HIFS - Hingham Savings Reports Second Quarter 2023 Results

HINGHAM, Mass., July 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HINGHAM INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS (NASDAQ: HIFS), Hingham, Massachusetts announced results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Earnings

Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 was $8,248,000 or $3.84 per share basic and $3.76 per share diluted, as compared to $3,191,000 or $1.49 per share basic and $1.45 per share diluted for the same period last year. The Bank’s annualized return on average equity for the second quarter of 2023 was 8.27%, and the annualized return on average assets was 0.80%, as compared to 3.43% and 0.34% for the same period in 2022. Net income per share (diluted) for the second quarter of 2023 increased by 159% over the same period in 2022.

Core net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, which represents net income excluding the after-tax gains and losses on securities, both realized and unrealized, was $4,046,000 or $1.88 per share basic and $1.85 per share diluted, as compared to $15,260,000 or $7.12 per share basic and $6.93 per share diluted for the same period last year. The Bank’s annualized core return on average equity for the second quarter of 2023 was 4.06%, and the annualized core return on average assets was 0.39%, as compared to 16.42% and 1.63% for the same period in 2022. Core net income per share (diluted) for the second quarter of 2023 decreased by 73% over the same period in 2022.

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $16,759,000 or $7.80 per share basic and $7.63 per share diluted, as compared to $15,055,000 or $7.02 per share basic and $6.83 per share diluted for the same period last year. The Bank’s annualized return on average equity for the first six months of 2023 was 8.47%, and the annualized return on average assets was 0.81%, as compared to 8.20% and 0.83% for the same period in 2022.   Net income per share (diluted) for the first six months of 2023 increased by 12% over the same period in 2022.

Core net income for the six months ended June 30, 2023, which represents net income excluding the after-tax gains and losses on securities, both realized and unrealized, was $9,791,000 or $4.56 per share basic and $4.46 per share diluted, as compared to $30,365,000 or $14.17 per share basic and $13.78 per share diluted for the same period last year. The Bank’s annualized core return on average equity for the first six months of 2023 was 4.95%, and the annualized core return on average assets was 0.47%, as compared to 16.55% and 1.68% for the same period in 2022. Core net income per share (diluted) for the first six months of 2023 decreased by 68% over the same period in 2022.

See Page 10 for a reconciliation between Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) net income and core net income. In calculating core net income, the Bank did not make any adjustments other than those relating to after-tax gains and losses on equity securities, realized and unrealized.

Balance Sheet and Capital Management

Total assets were $4.311 billion at June 30, 2023, representing 6% annualized growth year-to-date and 8% growth from June 30, 2022.

Net loans increased to $3.762 billion at June 30, 2023, representing 6% annualized growth year-to-date and 7% growth from June 30, 2022. Origination activity was concentrated in the Boston and Washington D.C. markets and remained focused on multifamily commercial real estate.

Retail and business deposits were $1.918 billion at June 30, 2023, representing 3% annualized growth year-to-date and 9% growth from June 30, 2022. Non-interest-bearing deposits, included in retail and business deposits, decreased to $363.8 million at June 30, 2023, representing a 12% annualized decline year-to-date and a 9% decline from June 30, 2022. The Bank continued to work to capitalize on the market disruption generated by the failure or instability of larger regional banks to develop new relationships with commercial, non-profit, and existing customers. The stability of the Bank’s balance sheet, as well as full and unlimited deposit insurance through the Bank’s participation in the Massachusetts Depositors Insurance Fund, has historically been appealing to customers in times of uncertainty.

Wholesale deposits, which include brokered and listing service time deposits, were $495.9 million at June 30, 2023, representing a 38% annualized decline year-to-date and a 30% decline from June 30, 2022, as the Bank continued to manage its wholesale funding mix between wholesale time deposits and Federal Home Loan Bank advances in order mitigate the negative impact of increasing short term rates in the cost of funds. This decline in wholesale deposits was primarily driven by the decline in the Bank’s listing service time deposits, as the Bank opted to replace this funding with either brokered certificates of deposit, or borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank. Pricing in the listing service market has generally exceeded other wholesale funding sources over the last year.

Borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank totaled $1.470 billion at June 30, 2023, a 30% annualized growth year-to-date, and a 29% increase from June 30, 2022. As of June 30, 2023, the Bank maintained $568.5 million in immediately available borrowing capacity at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and the Federal Reserve Bank, in addition to the $336.0 million cash balance held at the Federal Reserve Bank.

Book value per share was $185.94 as of June 30, 2023, representing 7% annualized growth year-to-date and 9% growth from June 30, 2022. In addition to the increase in book value per share, the Bank has declared $3.13 in dividends per share since June 30, 2022, including a special dividend of $0.63 per share declared during the fourth quarter of 2022.

On June 28, 2023, the Bank’s Board of Directors declared a regular cash dividend of $0.63 per share. The dividend will be paid on August 9, 2023 to stockholders of record as of July 31, 2023. This will be the Bank’s 118th consecutive quarterly dividend. The Bank has also declared special cash dividends in each of the last twenty-eight years, typically in the fourth quarter.

The Bank sets the level of the special dividend based on the Bank’s capital requirements and the prospective return on other capital allocation options. This may result in special dividends, if any, significantly above or below the regular quarterly dividend. Future regular and special dividends will be considered by the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis.

Operational Performance Metrics

The net interest margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 decreased 193 basis points to 1.28%, as compared to 3.21% for the same period last year. The Bank experienced a substantial increase in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities when compared to the prior year. This was driven primarily by the repricing of the Bank’s wholesale borrowings, wholesale deposits and higher rates on the Bank’s retail and commercial deposits. During this period, the increase in the cost of funds was partially offset by a higher yield on interest-earning assets, driven primarily by an increase in the interest on reserves held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, an increase in the yield on loans and a higher Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston stock dividend.

In a linked quarter comparison, the net interest margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 decreased 18 basis points to 1.28%, as compared to 1.46% in the quarter ended March 31, 2023. This was primarily the result of the continued and significant increase in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities, driven primarily by an increase in the cost of the Bank’s wholesale deposits, partially offset by an increase in the interest on reserve balances held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and an increase in the yield on loans from the prior quarter. The increase in the yield on loans was driven by both new loan originations at higher rates and the repricing of existing adjustable rate loans. The Bank also benefited from a modest decline in the cost of borrowed funds, driven by the use of Federal Home Loan Bank option advances.

The net interest margin for the six months ended June 30, 2023 decreased 188 basis points to 1.37%, as compared to 3.25% for the same period last year. The Bank experienced a substantial increase in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities when compared to the prior year. This was driven primarily by the repricing of the Bank’s wholesale borrowings, wholesale deposits and higher rates on the Bank’s retail and commercial deposits. During this period, the increase in the cost of funds was partially offset by a higher yield on interest-earning assets, driven primarily by an increase in the interest on reserves held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, an increase in the yield on loans and a higher Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston stock dividend.

Key credit and operational metrics remained strong in the second quarter. At June 30, 2023, non-performing assets totaled 0.00% of total assets, compared to 0.03% at December 31, 2022 and 0.02% at June 30, 2022. Non-performing loans as a percentage of the total loan portfolio totaled 0.00% at June 30, 2023, compared to 0.03% at both December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022. The Bank did not record any charge-offs in the first six months of 2023, as compared to $50,000 in net recoveries in the first six months of 2022.

The Bank did not own any foreclosed property at June 30, 2023, December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022. In the first quarter of 2023, the Bank foreclosed on a small commercial property in Massachusetts and purchased the property at auction. The Bank subsequently sold the property within the quarter and recovered all principal, interest, and expenses. The Bank also recognized an additional $85,000 gain on sale, reflected as a contra expense in foreclosure and related expense in the Consolidated Statement of Net Income.

The efficiency ratio, as defined on page 5 below, increased to 55.03% for the second quarter of 2023, as compared to 21.30% for the same period last year. Operating expenses as a percentage of average assets increased slightly to 0.71% in the second quarter of 2023, as compared to 0.68% for the same period last year. As the efficiency ratio can be significantly influenced by the level of net interest income, the Bank utilizes these paired figures together to assess its operational efficiency over time. During periods of significant net interest income volatility, the efficiency ratio in isolation may over or understate the underlying operational efficiency of the Bank. The Bank remains focused on reducing waste through an ongoing process of continuous improvement and standard work that supports operational leverage.

These operational metrics reflect the Bank’s disciplined focus on credit quality and expense management.

Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”)

On January 1, 2023, the Bank adopted ASU 2016-13 - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments , and recorded a one-time transition amount of $545,000, net of taxes, as a decrease to retained earnings. This amount represents additional reserves for loans that existed upon adopting the new guidance. No reserves were recorded for unfunded commitments, based upon management’s evaluation of the probability of funding and risk of loss, which indicated the required reserve was not material. The adoption of CECL did not have a material impact on the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios.

Chairman Robert H. Gaughen Jr. stated, “Returns on equity and assets in the second quarter remained significantly lower than our long-term performance, reflecting the challenge from the increase in short-term interest rates over the last twelve months. Although the current market environment is particularly challenging, the Bank’s business model has been built over time to compound shareholder capital over an economic cycle. During all such periods, we remain focused on careful capital allocation, defensive underwriting and disciplined cost control - the building blocks for compounding shareholder capital through all stages of the economic cycle. These remain constant, regardless of the macroeconomic environment in which we operate.

Although we are in the midst of a historic inversion in the yield curve, it is important that we prioritize long-term investments, despite the temporary but significant pressure on margins and lower net income. This means working to attract new core deposit and loan customers, as well as talented staff that can help us continue to build our business well into the future.”

The Bank’s quarterly financial results are summarized in the earnings release, but shareholders are encouraged to read the Bank’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which are generally available several weeks after the earnings release. The Bank expects to file Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ( FDIC ) on or about August 4, 2023.

Incorporated in 1834, Hingham Institution for Savings is one of America’s oldest banks. The Bank maintains offices in Boston, Nantucket, and Washington, D.C., and provides commercial mortgage and banking services in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Bank’s shares of common stock are listed and traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol HIFS.

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

HINGHAM INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS
Non-GAAP Reconciliation

The table below presents the reconciliation between net income and core net income, a Non-GAAP measurement that represents net income excluding the after-tax gain (loss) on equity securities.

CONTACT: Patrick R. Gaughen, President and Chief Operating Officer (781) 783-1761