interest income resulted in an increase in the Company's efficiency ratio in the first fiscal quarter of 2025 to 65.0%, compared to 57.2% in the prior quarter.

The Company is also in the process of restarting its wholly owned technology subsidiary Pike Street Labs and will bring back in-house its custom online, mobile and digital account opening technology and teams from Archway Software. We anticipate this transition will aid us in becoming more efficient over time.

The Company did not record a provision for credit losses in the first fiscal quarter of 2025, consistent with the prior quarter. The lack of provision for loan losses in the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was primarily due to a stable loans receivable balance and stable credit performance.

Return on common shareholders' equity for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was 6.42% compared to 8.53% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Adjusted for certain non-operating items relating to the merger and restructuring, return on equity for the quarter is 7.45% compared to adjusted return on equity of 8.18% the prior quarter. Return on assets for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was 0.7% compared to 0.9% for the previous quarter. Adjusted for certain non-operating items relating to the merger and restructuring, return on assets for the quarter is 0.8% compared to adjusted return on equity of 0.8% the prior quarter. For a reconciliation of these adjusted ratios, see the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below.

Income tax expense totaled $13.0 million the first fiscal quarter of 2025, as compared to $13.2 million for the prior year same quarter. The effective tax rate for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was 21.55% compared to 24.21% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The Company's effective tax rate may vary from the statutory rate mainly due to state taxes, tax-exempt income and tax-credit investments.

WaFd Bank is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and has 210 branches in nine western states. To find out more about WaFd Bank, please visit our website www.wafdbank.com. The Company uses its website to distribute financial and other material information about the Company.

 Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company has presented certain non-GAAP measures within this document to remove the effect of certain income and expenses to provide investors with information useful in understanding our financial performance. The Company considers these items to be non-operating in nature as they are items that management does not consider indicative of the Company's on-going financial performance. We believe that the tables presented reflect our on-going performance in the periods presented and, accordingly, are useful to consider in addition to our GAAP financial results. These measures should not be considered a substitution for GAAP basis disclosures.

Other companies may use similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated differently from the way they are calculated herein. Because of this, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by others. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on such measures. See the following unaudited tables for reconciliations of our non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.