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Stellar Bancorp, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

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HOUSTON, April 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stellar Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company" or "Stellar") (NYSE: STEL) today reported net income of $24.7 million or diluted earnings per share of $0.46, for the first quarter of 2025, compared to net income of $25.2 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.47, for the fourth quarter of 2024.

"We are pleased with the great work our team is doing as we turn our efforts from building our foundation to growing our bank," said Robert R. Franklin, Jr., Stellar’s Chief Executive Officer. "We are seeing our pipelines build while experiencing payoffs as commercial real estate is sold or refinanced. This follows our expectations as interest rates begin to stabilize and we stabilize our position under regulatory guidance," Mr. Franklin continued.

"We cannot ignore the uncertainty that has been introduced by the administration through tariffs. We will continue to monitor the effects on the economy in general and specifically our customer base. We continue to believe that we operate in one of the most dynamic markets in the country and will continue to deliver opportunities for Stellar Bank. However, we will remain cautious around credit as we build our pipelines," commented Mr. Franklin.

"Given the uncertainty caused in the first quarter, we expect most of our growth to come in the second half of the year, but what we have seen so far this year is encouraging. Thank you to the great Stellar Team as we build Stellar into the bank of choice in our markets," Mr. Franklin concluded.

Financial Highlights

  • Solid Profitability: Net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $24.7 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.46, which translated into an annualized return on average assets of 0.94%, an annualized return on average equity of 6.21% and an annualized return on average tangible equity of 11.48%(1).

  • Strong Net Interest Margin: Tax equivalent net interest margin for the first quarter of 2025 was 4.20% compared to 4.25% for the fourth quarter of 2024. The tax equivalent net interest margin, excluding purchase accounting accretion ("PAA"), was 3.97%(1) for the first quarter of 2025 compared to 3.94%(1) for the fourth quarter of 2024.

  • Strong Capital Position and Book Value Build: Total risk-based capital ratio increased to 15.94% at March 31, 2025, while book value per share increased to $30.89 at March 31, 2025 from $30.09 at December 31, 2024 and tangible book value per share increased to $19.69(1) at March 31, 2025 from $19.05(1) at December 31, 2024.

  • Repurchase of Shares: Repurchased 1.4 million shares at a weighted average price per share of $27.99 during the first quarter of 2025 and 679 thousand shares at a weighted average price of $25.83 per share since the end of the first quarter of 2025. On April 23, 2025, the Board of Directors authorized of new share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $65 million of common stock through May 31, 2026.