Central Pacific Financial Corp (CPF) Q3 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Growth Amidst ...

In This Article:

  • Net Income: $13.3 million or $0.49 per diluted share.

  • Adjusted Net Income: $15.7 million or $0.58 per diluted share, excluding $3.1 million in pretax expenses.

  • Total Loan Portfolio: Decreased by $41 million or 0.8% sequential quarter.

  • Net Interest Income: $53.9 million, an increase of $1.9 million from the prior quarter.

  • Net Interest Margin (NIM): 3.07%, up 10 basis points sequential quarter.

  • Total Cost of Deposits: Decreased by 1 basis point to 1.32% in the third quarter.

  • Other Operating Income: Increased to $12.7 million.

  • Other Operating Expense: Totaled $46.7 million, including $3.1 million in strategic opportunity expenses.

  • Effective Tax Rate: 22% in the third quarter.

  • Net Charge-Offs: $3.6 million or 27 basis points annualized on average loans.

  • Non-Performing Assets: $11.6 million or 16 basis points of total assets at quarter end.

  • Allowance for Credit Loss: $61.6 million or 1.15% of outstanding loans.

  • Total Risk-Based Capital: 15.3% at the end of the third quarter.

  • Quarterly Cash Dividend: $0.26 per share, payable on December 16.

Release Date: October 30, 2024

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

Positive Points

  • Central Pacific Financial Corp (NYSE:CPF) achieved meaningful net interest margin (NIM) expansion and core deposit growth in the third quarter.

  • The company opened a new state-of-the-art branch in Kahului, Maui, which is expected to create ongoing growth opportunities.

  • Hawaii's construction industry showed strong growth, with private building permits increasing by 19% in the first seven months of 2024.

  • CPF maintained strong asset quality and capital positions, with a total risk-based capital ratio of 15.3%.

  • The company reported a net interest income increase of $1.9 million from the prior quarter, driven by higher yields on investment securities and loan portfolios.

Negative Points

  • Loan growth remained challenged due to high interest rates, resulting in a $41 million decrease in the total loan portfolio.

  • The company incurred $3.1 million in pretax expenses related to a strategic opportunity that did not materialize.

  • Total statewide visitor arrivals in Hawaii were down 2.2% year-to-date through August, impacting the tourism sector.

  • Non-performing assets increased slightly to $11.6 million, primarily due to a few residential mortgages on nonaccrual.

  • The total deposit portfolio remained relatively flat, with a reduction in higher-cost government time deposits.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you explain the decline in loans and how the pipeline is shaping up for future loan growth? A: Arnold Martines, President and CEO, explained that the decline is primarily demand-driven due to high interest rates, rather than a lack of appetite for growth. There is pent-up demand, and as rates decline, they expect an uptick in loan demand. Building permits are up, indicating projects in the pipeline, which is promising for future quarters.