PDLB - Ponce Financial Group Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ponce Financial Group, Inc., (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PDLB), the holding company for Ponce Bank (the “Bank”), today announced results for the third quarter of 2023.

Third Quarter 2023 Highlights (Compared to Prior Periods):

• Net income of $2.6 million, or $0.12 per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to net loss of ($0.1) million, or $0.00 per diluted share for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and net loss of ($14.7) million, or ($0.64) per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2022.
• Included in the $2.6 million of net income for the third quarter of 2023 results is $33.5 million in interest and dividend income and $5.6 million in non-interest income, offset by a $17.3 million in non-interest expense and $17.0 million in interest expense.
• Net interest income of $16.5 million for the third quarter of 2023 increased $0.3 million, or 1.60%, from the prior quarter and decreased $1.1 million, or 6.07%, from the same quarter last year.
• Net interest margin was 2.58% for the third quarter of 2023, decreased from 2.65% for the prior quarter and from 3.59% for the same quarter last year.
• Cash and equivalents were $117.0 million as of September 30, 2023, an increase of $62.7 million, or 115.25%, from December 31, 2022, as we decided to keep ample sources of liquidity at hand while taking advantage of the positive spread between our interest bearing overnight deposits at the Fed and borrowing costs under the Bank Term Funding Program ("BTFP").
• Securities totaled $587.8 million as of September 30, 2023, a decrease of $52.5 million, or 8.20%, from December 31, 2022 primarily due to a call on one of the securities amounting to $10.0 million, maturities on two securities amounting to $3.0 million and regular principal payments.
• Net loans receivable were $1.79 billion as of September 30, 2023, an increase of $294.5 million, or 19.72%, from December 31, 2022.
• Deposits were $1.40 billion as of September 30, 2023, an increase of $148.7 million, or 11.87%, from December 31, 2022.

President and Chief Executive Officer’s Comments

Carlos P. Naudon, Ponce Financial Group’s President and CEO, stated “During the quarter, we completed our share buyback program at a cost of $8.91 per share, almost a 20% discount to our book value at September 30, 2023. Despite the headwinds caused by the increase in interest rates, which impacts our AOCI and drives down our net interest margin, we were able to increase book value per share by 5 cents quarter over quarter as well as grow our net interest income for the second quarter in a row. As previously announced, in addition to the $3.7 million grant received this quarter, we have been informed that we will receive an additional grant of approximately $0.5 million from the Community Development Financial Institutions ("CDFI") fund in the fourth quarter of 2023.

We continue to show strong levels of capital and liquidity. On the capital front, our total capital ratio at Ponce Bank stands at 25.10% well in excess of regulatory requirements. In terms of liquidity, our liquid assets plus borrowing capacity at the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York ("FHLBNY") stand at $695.0 million, more than two times of our uninsured deposits of $334.0 million.

We remain committed to the communities we serve, our Minority Depository Institution (“MDI”)/CDFI status and continuing to invest in our people and in technology to improve our efficiency".

Executive Chairman’s Comment

Steven A. Tsavaris, Ponce Financial Group’s Executive Chairman added “While the increase in rates continues to put pressure on our operations, we still see resiliency on our client base, strong credit conditions and loan demand. While our credit metrics continue to improve, we will be prudent on our underwriting and balance sheet management even at the expense of loan growth.”

Selected performance metrics are as follows (refer to “Key Metrics” for additional information):

(1) Annualized where appropriate.
(2) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average rate of interest-bearing liabilities.
(3) Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.
(4) Efficiency ratio represents noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.
(5) For periods in 2023, balances include both modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, in accordance with ASU 2022-02 adopted on January 1, 2023, and previously existing troubled debt restructurings. For periods in 2022, the balances only include troubled debt restructurings.

Summary of Results of Operations

Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2023 was $2.6 million compared to net loss of ($0.1) million for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and net loss of ($14.7) million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The increase of net income for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 was attributed mainly to increases in non-interest income and net interest income and a decrease in provision for credit loss, partially offset by increases provision for income taxes and non-interest expense. The increase of net income for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022 was largely due to decreases in provision for credit loss and non-interest expense and an increase in non-interest income, partially offset by an increase in provision for income taxes and a decrease in net interest income.

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $2.8 million compared to a net loss of ($20.8) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The increase in net income was attributable to decreases in non-interest expense and provision for credit losses and an increase in non-interest income, partially offset by an increase in provision for income taxes and a decrease in net interest income.

Net Interest Income and Net Margin

Net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2023, increased $0.3 million, or 1.60%, to $16.5 million compared to $16.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and decreased $1.1 million, or 6.07%, compared to $17.6 million for the three months end September 30, 2022.

Net interest margin was 2.58% for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to 2.65% for the prior quarter, a decrease of 7bps and 3.59% for the same period last year, a decrease of 101bps. The decrease in net interest margin was a result of an increase in the cost of funds driven by higher interest rates.

Non-interest Income

Non-interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2023, was $5.6 million, an increase of $4.1 million, or 277.14%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and an increase of $4.1 million, or 256.82%, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022.

The $4.1 million increase in non-interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and the three months ended September 30, 2022 was largely attributable to a grant of $3.7 million received in the third quarter of 2023 from the U.S. Treasury as part of the CDFI Equitable Recovery Program and a $0.5 million assignment fee that was recognized in the third quarter of 2023.

Non-interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was $8.9 million, an increase of $3.0 million, or 49.41%, compared to $6.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The $3.0 million increase from the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was attributable to a grant of $3.7 million received from the U.S. Treasury and an increase of $1.6 million in late and prepayment charges, partially offset by a decrease of $1.8 million in loan origination.

Non-interest Expense

Non-interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2023, was $17.3 million, an increase of $0.2 million, or 1.33%, compared to $17.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and a decrease of $8.1 million, or 31.87%, compared to $25.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022.

The $8.1 million decrease from the three months ended September 30, 2022 was mainly attributable to $8.9 million of Grain consumer microloans write-offs during the third quarter of 2022 and a decrease of $0.3 million in direct loan expense, partially offset by increases of $0.6 million in data processing expenses and $0.4 million in professional fees.

Non-interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was $50.8 million, a decrease of $19.3 million, or 27.54%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The $19.3 million decrease of non-interest expense from the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was attributable to $18.5 million of Grain consumer microloan write-off during the corresponding period last year compared with $1.3 million of Grain consumer microloan recoveries recognized during the current period. The decrease in non-interest expense was also impacted by a $5.0 million contribution to the Ponce De Leon Foundation during the corresponding period last year, partially offset by increases of $1.3 million in provision for contingencies, $1.3 million in data processing expenses, $1.0 million in compensation and benefits and $0.7 million in professional fees.

Balance Sheet Summary

Total assets increased $311.9 million, or 13.49%, to $2.62 billion as of September 30, 2023 from $2.31 billion as of December 31, 2022. The increase in total assets is largely attributable to increases of $294.5 million in net loans receivable, $62.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, $12.1 million in mortgage loans held for sale and $2.5 million in other assets, offset by decreases of $39.8 million in held-to-maturity securities, $12.8 million in available-for-sale securities, and $5.8 million in Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock.

Total liabilities increased $319.5 million, or 17.56%, to $2.14 billion as of September 30, 2023 from $1.82 billion as of December 31, 2022. The increase in total liabilities was largely attributable to increases of $157.7 million in borrowings and $148.7 million in deposits.

Total stockholders’ equity decreased $7.6 million, or 1.55%, to $485.1 million as of September 30, 2023, from $492.7 million as of December 31, 2022. This decrease in stockholders’ equity was largely attributable to $11.0 million in share repurchases and an increase of $2.6 million in other comprehensive loss, partially offset by increases of $2.8 million in net income, $1.2 million in share-based compensation, $1.1 million as a result of implementation of CECL and $0.8 million in ESOP.

About Ponce Financial Group, Inc.

Ponce Financial Group, Inc. is the holding company for Ponce Bank. Ponce Bank is a Minority Depository Institution, a Community Development Financial Institution, and a certified Small Business Administration lender. Ponce Bank’s business primarily consists of taking deposits from the general public and to a lesser extent alternative funding sources and investing those funds, together with funds generated from operations and borrowings, in mortgage loans, consisting of 1-4 family residences (investor-owned and owner-occupied), multifamily residences, nonresidential properties, construction and land, and, to a lesser extent, in business and consumer loans. Ponce Bank also invests in securities, which consist of U.S. Government and federal agency securities and securities issued by government-sponsored or government-owned enterprises, as well as, mortgage-backed securities, corporate bonds and obligations, and Federal Home Loan Bank stock.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “will,” “would,” “expects,” “project,” “may,” “could,” “developments,” “strategic,” “launching,” “opportunities,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets” and similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors. Factors that could cause such differences to exist include, but are not limited to, adverse conditions in the capital and debt markets and the impact of such conditions on business activities; changes in interest rates; competitive pressures from other financial institutions; the effects of general economic conditions on a national basis or in the local markets in which Ponce Bank operates, including changes that adversely affect borrowers’ ability to service and repay Ponce Bank’s loans; anticipated losses with respect to the Company's investment in Grain; changes in the value of securities in the investment portfolio; changes in loan default and charge-off rates; fluctuations in real estate values; the adequacy of loan loss reserves; decreases in deposit levels necessitating increased borrowing to fund loans and investments; operational risks including, but not limited to, cybersecurity, fraud and natural disasters; changes in government regulation; changes in accounting standards and practices; the risk that intangibles recorded in the financial statements will become impaired; demand for loans in Ponce Bank’s market area; Ponce Bank’s ability to attract and maintain deposits; risks related to the implementation of acquisitions, dispositions, and restructurings; the risk that Ponce Financial Group, Inc. may not be successful in the implementation of its business strategy; changes in assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements and the risk factors described in Ponce Financial Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which are available at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Ponce Financial Group, Inc. disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or other changes, except as may be required by applicable law or regulation.

Ponce Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
(Dollars in thousands, except for share data)

(1) Included for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023, June 30, 2023 and March 31, 2023 were $0.6 million, $0.9 million and $0.8 million, respectively, related to the allowance for credit loss on held-to-maturity securities.

Ponce Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

(1)   Amounts for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2022 include the reversal of $0.8 million of loan origination income that had been taken upfront in prior quarters of 2022 (as opposed to deferred over the life of ?the loan)?.

Ponce Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Ponce Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Key Metrics

(1) Annualized where appropriate.
(2) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average rate of interest-bearing liabilities.
(3) Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.
(4) Efficiency ratio represents noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.
(5) For periods in 2023, balances include both modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, in accordance with ASU 2022-02 adopted on January 1, 2023, and previously existing troubled debt restructurings. For periods in 2022, the balances only include troubled debt restructurings.

Ponce Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Securities Portfolio