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First BanCorp. Announces Earnings for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2024

In This Article:

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, October 23, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First BanCorp. (the "Corporation" or "First BanCorp.") (NYSE: FBP), the bank holding company for FirstBank Puerto Rico ("FirstBank" or "the Bank"), today reported a net income of $73.7 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $75.8 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2024, and $82.0 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2023.

 

Aurelio Alemán, President and Chief Executive Officer of First BanCorp, commented: "Our third quarter results reflect our commitment to deliver consistent performance and our ability to generate organic capital on the back of a stable environment in our main market. We posted a strong return on assets of 1.55%, maintained positive credit performance and stable deposit trends, and made good progress on our capital deployment strategy.

 

The economy remains on solid footing driven by positive labor market trends and increased business activity. This environment continues to support credit demand and has enabled our strongest quarter of commercial loan originations this year. Our loan portfolio grew by $63 million despite higher levels of unexpected commercial prepayments that amounted to approximately $122 million in the third quarter. Our teams remain focused on expanding existing relationships, building loan pipelines, and adopting new platforms to enable future growth as we close out 2024 and enter 2025.

 

Net interest income and the margin continued to expand after reaching a trough in the first quarter. We continue to expect that our bond book repricing opportunities will allow for some net interest income expansion in 2025. Finally, consistent with our guidance, we deployed over 100% of our quarterly earnings for the redemption of $50 million in junior subordinated debentures and the payment of common stock dividends. Our franchise is delivering solid results, we have a strong capital base, and we have ample flexibility to prudently allocate that capital into opportunities that best serve the long-term interests of our clients, communities and shareholders."

 

 

 

Q3

 

Q2

 

Q3

 

YTD

 

 

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

 

Financial Highlights (1)

 

 

 

Net interest income

$

202,064

 

 

$

199,628

 

 

$

199,728

 

 

$

598,212

 

 

$

600,428

 

 

 

 

Provision for credit losses

 

15,245

 

 

 

11,605

 

 

 

4,396

 

 

 

39,017

 

 

 

42,128

 

 

 

 

Non-interest income

 

32,502

 

 

 

32,038

 

 

 

30,296

 

 

 

98,523

 

 

 

99,085

 

 

 

 

Non-interest expenses

 

122,935

 

 

 

118,682

 

 

 

116,638

 

 

 

362,540

 

 

 

344,823

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

96,386

 

 

 

101,379

 

 

 

108,990

 

 

 

295,178

 

 

 

312,562

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

22,659

 

 

 

25,541

 

 

 

26,968

 

 

 

72,155

 

 

 

89,187

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

73,727

 

 

$

75,838

 

 

$

82,022

 

 

$

223,023

 

 

$

223,375

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selected Financial Data (1)

 

 

 

Net interest margin

 

4.25

%

 

 

4.22

%

 

 

4.15

%

 

 

4.21

%

 

 

4.24

%

 

 

 

Efficiency ratio

 

52.41

%

 

 

51.23

%

 

 

50.71

%

 

 

52.03

%

 

 

49.29

%

 

 

 

Earnings per share - diluted

$

0.45

 

 

$

0.46

 

 

$

0.46

 

 

$

1.35

 

 

$

1.25

 

 

 

 

Book value per share

$

10.38

 

 

$

9.10

 

 

$

7.47

 

 

$

10.38

 

 

$

7.47

 

 

 

 

Tangible book value per share (2)

$

10.09

 

 

$

8.81

 

 

$

7.16

 

 

$

10.09

 

 

$

7.16

 

 

 

 

Return on average equity

 

18.31

%

 

 

20.80

%

 

 

20.70

%

 

 

19.52

%

 

 

19.00

%

 

 

 

Return on average assets

 

1.55

%

 

 

1.61

%

 

 

1.72

%

 

 

1.57

%

 

 

1.59

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results for Third Quarter of 2024 compared to Second Quarter of 2024

Profitability

 

Net income – $73.7 million, or $0.45 per diluted share compared to $75.8 million, or $0.46 per diluted share.

 

Income before income taxes $96.4 million compared to $101.3 million.

 

Adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision income (Non-GAAP)(2) $111.6 million, compared to $113.1 million.

 

Net interest income – $202.1 million compared to $199.6 million. The increase was mainly due to a higher volume of loans and an increase of approximately $1.2 million associated with the effect of an additional day in the third quarter of 2024. Net interest margin increased to 4.25%, compared to 4.22%.

 

Provision for credit losses – $15.2 million compared to $11.6 million. The increase in provision reflects the impact of higher charge-off levels in the consumer loan and finance lease portfolios, partially offset by reductions associated with the improved financial condition from certain commercial borrowers and improvements in the long-term projections of the unemployment rate primarily in the Puerto Rico region and the commercial real estate ("CRE") price index.

 

Non-interest income – $32.5 million compared to $32.0 million. The increase was driven by insurance proceeds of $0.8 million received in the third quarter of 2024.

 

Non-interest expenses – $122.9 million compared to $118.7 million. The increase was mainly due to a $2.3 million realized gain on the sale of a commercial other real estate owned ("OREO") property in the Puerto Rico region in the second quarter of 2024 and a $1.6 million increase in employees’ compensation and benefits expense, driven by annual salary merit increases and an additional working day in the third quarter of 2024. The efficiency ratio was 52.41%, compared to 51.23%.

 

 

 

Balance
Sheet

 

Total loans – grew by $62.8 million to $12.5 billion, primarily reflecting growth in the consumer and commercial loan portfolios. Total loan originations, other than credit card utilization activity, of $1.2 billion, up $43.1 million, mainly in commercial and construction loans.

 

Core deposits (other than brokered and government deposits) – decreased by $36.8 million to $12.7 billion, reflecting a decline of $51.0 million in the Virgin Islands region and $31.5 million in the Puerto Rico region, partially offset by a $45.7 million increase in the Florida region. This decline includes a $96.9 million decrease in non-interest-bearing deposits, partially offset by a $35.9 million increase in time deposits.

 

Government deposits (fully collateralized) – decreased by $40.1 million to $3.2 billion, mainly in the Virgin Islands region.

 

Brokered certificates of deposits ("CDs") – decreased by $104.7 million to $520.0 million, mainly in the Puerto Rico region.

 

 

 

Asset
Quality

 

Allowance for credit losses ("ACL") coverage ratio – amounted to 1.98%, compared to 2.06%.

 

Annualized net charge-offs to average loans ratio increased to 0.78%, compared to 0.69%; the increase includes a $1.2 million fully reserved charge-off taken in connection with the sale of an $8.2 million nonaccrual commercial and industrial ("C&I") loan in the Puerto Rico region.

 

Non-performing assets – decreased by $7.8 million, driven by the sale and charge-off of the aforementioned nonaccrual C&I loan.

 

 

 

Liquidity
and
Capital

 

Liquidity – Cash and cash equivalents amounted to $685.4 million, compared to $586.3 million. When adding $1.8 billion of free high-quality liquid securities that could be liquidated or pledged within one day and $964.7 million in available lending capacity at the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB"), available liquidity amounted to 18.43% of total assets, compared to 18.50%.

 

Capital – Repurchased $50.0 million of junior subordinated debentures and paid $26.1 million in common stock dividends. Capital ratios exceeded required regulatory levels. The Corporation’s estimated total capital, common equity tier 1 ("CET1") capital, tier 1 capital, and leverage ratios were 18.25%, 16.18%, 16.18%, and 10.96%, respectively, as of September 30, 2024. On a non-GAAP basis, the tangible common equity ratio(2) increased to 8.79% when compared to 7.66%, driven by the $160.1 million increase in the fair value of available-for-sale debt securities due to changes in market interest rates which is recognized as part of accumulated other comprehensive loss.

 

 

 

 

 

(1) In thousands, except per share information and financial ratios.

(2) Represents a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to Non-GAAP Disclosures - Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the definition of and additional information about this non-GAAP financial measure

NET INTEREST INCOME

The following table sets forth information concerning net interest income for the last five quarters: