Q1 2024 Camden National Corp Earnings Call

Participants

Renee Smyth; Executive Vice President, Chief Experience and Marketing Officer; Camden National Corp

Simon Griffiths; CEO & President; Camden National Corp

Michael Archer; Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President; Camden National Corp

Steve Moss; Analyst; Raymond James Financial, Inc.

Damon DelMonte; Analyst; Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

Matthew Breese; Analyst; Stephens Inc.

Presentation

Operator

Good day, and welcome to Camden National Corporation's first quarter 2024 earnings conference call. My name is Seth, and I will be your operator for today's call. All participants will be in a listen only mode during today's presentation. Following the presentation, we will conduct a question and answer session. (Operator Instructions)
I will now turn the call over to Renee Smith, Executive Vice President, Chief Experience and Marketing Officer.

Renee Smyth

Thank you, Seth. Good afternoon, and welcome to Camden National Corporation's conference call for the first quarter of 2020. For joining us this afternoon are members of Camden National Corporation's executive team, Simon Griffith, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mike Archer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer.
Please note that today's presentation contains forward-looking statements and actual results could differ materially from what is discussed on today's call. Cautionary language regarding these forward-looking statements is contained in our first quarter 2024 earnings release, which was issued this morning as well as in other reports we file with the SEC.
All these materials and public filings are available on our Investor Relations website at Camden National Bank Camden National Corporation trades on the NASDAQ under the symbol CAC. In addition, today's presentation includes discussion of non-GAAP financial measures. Any reference to non-GAAP financial measures are intended to provide meaningful insights and are reconciled with GAAP in our earnings release, which is also available on our Investor Relations website.
I'm pleased to introduce Camden National Corporation's Host, President and Chief Executive Officer, Simon Gryphics.

Simon Griffiths

Thank you, Renee, and good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for joining us on our call today. We sincerely appreciate your time and interest. I will give some comments and then Mike will dive into our first quarter performance, and then we will open up the call for Q&A.
First, I would like to report, as I'm now over 90 days into the role as President and Chief Executive Officer. I continue to be impressed with the depth and experience of the management team and the talented team members executing diligently throughout the organization. Each team member is focused on executing on our strategies, including growing our primary banking relationships and leveraging our position of strength.
Earlier this morning, we reported net income of $13.3 million or $0.91 earnings per diluted share for the first quarter of 2024. Overall, we are pleased with our quarterly financial results, supported by strong capital, asset quality and liquidity.
Our regulatory capital ratios continue to be well in excess of required regulatory levels and steadily grown. As we close the first quarter with a reported tangible common equity ratio of 7.12%, up 1 basis point since year end. We continue to manage credit rigorously consistent with our disciplined credit culture, which continues to serve us well.
For the first quarter, we reported strong asset quality, evidenced by nonperforming assets at just 13 basis points of total assets. Our commercial loan portfolio remains well balanced with no meaningful concentration risks. Our credit and special asset teams continue to proactively review our portfolio and have not found any systemic systematic areas of concern.
For example, we continue to look at areas of interest rate risk in the context of rate resets on maturing loans, lease rollover and certain asset classes and credit score migration amongst other early indicators. This is a testament to our significant due diligence efforts, strong relationships with our borrowers and in-depth knowledge of the communities that we serve.
As our credit team indicates, our commercial customers have depth and character, which continues to feel our strength. We continue to see moderate loan demand in our communities with our approved pipeline remaining reasonably consistent over the past few quarters. Our teams are developing new customers and relationships in both commercial and consumer categories. Expense control remains a key focus and was evident as noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2024 decreased 2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.
During this quarter, we took actions to maintain and manage costs in response to revenue pressure caused by decreasing net interest margin. This month, our wealth management leader, Jennifer retired after nearly 40 years in the industry and we welcomed Garrick with Knight to the executive team to lead our wealth transformation efforts. Garrett is a former senior managing director at the Northern Trust Company and has more than 20 years of experience leading wealth management teams and serving clients and their families in the areas of investment management, financial planning and fiduciary services.
We're incredibly excited to bolster our wealth management services by adding Garrison expertise and our recent launch of a new wealth mobile app and client portal to provide our clients with unprecedented access to market intelligence and portfolio insight. Anytime anywhere. Our technology advancements also include a new state-of-the-art mobile and online account opening platform scheduled to go live at year end, allowing customers to open fund and use deposit accounts within minutes whenever and wherever they choose.
This is the latest milestone on our successful digital transformation roadmap, further unifying our digital and in-person customer experience and efforts to expand our customer base in summary, although the financial services industry continues to face economic uncertainty, we are confident in our ability to adapt to the changing landscape and deliver solid returns through the current challenges we are well-positioned to capitalize on exceptional customer relationships and are investing in our future. Our confidence comes from having a clear strategic plan to drive profitable growth and having a talented team focused on executing it.
Now, Mike will provide some first-quarter highlights.

Michael Archer

Excellent. Thank you, Simon, and good afternoon, everyone. This morning we reported net income of $13.3 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.91 for the first quarter of 2024. Overall, we are pleased with these results as we continue to navigate through a challenging interest rate cycle.
Net income for the first quarter was 57% higher than the last quarter and 4% higher than a year ago. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusting for realized investment losses and a $910,000 recovery on the sale of the Signature Bank bonds that we previously wrote off in 2023, adjusted net income increased 1% over the fourth quarter of last year and decreased 11% compared to the first quarter of 2023.
Our adjusted return on average assets was up 1 basis point to 0.88% for the first quarter of 2024. And our tangible capital continues to build, highlighted by an increase in tangible book value per share of 1% during the first quarter of 2024 and an increase of 10% over the past 12 months.
In the first quarter, our net interest margin decreased 10 basis points to 2.30%, which was lower than the expectations we communicated on our last earnings call. Funding costs on a linked quarter basis increased 17 basis points to 2.27% for the first quarter and was a few basis points higher than anticipated. We experienced normal seasonal deposit outflows in our markets during the first quarter, and we continue to see the remix from lower to higher cost deposit products.
Our attention continues to be on optimizing net interest margin to maintain and grow revenues and increase profitability through the first quarter. We continue we continue to take calculated actions to optimize our balance sheet and net interest margin.
A few examples include a replacing higher cost deposits which included $72 million of interest checking balances and $50 million of CDs with more cost advantageous funding alternatives, including the bank term funding program, brokered deposits and the balance sheet derivative.
As we look to the second quarter, we currently anticipate net interest margin will hold at or around 2.30% with possible upside as certain balance sheet derivatives mature in early June, and we anticipate normal seasonal deposit inflows picking up towards the back half of the second quarter.
In response to continued pressure on our net interest margin, we took actions during the first quarter to manage expenses closely and doing so, we were able to manage expenses lower on a linked-quarter basis by 2% to $27.4 million, which is well below our previously communicated expense forecast for the first quarter of $28 million to $28.5 million. As we look forward, we do anticipate operating expenses will trend slightly higher for the rest of the year and closer in line with prior guidance.
In the first quarter, loans grew 1% driven by commercial real estate loan balances increasing by $30.6 million. We continue to be disciplined with loan pricing across our products in the current interest rate environment based on our current loan pipelines and strategy. We currently anticipate similar loan growth in the mix for the second quarter. Our asset quality for the first quarter continued to be very strong, supported by excellent credit quality metrics including nonperforming loans of 0.19% of total loans, annualized net charge-offs of 2 basis points of average loans and past-due loans of five basis points of total loans.
The strength of our current and past asset quality, combined with modest loan growth and internal stress testing we have performed on certain loan segments gave us the confidence to reduce our loan loss reserves to 0.86% of total loans at March 31st.
This resulted in net credit for loan losses of $1.2 million for the first quarter and combined with the $910,000 recovery on the Signature Bank bond, we recognized a total negative provision expense of $2.1 million for the first quarter.
Our capital and liquidity positions also continue to be strong. Our book and regulatory capital ratios improved across the board in the first quarter. Our tangible common equity ratio was 7.12% at March 31st, 2024, compared to 7.11% at December 31, 2023, and 6.56% at March 31, 2023. Our uninsured and uncollateralized deposits at March 31, 2024 were 14.8% of total deposits and our available liquidity sources were 2.1 times uninsured and uncollateralized deposits, which continues to be very consistent with previous periods.
This concludes our comments. We'll now open the call for questions.

Question and Answer Session

Operator

(Operator Instructions) Steve Moss, Raymond James.

Steve Moss

Good afternoon, Steve, maybe just starting with bookings of loan pricing here. I'm curious as to what you're seeing getting for loan pricing in your markets these days? And also along that front, I noticed the commercial loans went down by about 20 basis points in yield quarter to quarter. Just kind of curious what if there's anything unique there?

Michael Archer

Sure. Just on your first part there, in terms of loan pricing, what we're currently seeing, we continue to hold really pretty steady in terms of keeping rates are keeping some of our interest rates higher. We originated I think for the quarter in the neighborhood of 7.5% to 8% was our original origination yield and our pipelines continue to be right in that neighborhood too, Steve. And so we continue to be very focused on that and where we can getting that price and being disciplined
On the second case there -- sorry, go ahead, Steve. So let's say, on the C&I piece, we did have one syndication loan that essentially repriced or refinanced rather during the quarter. And that's the primary driver for the C&I decrease, but nothing really atypical or abnormal there.

Steve Moss

Okay, got it. And then in terms of the derivatives you referenced, Mike, it sounds like you added some during the quarter. And then just what do you have maturing come June just to kind of help with some of the puts and takes for the balance sheet moves.

Michael Archer

Sure. So we actually executed the derivative in the December timeframe. I think it was with a forward start in January. I want to say it was either $50 million or $75 million off the top of my head. I'm really with the with this whole idea of replace in that more expensive CD that we had mentioned that was $50 million. I'm just again trying to be advantageous in terms of funding costs where we can.
And then in terms of the derivatives rolling off in the June timeframe, essentially, we have $100 million of balance sheet swaps. They've been on our books for quite some time, and that really has been compressing some of our CRI yields that are showing up in our margin tables until we do anticipate those rolling off here. And we do anticipate that should provide 6, 7 basis points to margin on a on a go-forward basis once we get past that point.

Steve Moss

Okay. Got it. appreciate that. So basically, kind of a margin, if rates kind of hold this range, [$230 million-ish] this quarter and then some upside as we head into the third quarter.

Michael Archer

Yes, I think that's a fair summary.

Steve Moss

Okay, appreciate that. And in terms of just on the mortgage side here, you guys saw sold more mortgages this quarter. Just kind of curious your appetite or the business mix. Should we think about just higher volumes given more saleable production here going forward?

Simon Griffiths

Yeah. Hey, Steve, Simon. I'd say, overall, low single digit growth is where we're seeing it. We're continuing to see nice demand on the resi side, which is continues to reflect, I think, the strength of the economy and the consumer in general. So certainly modest growth. And that's sort of how we're positioning that within our and our loan growth, but we certainly continue to see some strong demand out there.

Steve Moss

Okay. Appreciate that. And then also, Simon, just with regard to the reserve relief and I heard the reference about a deeper dive in credit. Just curious, gives a little more color as to, you know, how you look at buckets and just the dynamics that are maybe give some comfort around around the reserve release this quarter? And should we expect any more reviews in the upcoming quarter or two?

Simon Griffiths

Yes. I think look, as we talked about in the opening remarks, we just have a very strong credit portfolio and see just very strong performance and continue to stress test. And I think the team identified this opportunity, I think going forward, we're going to look at it as a case-by-case, but certainly felt this quarter certainly made sense. Obviously, the outlook for the rest of the year, I think is a key driver of how that potentially could change. And there's obviously a lot of uncertainty right now in terms of the back half of the year. But I think overall, the team focused the credit position is a very strong position and we felt it was appropriate for release on this quarter. And Mike, you want to add anything?

Michael Archer

And I think, yes, I would just say specifically on the our credit or excuse me, our credit risk team really dove into some of the I call it some of the problem headline areas that we're seeing in the news around rent controls and some of the interest-only loans and so forth, Steve, just as examples and stressing that service and LTVs and other factors there from an interest rate perspective, we just felt really we continue to have a very strong book.
We're not seeing anything systemic or any material issues there across those portfolios. And I think just coupled with like I said in the commentary is where we've been and how we performed combined with our own stress testing and how we're continuing to monitor. We just felt it was prudent and appropriate at this time to release some of the reserves, but we'll continue to monitor. And if macroeconomic factors change, et cetera, we'll adjust accordingly. But certainly, we feel very, very good at this level.

Operator

Damon DelMonte, KBW.

Damon DelMonte

Hey, good afternoon, guys. Hope you're all doing well. Just to kind of follow up on the question on the credit and provision outlook on if you're expecting kind of like low single digit loan growth on. So absent any net charge-offs, should we expect a little bit of provisioning just to cover then the new loan growth? And if so, like, what would be like kind of a targeted reserve you guys would be putting on new loans come on?

Michael Archer

Hey, Dave, it's Mike. Yes, I think if we anticipate some further loan growth there, like we said, in our commentary, probably low single digits for next quarter. I do think just in terms of the ACL, we'll continue to hold around mid 80s where we are right now. So to that to that end and probably pretty low provisions. And certainly if we have net charge-offs, again, nothing expected or anticipated of size at this point, certainly, but if we were, we'll account for that accordingly. But I really feel pretty strong about where we are right now at this level.

Damon DelMonte

Great. Thanks for that. And then I think you guys noted that you increased your BTFP drawdown before the end of the quarter. Just wondering, is that being used for actual funding purposes? Or did you guys use that as a kind of an arb opportunity where you took the funds and put it in cash and are able to kind of clip a small spread?

Michael Archer

No, we didn't really use it for that in that regard to drive any incremental, call it, NII expansion. It was more from a from a just optimization of margin. Truly we were able to get into that before some of the program dynamics change. So at this point, we have $225 million locked in for a year in three different tranches at 4.76% and possibly from an interest rate risk position and some of those other considerations, it's just really favorable given our view that any risk to rising rates improves, proves beneficial rates come down, we can we can prepay or if. And so again, we just saw the opportunity and thought it made sense to really bolster that got it.

Damon DelMonte

Okay. And then just lastly, your commentary on expenses kind of ticking higher to your prior guidance, could you just remind us is the prior guidance like $28 million to $28.5 million per quarter?

Michael Archer

Yeah, that's right, Damon. I think, just to provide some additional clarity, I think in the second quarter we could see closer to the $20 million -- somewhere in that mid-range there. I think after that in this back half of the year, probably on the lower end, again, plus or minus. But just some of the seasonality items that flush through in the second quarter, but that is certainly a good range still.

Simon Griffiths

And if I can just sorry, Damian, we continue to better balance the short time with the longer term and that getting that balance, right. I think, as Mike said, pushes is probably up a little bit in the next quarter, but we've got as we mentioned some great investments on the technology side and continue to invest in the long-term health and the health of the franchise take rates.

Operator

Matthew Breese, Stephens Inc.

Matthew Breese

Hey. Good afternoon, everybody. Hey, Mike. I was hoping you could help me out with kind of the month-over-month trends in deposit costs and the margin, whether or not there are any signs of early signs of stability, either those items?

Michael Archer

Yes, great. Great question, Matt, we are pleased to see it in more recent months that we're starting to see a level as maybe stabilize or isn't the right word. But certainly the increase in deposit costs and funding costs on a month-to-month basis is slowing. So I think in part it's starting to look like it's more in line with what we're seeing on the earning asset yield and that kind of speaks to the [$230] million, if you will, kind of staying relatively flat in the near term till we kind of start to see the seasonal inflows as well as the benefit from the derivatives.

Matthew Breese

Got it. Okay. And then on the deposit mix front, it felt like reading between the lines a little bit of frustration or capitulation just in the continued mix shift out of noninterest-bearing into interest-bearing. If you have to look ahead and say, hey, here's how I think we shake out a year from now in terms of deposit mix and then deposit growth love the year. Your thoughts on those two items?

Michael Archer

Yeah. Hi, Matthew, Simon. Yeah, it is a great question. And obviously, I think a lot of it depends on the rate environment on and you know how the Fed moves. But I think generally we've seen, as Mike indicated, sort of maturity on our customer base around sort of moving into from low no cost into higher costs. We start to see the D certainly from book stabilizing in terms of volumes.
And I think that sort of consistent sort of trend is likely to continue. But obviously, that's going to depend a lot on the Fed and the and the customer. I'd say as a team, we're certainly have a strong playbook around that potential downward rate environment. And we'll look to manage that very effectively with our customers with a focus on customer relationships and continuing to drive value.
And that's one of the things I think the team has done extremely well as well is we've brought in new customers into the CD. portfolio. We certainly look to build those relationships deepen those relationships. And we mentioned in the call the earnings call at the beginning, the addition of Garrett to the team. And I think that's another tremendous opportunity for us. And the communities we serve in Maine to take those relationships, deepen them and leverage the capabilities we have, both digital, the new platform in wealth and then the new leader that term that we mentioned. So I think those are things that can be certainly leverage going on a go forward basis.

Matthew Breese

I appreciate all that. And then just thinking about your new commentary sound stable for the second quarter might be a little bit of a bump in the third quarter. If we had to look out even a couple of more quarters beyond that assuming no Fed cuts or no Fed hikes, are you more optimistic about the year forward view as some of these dynamics? No more fully fleshed out in terms of deposits, repricing and earning asset yield expansion?

Michael Archer

Yes, I think short answer is yes, Matt. I think we're kind of at a little bit of that inflection point, honestly. I think for us, I do see opportunity for us to continue to increase even in this environment to start seeing some margin expansion from here. So I think certainly if the Fed were to make cuts that would be beneficial and call out would be added upside if we hold here for longer. So I think we're well positioned to see margin expansion again, the second half and certainly hopefully but beyond.

Matthew Breese

Got it. Okay. And then just last one for me. Cash position at quarter end was a little bit elevated versus what we've seen historically, 3% cash to assets. Is that where you want to be? We maintain that level of liquidity from here on out?

Michael Archer

No. I mean, admittedly, that was just some timing of flows that we I would share with you that right now our cash position's come down to more normal levels. So just timing really, Matt.

Operator

(Operator Instructions) We have no further questions on the call. So I'll hand the floor back to Simon Griffiths.

Simon Griffiths

Thank you, Sam. And I just want to thank all of you for your time today and for your interest in Camden National Corporation. And we wish you all a great rest of your day.

Operator

This concludes the conference call. Thank you all very much for joining.