Southern Missouri Bancorp (SMBC) Reports Prelim Q1 EPS of 50c

Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. (“Company”) (NASDAQ: SMBC), the parent corporation of Southern Bank (“Bank”), today announced preliminary net income available to common stockholders for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 of $3.7 million, an increase of $124,000, or 3.5%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable to increased net interest income and noninterest income, a reduction in provision for income taxes, and the elimination of preferred dividends as a result of the October 2015 preferred share repurchase, partially offset by higher noninterest expenses and higher provision for loan losses. Preliminary net income available to common stockholders was $.50 per fully diluted common share for the first quarter of fiscal 2017, an increase of $0.02, or 4.2%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year.

Highlights for the first quarter of fiscal 2017:

• Earnings per common share (diluted) were $.50, up $.02, or 4.2%, as compared to $.48 earned in the same quarter a year ago, and up $.01, or 2.0%, as compared to the $.49 earned in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter.
• Annualized return on average assets was 1.03%, while annualized return on average common equity was 11.6%, as compared to 1.12% and 12.6%, respectively, in the same quarter a year ago, and 1.07% and 11.9%, respectively, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter.
• Net loan growth for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 was $68.3 million, or 6.0%. Deposits were up $46.7 million, or 4.2%. Loan growth in the first quarter of the fiscal year is typically stronger for the Company as our agricultural loan portfolio nears its seasonal peak; to meet loan demand and accomplish other objectives discussed below, the Company utilized brokered funding to provide most of the deposit growth during the quarter.
• Net interest margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 was 3.81%, down from the 3.87% reported for the year ago period, and up from 3.73% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter. Discount accretion on acquired loans increased over the year ago period and linked quarter as a result of the resolution of a purchased credit-impaired loan with a carrying value less than the payoff realized.
• Noninterest income (excluding available-for-sale securities gains) was up 16.9% for the first quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to the year ago period, and down 0.3% from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter. The linked quarter included a non-recurring benefit of approximately $138,000, with no comparable benefits in the current period.
• Noninterest expense was up 14.7% for the first quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to the year ago period, and up 10.7% from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter. Noninterest expense increased in part due to a nonrecurring charge of $335,000 attributable to the prepayment of Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) term advances, discussed in further detail below.
• Nonperforming assets were $8.3 million, or 0.56% of total assets, at September 30, 2016, as compared to $9.0 million, or 0.64% of total assets, at June 30, 2016, and as compared to $8.6 million, or 0.65% of total assets, at September 30, 2015.

Dividend Declared:

As the Company noted in a report on Form 8-k filed October 19, 2016, the Board of Directors, on October 18, 2016, declared a quarterly cash dividend on common stock of $0.10, payable November 30, 2016, to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 15, 2016, marking the 90th consecutive quarterly dividend since the inception of the Company. The Board of Directors and management believe the payment of a quarterly cash dividend enhances stockholder value and demonstrates our commitment to and confidence in our future prospects.

Conference Call:

The Company will host a conference call to review the information provided in this press release on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. central time (4:30 p.m. eastern). The call will be available live to interested parties by calling 1-888-339-0709 in the United States (Canada: 1-855-669-9657, international: 1-412-902-4189). Telephone playback will be available beginning one hour following the conclusion of the call through November 8, 2016. The playback may be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (Canada: 1-855-669-9658, international: 1-412-317-0088), and using the conference passcode 10095646. Participants should ask to be joined into the Southern Missouri Bancorp (SMBC) call.

Balance Sheet Summary:

The Company experienced balance sheet growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2017, with total assets of $1.5 billion at September 30, 2016, reflecting an increase of $65.9 million, or 4.7%, as compared to June 30, 2016. Balance sheet growth was funded through deposit growth and FHLB advances.

Available-for-sale (AFS) securities were $124.2 million at September 30, 2016, a decrease of $5.0 million, or 3.8%, as compared to June 30, 2016. The decrease was attributable to reductions in mortgage-backed securities and municipal securities, as the Company did not reinvest some principal repayments given strong loan demand. Cash equivalents and time deposits were $22.0 million, a decrease of $1.3 million, or 5.6%, as compared to June 30, 2016.

Loans, net of the allowance for loan losses, were $1.2 billion at September 30, 2016, an increase of $68.3 million, or 6.0%, as compared to June 30, 2016. The increase was primarily attributable to growth in commercial real estate, commercial, residential real estate, and construction loan balances. The increase in commercial real estate loans was attributable primarily to nonresidential loan originations, the increase in commercial balances was attributable primarily to agricultural loan funding, and the increase in residential loan balances was attributable to multifamily real estate loan originations. Loans anticipated to fund in the next 90 days stood at $55.4 million at September 30, 2016, as compared to $55.9 million at June 30, 2016, and $37.6 million at September 30, 2015.

Nonperforming loans were $5.0 million, or 0.42% of gross loans, at September 30, 2016, as compared to $5.7 million, or 0.50% of gross loans, at June 30, 2016. The decline was attributed primarily to a number of relatively small relationships which were resolved or improved in classification during the quarter. Nonperforming assets were $8.3 million, or 0.56% of total assets, at September 30, 2016, as compared to $9.0 million, or 0.64% of total assets, at June 30, 2016, primarily reflecting the dollar decrease in nonperforming loans. Our allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2016, totaled $14.5 million, representing 1.19% of gross loans and 288% of nonperforming loans, as compared to $13.8 million, or 1.20% of gross loans, and 244% of nonperforming loans, at June 30, 2016. For all impaired loans, the Company has measured impairment under ASC 310-10-35, and management believes the allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2016, is adequate, based on that measurement.

Total liabilities were $1.3 billion at September 30, 2016, an increase of $63.0 million, or 4.9%, as compared to June 30, 2016.

Deposits were $1.2 billion at September 30, 2016, an increase of $46.7 million, or 4.2%, as compared to June 30, 2016. The increase was primarily attributable to growth in certificates of deposit. Specifically, the Company originated $38.2 million in brokered certificates of deposit for the purpose of funding FHLB term advance repayments and loan growth. Other deposit account types also grew, including interest-bearing transaction accounts, noninterest-bearing transaction accounts, savings accounts, and money market deposit accounts. The average loan-to-deposit ratio for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 was 104.4%, as compared to 100.8% for the same period of the prior fiscal year.

FHLB advances were $129.2 million at September 30, 2016, an increase of $19.0 million, or 17.2%, as compared to June 30, 2016, as overnight funding increased by $35.5 million, partially offset by the prepayment of $16.5 million in term advances (see discussion under “Income Statement Summary”). The increase was attributable to continued strong loan demand in the first quarter of fiscal 2017, some of which is seasonal, partially offset by the increase in deposit balances, including brokered certificates of deposit. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase totaled $25.5 million at September 30, 2016, a decrease of $1.6 million, or 6.0%, as compared to June 30, 2016. At both dates, the full balance of repurchase agreements was due to local small business and government counterparties.

The Company’s stockholders’ equity was $128.9 million at September 30, 2016, an increase of $2.9 million, or 2.3%, as compared to June 30, 2016. The increase was attributable to retention of net income, partially offset by payment of dividends on common stock and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Income Statement Summary:

The Company’s net interest income for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, was $12.6 million, an increase of $872,000, or 7.5%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable to a 9.3% increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets, partially offset by a decrease in net interest margin to 3.81% in the current three-month period, as compared to 3.87% in the three-month period ended September 30, 2015.

Accretion of fair value discount on acquired loans and amortization of fair value premiums on assumed time deposits related to the Company’s acquisition of Peoples Service Company and its subsidiary, Peoples Bank of the Ozarks in August 2014 (the “Peoples Acquisition”), increased to $601,000 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, as compared to $412,000 in the same period of the prior fiscal year. This component of net interest income contributed 18 basis points to net interest margin in the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, as compared to a contribution of 14 basis points for the same period of the prior fiscal year, and 13 basis points for the three-month period ended June 30, 2016, the linked quarter. The dollar impact of this component of net interest income has generally been declining each sequential quarter as assets from the Peoples Acquisition mature or prepay; however, the increases noted in the three-month periods ended September 30, 2016; June 30, 2016; and December 31, 2015, were the result of inclusion in those quarters’ results of principal payments received on purchased credit-impaired loans which exceeded the carrying value of such loans.

The provision for loan losses for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, was $925,000, as compared to $618,000 in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Increased provisioning was attributed primarily to increased balances within the loan portfolio. As a percentage of average loans outstanding, provision for loan losses in the current three-month period represented a charge of .31% (annualized), while the Company recorded net charge offs during the period of .09% (annualized). During the same period of the prior fiscal year, provision for loan losses as a percentage of average loans outstanding represented a charge of .23% (annualized), while the Company recorded net charge offs of .04% (annualized).

The Company’s noninterest income for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, was $2.6 million, an increase of $373,000, or 16.9%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable primarily to gains realized on the sale of residential loans originated for that purpose; increased loan origination fees; increased earnings on bank-owned life insurance resulting from additional investments made in that asset; and increased bank card interchange income.

Noninterest expense for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, was $9.2 million, an increase of $1.2 million, or 14.7%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable in part to $335,000 in prepayment penalties incurred due to early repayment of $16.5 million in term FHLB advances. The prepaid advances carried a weighted average rate of 3.95% and would have had a weighted average maturity of 8.8 months at September 30, 2016, while new brokered funding utilized to prepay those advances and also fund loan growth carried a weighted average rate of 0.92% with a weighted average maturity of 13.2 months at September 30, 2016. Other items contributing to the increase include higher compensation expenses, occupancy expenses, and legal expenses, partially offset by a reduction in charges to amortize core deposit and other intangibles. The efficiency ratio for the three-month period ended June 30, 2016, was 60.5%, as compared to 57.4% in the same period of the prior fiscal year.

The income tax provision for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, was $1.4 million, a decrease of $307,000, or 18.4%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year, attributable primarily to a decrease in the effective tax rate, to 26.8% from 31.4%, combined with a decrease in pre-tax income. The lower effective tax rate was attributed primarily to formation by the Company’s bank subsidiary of a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) to hold certain qualified assets in order to minimize state tax liability.

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