Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Financial Performance and ...

In This Article:

  • Net Income (Q4 2024): $94.4 million or $1.37 per diluted share.

  • Adjusted Net Income (Q4 2024): $95.1 million or $1.38 per diluted share.

  • Net Income (Full Year 2024): $358.7 million or $5.19 per diluted share.

  • Adjusted Net Income (Full Year 2024): $346.6 million or $5.02 per diluted share.

  • Adjusted ROA (Q4 2024): 1.43%.

  • Return on Tangible Common Equity (Q4 2024): Over 14%.

  • Net Interest Margin (Q4 2024): 3.64%.

  • Adjusted Efficiency Ratio (Q4 2024): Improved over 240 basis points to under 52%.

  • Revenue Growth (Q4 2024): Almost 10% annualized.

  • Tangible Book Value Per Share (End of 2024): $38.59, a 14.7% increase from last year.

  • Tangible Common Equity Ratio (End of Q4 2024): 10.59%.

  • Net Interest Income Increase (Q4 2024): $7.7 million.

  • Total Assets (End of Q4 2024): $26.3 billion.

  • Average Earning Assets (End of Q4 2024): $24.4 billion.

  • Total Loan Production (Q4 2024): $1.8 billion.

  • Core Deposits Growth (Q4 2024): $675 million or over 3%.

  • Deposit Increase (Full Year 2024): About $1 billion or almost 5%.

Release Date: January 31, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Ameris Bancorp (NYSE:ABCB) reported a strong fourth quarter with an adjusted ROA of 1.43% and a return on tangible common equity over 14%.

  • The company achieved a notable increase in earnings per share for the full year 2024, with a 26% year-over-year growth in adjusted EPS.

  • Ameris Bancorp (NYSE:ABCB) successfully grew deposits by 5% while reducing broker deposits, demonstrating effective balance sheet management.

  • The company's tangible common equity ratio increased to over 10%, reflecting a strengthened capital base.

  • Ameris Bancorp (NYSE:ABCB) maintained a healthy allowance for credit losses at 1.63% and achieved a 14.7% growth in tangible book value per share for the year.

Negative Points

  • The company's net interest margin expansion in the fourth quarter was partly due to temporary factors, which are expected to reverse, potentially reducing the margin by 10 basis points.

  • Ameris Bancorp (NYSE:ABCB) anticipates a seasonal decline in public fund deposits in early 2025, which may require replacement with higher-cost brokered deposits.

  • Loan balances declined slightly during the quarter due to seasonality and accelerated paydowns in the CRE book.

  • The company did not repurchase any stock in the fourth quarter, despite having a $100 million buyback authorization in place.

  • Ameris Bancorp (NYSE:ABCB) recorded a $12.8 million provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter, indicating a cautious approach to potential credit risks.