WAL - Western Alliance Bancorporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Financial Results

Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL):

CEO COMMENTARY:

“Western Alliance again posted strong financial performance with linked-quarter annualized loan growth of 23 percent and net revenues¹ rising 18 percent, supported by stable asset quality,” said Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Vecchione. “Net income rose to $435.8 million and earnings per share of $4.14 for 2018 represented more than a 30 percent rise from prior year."

“For the quarter, loans increased $978 million, net interest margin remained flat at 4.72 percent, deposits rose $269 million and our revenue to expense efficiency ratio was 2.5 to 1, providing positive operating leverage and lifting earnings to $119.1 million or $1.13 earnings per share. I am pleased with the Company's performance and the momentum we carry into 2019.”

¹ See reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.

Income Statement

Net interest income was $243.5 million in the fourth quarter 2018, an increase of $9.5 million from $234.0 million in the third quarter 2018, and an increase of $32.5 million, or 15.4%, compared to the fourth quarter 2017. For 2018, net interest income was $915.9 million, an increase of $131.2 million, or 16.7%, compared to $784.7 million in 2017. As acquired loans are recorded at fair value in an acquisition, purchase discounts on these acquired loans are recorded and accreted into interest income based on expected future cash flows over the life of the loans and may be accelerated upon prepayment of acquired loans. Net interest income in the fourth quarter 2018 includes $4.5 million of total accretion income from acquired loans, compared to $3.3 million in the third quarter 2018, and $7.1 million in the fourth quarter 2017. Net interest income in 2018 includes $18.4 million of total accretion income from acquired loans, compared to $28.2 million in 2017.

The Company’s net interest margin in the fourth quarter 2018 was 4.72%, consistent with the third quarter 2018, and a decrease from 4.73% in the fourth quarter 2017. Adjusting net interest margin to include the effects of the TCJA, which reduced the tax equivalent adjustment from tax-exempt securities and loans, results in adjusted net interest margin¹ of 4.61% for the fourth quarter 2017.

Operating non-interest income was $14.7 million for the fourth quarter 2018, compared to $12.9 million for the third quarter 2018, and $12.3 million for the fourth quarter 2017.¹ The increase in operating non-interest income from both the third quarter 2018 and the fourth quarter 2017 primarily relates to an increase in income from warrants. For 2018, operating non-interest income was $54.4 million, an increase of $11.4 million, or 26%, compared to $43.0 million in 2017.¹ The increase in operating non-interest income from 2017 primarily relates to an increase in income from equity investments and lending related income.

Net operating revenue was $258.2 million for the fourth quarter 2018, an increase of $11.3 million, compared to $246.9 million for the third quarter 2018, and an increase of $34.9 million, or 15.6%, compared to $223.3 million for the fourth quarter 2017.¹ For 2018, net operating revenue was $970.3 million, an increase of $142.6 million, or 17%, compared to $827.7 million in 2017.¹

Operating non-interest expense was $109.6 million for the fourth quarter 2018, compared to $105.0 million for the third quarter 2018, and $95.4 million for the fourth quarter 2017.¹ The Company’s operating efficiency ratio¹ on a tax equivalent basis was 41.5% for the fourth quarter 2018, consistent with the third quarter 2018, and an increase from 40.7% for the fourth quarter 2017. Adjusting the operating efficiency ratio¹ to include the effects of the lower statutory corporate federal tax rate would result in an operating efficiency ratio of 41.7% for the fourth quarter 2017. For 2018, operating non-interest expense was $416.8 million, an increase of $55.8 million, or 15%, compared to $361.0 million in 2017.¹

Income tax expense was $20.9 million for the fourth quarter 2018, compared to $7.5 million for the third quarter 2018, and $35.0 million for the fourth quarter 2017. Income tax expense for the third quarter 2018 includes the effect of management’s election to carryback to prior tax years its 2017 federal net operating losses ("NOL"). These federal NOLs resulted from the acceleration of deductions into and deferral of revenue from 2017. Because the federal income tax rate was higher in the years to which the carryback is applicable, a larger tax benefit resulted from the decision to carryback the 2017 federal NOLs, rather than carryforward these losses to future taxable years. Income tax expense for 2018 was $74.5 million, a decrease of $51.8 million, or 41.0%, compared to $126.3 million in 2017. Income tax expense for 2018 includes the effect of the TCJA, which lowered the statutory corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%.

Net income was $119.1 million for the fourth quarter 2018, an increase of $8.0 million from $111.1 million for the third quarter 2018, and an increase of $29.7 million, or 33.3%, from $89.3 million for the fourth quarter 2017. Earnings per share was $1.13 for the fourth quarter 2018, compared to $1.05 for the third quarter 2018, and $0.85 for the fourth quarter 2017. For 2018, net income was $435.8 million, an increase of $110.3 million, or 33.9%, compared to $325.5 million in 2017. Earnings per share for 2018 was $4.14, an increase of 33.4%, compared to $3.10 in 2017.

The Company views its operating pre-provision net revenue ("PPNR") as a key metric for assessing the Company’s earnings power, which it defines as net operating revenue less operating non-interest expense. For the fourth quarter 2018, the Company’s operating PPNR was $148.5 million, up from $141.9 million in the third quarter 2018, and up 16.2% from $127.8 million in the fourth quarter 2017.¹ The non-operating income items¹ for the fourth quarter 2018 consisted of net unrealized losses on assets measured at fair value of $0.6 million and a net loss on sales of investment securities of $0.4 million. The non-operating expense item for the fourth quarter 2018 consisted of a net loss on sales and valuations of repossessed and other assets of $1.5 million. For 2018, operating PPNR was $553.5 million, an increase of $86.9 million, or 19%, from $466.6 million in 2017.¹ The non-operating income items¹ for 2018 consisted of a net loss on sales of investment securities of $7.7 million and net unrealized losses on assets measured at fair value of $3.6 million. The non-operating or non-recurring expense items for 2018 consisted of a $7.6 million charitable contribution and a $1.2 million adjustment related to the Company's 401(k) plan and other miscellaneous items.

The Company had 1,787 full-time equivalent employees and 47 offices at December 31, 2018, compared to 1,795 employees and 47 offices at September 30, 2018, and 1,725 employees and 47 offices at December 31, 2017.

¹ See reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.

Balance Sheet

Gross loans totaled $17.71 billion at December 31, 2018, an increase of $978 million from $16.73 billion at September 30, 2018, and an increase of $2.62 billion from $15.09 billion at December 31, 2017. The increase from the prior quarter was driven by an increase of $377 million in residential real estate loans, $275 million in commercial and industrial loans, and $260 million in CRE, non-owner occupied loans. From December 31, 2017, loans increased across all loan types, with the largest increases in commercial and industrial loans of $922 million, residential real estate loans of $778 million, construction and land development loans of $503 million, and CRE, non-owner occupied loans of $309 million. At December 31, 2018, the allowance for credit losses to gross loans held for investment was 0.86%, compared to 0.90% at September 30, 2018, and 0.93% at December 31, 2017. At December 31, 2018, the allowance for credit losses to total organic loans was 0.92%, compared to 0.97% at September 30, 2018, and 1.03% at December 31, 2017. The Company defines its organic loans as those loans that have not been acquired in a transaction accounted for as a business combination.

Consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), the allowance for credit losses is not carried over in an acquisition because acquired loans are recorded at fair value, which discounts the loans based on expected future cash flows. Credit discounts on acquired loans are included as a reduction to gross loans. These discounts totaled $14.6 million at December 31, 2018, compared to $17.2 million at September 30, 2018, and $27.0 million at December 31, 2017.

Deposits totaled $19.18 billion at December 31, 2018, an increase of $269 million from $18.91 billion at September 30, 2018, and an increase of $2.20 billion from $16.97 billion at December 31, 2017. The increase from the prior quarter was driven by an increase of $577 million from interest-bearing demand deposits and $272 million from savings and money market accounts, partially offset by a decrease of $559 million in non-interest bearing demand deposits. From December 31, 2017, deposits increased across all deposit types, with the largest increases in savings and money market accounts of $1.00 billion, interest-bearing demand deposits of $969 million, and certificates of deposit of $214 million. Non-interest bearing deposits were $7.46 billion at December 31, 2018, compared to $8.01 billion at September 30, 2018, and $7.43 billion at December 31, 2017. Non-interest bearing deposits comprised 38.9% of total deposits at December 31, 2018, compared to 42.4% at September 30, 2018, and 43.8% at December 31, 2017. The proportion of savings and money market balances to total deposits was 38.2%, compared to 37.3% at September 30, 2018, and 37.3% at December 31, 2017. Interest-bearing demand deposits as a percentage of total deposits were 13.3% at December 31, 2018, compared to 10.5% at September 30, 2018, and 9.3% at December 31, 2017. Certificates of deposit as a percentage of total deposits were 9.6% at December 31, 2018, compared to 9.8% at September 30, 2018, and 9.6% at December 31, 2017. The Company’s ratio of loans to deposits was 92.4% at December 31, 2018, compared to 88.5% at September 30, 2018, and 88.9% at December 31, 2017.

Borrowings were $491 million at December 31, 2018, compared to zero at September 30, 2018, and $390 million at December 31, 2017. The increase in borrowings from September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is due to an increase in overnight advances.

Qualifying debt totaled $361 million at December 31, 2018, compared to $359 million at September 30, 2018, and $377 million at December 31, 2017.

Stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2018 was $2.61 billion, compared to $2.49 billion at September 30, 2018, and $2.23 billion at December 31, 2017. The increase in stockholders' equity from September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is primarily a function of net income, partially offset by share repurchases. Under the Company's common stock repurchase program, the Company is authorized to repurchase up to $250 million of its shares of common stock. In December 2018, the Company repurchased 900,883 shares of its common stock, representing approximately 1% of the Company's outstanding shares. Shares were repurchased at a weighted average price of $39.58, for a total payment of $35.7 million.

At December 31, 2018, tangible common equity, net of tax, was 10.2% of tangible assets¹ and total capital was 13.2% of risk-weighted assets. The Company’s tangible book value per share¹ was $22.07 at December 31, 2018, up 20.5% from December 31, 2017.

Total assets increased 4.2% to $23.11 billion at December 31, 2018, from $22.18 billion at September 30, 2018, and increased 13.7% from $20.33 billion at December 31, 2017. The increase in total assets from the prior year relates primarily to organic loan growth.

Asset Quality

The provision for credit losses was $6.0 million for the fourth and third quarter 2018, compared to $5.0 million for the fourth quarter 2017. Net loan charge-offs in the fourth quarter 2018 were $3.3 million, or 0.08% of average loans (annualized), compared to $3.1 million, or 0.08%, in the third quarter 2018, and $1.4 million, or 0.04%, in the fourth quarter 2017.

Nonaccrual loans decreased $9.1 million to $27.7 million during the quarter and decreased $16.2 million during the year. Loans past due 90 days and still accruing totaled $0.6 million at December 31, 2018, compared to zero at September 30, 2018, and less than $0.1 million at December 31, 2017. Loans past due 30-89 days and still accruing interest totaled $16.6 million at December 31, 2018, an increase from $9.4 million at September 30, 2018, and an increase from $10.1 million at December 31, 2017.

Repossessed assets totaled $17.9 million at December 31, 2018, a decrease of $2.1 million from $20.0 million at September 30, 2018, and a decrease of $10.6 million from $28.5 million at December 31, 2017. Adversely graded loans and non-performing assets totaled $315.6 million at December 31, 2018, a decrease of $42.7 million from $358.3 million at September 30, 2018, and a decrease of $39.5 million from $355.2 million at December 31, 2017.

The ratio of classified assets to Tier 1 capital plus the allowance for credit losses, a common regulatory measure of asset quality, was 9.4% at December 31, 2018, compared to 10.2% at September 30, 2018, and 10.3% at December 31, 2017.¹

¹ See reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.

Segment Highlights

The Company's reportable segments are aggregated primarily based on geographic location, services offered, and markets served. The Company's regional segments, which include Arizona, Nevada, Southern California, and Northern California, provide full service banking and related services to their respective markets. The operations from the regional segments correspond to the following banking divisions: Alliance Bank of Arizona, Bank of Nevada and First Independent Bank, Torrey Pines Bank, and Bridge Bank.

The Company's National Business Lines ("NBL") segment provides specialized banking services to niche markets. The Company's NBL reportable segments include Homeowner Associations ("HOA") Services, Hotel Franchise Finance ("HFF"), Public & Nonprofit Finance, Technology & Innovation, and Other NBLs. These NBLs are managed centrally and are broader in geographic scope than our other segments, though still predominately located within our core market areas.

The Corporate & Other segment consists of the Company's investment portfolio, Corporate borrowings and other related items, income and expense items not allocated to our other reportable segments, and inter-segment eliminations.

Key management metrics for evaluating the performance of the Company's Arizona, Nevada, Southern California, Northern California, and NBL segments include loan and deposit growth, asset quality, and pre-tax income.

The regional segments reported gross loan balances of $9.11 billion at December 31, 2018, an increase of $134 million during the quarter, and an increase of $734 million during the year. The growth in loans during the quarter was driven by increases across all regional segments, with the exception of Northern California. Nevada, Arizona, and Southern California had loan growth of $67 million, $54 million, and $45 million, respectively. These increases in loans were partially offset by a decrease of $32 million in Northern California. All regional segments contributed to the growth in loans during the year. The largest increases were in Arizona, Southern California, and Nevada, with increases of $324 million, $226 million, and $159 million, respectively. Total deposits for the regional segments were $13.27 billion, a decrease of $408 million during the quarter, and an increase of $338 million during the year. During the quarter, Arizona, Southern California, and Northern California had decreased deposits of $242 million, $203 million, and $112 million, respectively, which were partially offset by increased deposits of $149 million in Nevada. During the year, Arizona and Northern California had the largest increases in deposits of $249 million and $157 million, respectively, which were partially offset by a decrease in deposits of $114 million in Southern California.

Pre-tax income for the regional segments was $86.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018, a decrease of $0.4 million from the three months ended September 30, 2018, and an increase of $3.3 million from the three months ended December 31, 2017. Nevada, Southern California and Northern California had increases in pre-tax income of $1.2 million, $1.1 million, and $0.5 million, respectively, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2018, which were offset by a decrease of $3.3 million in Arizona. Nevada, Southern California, and Arizona had the largest increases in pre-tax income from the three months ended December 31, 2017 of $2.0 million, $0.7 million, and $0.5 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the regional segments reported total pre-tax income of $345.8 million, an increase of $18.9 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2017. Arizona, Northern California and Nevada had increases of $12.9 million, $5.7 million, and $1.5 million, respectively. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $1.3 million in Southern California.

The NBL segments reported gross loan balances of $8.59 billion at December 31, 2018, an increase of $846 million during the quarter, and an increase of $1.88 billion during the year. The largest increases in loans from the prior quarter relate to the Other NBLs and Technology & Innovation segments, which increased loans by $672 million and $94 million, respectively. During the year, the largest drivers of the increase in loans were Other NBLs, HFF, and Technology & Innovation segments, with increases of $1.61 billion, $152 million, and $103 million, respectively. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the Public & Nonprofit Finance segment of $33 million. Total deposits for the NBL segments were $5.17 billion, an increase of $323 million during the quarter, and an increase of $1.20 billion during the year. The increase in deposits from the prior quarter is attributable to the Technology & Innovation and HOA Services segments, which increased deposits by $240 million and $83 million, respectively. The increase of $1.20 billion during the year is also the result of growth in both the Technology & Innovation and HOA Services segments of $821 million and $377 million, respectively.

Pre-tax income for the NBL segments was $55.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $4.2 million from the three months ended September 30, 2018, and an increase of $4.9 million from the three months ended December 31, 2017. The increase in pre-tax income from the prior quarter relates to the Technology & Innovation and Public & Nonprofit Finance segments, which increased by $4.5 million and $0.2 million, respectively. These increases were partially offset by decreases in pre-tax income from the Other NBLs, HOA Services, and HFF segments, which had decreases of $0.3 million, $0.2 million, and $0.1 million, respectively. The drivers of the increase in pre-tax income from the same period in the prior year were the Technology & Innovation and HOA Services segments, which had increases of $9.7 million and $2.5 million, respectively. These increases were partially offset by decreases in pre-tax income for the Other NBLs, Public & Nonprofit Finance, and HFF segments, which decreased by $4.2 million, $2.5 million, and $0.6 million, respectively. Pre-tax income for the NBL segments for the year ended December 31, 2018 totaled $202.5 million, an increase of $26.0 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2017. The largest increases were in the Technology & Innovation, HOA Services, and Other NBLs segments. These segments had increases of $21.0 million, $9.1 million, and $6.9 million, respectively. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $11.1 million in the Public & Nonprofit Finance segment.

Conference Call and Webcast

Western Alliance Bancorporation will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss its fourth quarter 2018 financial results at 12:00 p.m. ET on Friday, January 25, 2019. Participants may access the call by dialing 1-888-317-6003 and using passcode 3714893 or via live audio webcast using the website link https://services.choruscall.com/links/wal190125CfXVCCZ8.html. The webcast is also available via the Company’s website at www.westernalliancebancorporation.com. Participants should log in at least 15 minutes early to receive instructions. The call will be recorded and made available for replay after 2:00 p.m. ET January 25th through 9:00 a.m. ET February 25th by dialing 1-877-344-7529 passcode: 10127283.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the Consolidated Income Statements for the prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. The reclassifications have no effect on net income or stockholders’ equity as previously reported.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release contains both financial measures based on GAAP and non-GAAP based financial measures, which are used where management believes them to be helpful in understanding the Company’s results of operations or financial position. Where non-GAAP financial measures are used, the comparable GAAP financial measure, as well as the reconciliation to the comparable GAAP financial measure, can be found in this press release. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies.

Adoption of Accounting Standards

During the first quarter 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities and ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.

The amendments in ASU 2014-09 create a common revenue standard and clarify the principles for recognizing revenue that can be applied consistently across various transactions, industries, and capital markets. Although this new accounting guidance brings considerable changes to how many companies account for revenue and disclose revenue-related information, the effect on the Company has not been significant as substantially all of the Company's revenue is generated from interest income related to loans and investment securities, which are not within the scope of this guidance. For the Company's revenue streams that are within the scope of this guidance, the guidance was adopted on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. Upon adoption, the Company's accounting policies did not change materially as the principles of revenue recognition in the ASU are largely consistent with current practices applied by the Company.

The amendments in ASU 2016-01 require that equity investments be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income, rather than accumulated other comprehensive income. Upon adoption of the new accounting guidance, on January 1, 2018, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment of $0.4 million to decrease accumulated other comprehensive income with a corresponding increase to opening retained earnings. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recognized a loss of $3.6 million related to fair value changes in equity securities.

The amendments in ASU 2018-02 allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings from tax effects resulting from the TCJA so that tax effects of items within other comprehensive income reflect the current tax rate. Previously, the effect of a change in tax laws or rates on deferred tax liabilities and assets were included in income from continuing operations even in situations in which the related income tax effects of items in accumulated other comprehensive income were originally recognized in comprehensive income. Upon adoption of the new accounting guidance, on January 1, 2018, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment of $0.6 million to decrease accumulated other comprehensive income with a corresponding increase to opening retained earnings.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements that relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding our expectations with regard to our business, financial and operating results, and future economic performance, including our recent domestic select-service hotel franchise finance loan portfolio acquisition. The forward-looking statements contained herein reflect our current views about future events and financial performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause our actual results to differ significantly from historical results and those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical or expected results include, among others: the risk factors discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; changes in general economic conditions, either nationally or locally in the areas in which we conduct or will conduct our business; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; increases in competitive pressures among financial institutions and businesses offering similar products and services; higher defaults on our loan portfolio than we expect; changes in management’s estimate of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses; legislative or regulatory changes or changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; supervisory actions by regulatory agencies which may limit our ability to pursue certain growth opportunities, including expansion through acquisitions; additional regulatory requirements resulting from our continued growth; management’s estimates and projections of interest rates and interest rate policy; the execution of our business plan; and other factors affecting the financial services industry generally or the banking industry in particular.

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We do not intend and disclaim any duty or obligation to update or revise any industry information or forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, set forth in this press release to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.

About Western Alliance Bancorporation

With more than $20 billion in assets, Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL) is one of the country’s top-performing banking companies and has ranked in the top 10 on the Forbes “Best Banks in America” list for four consecutive years, 2016-2019. Its primary subsidiary, Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, helps business clients meet their growth ambitions with local teams of experienced bankers who deliver superior service and a full spectrum of customized loan, deposit and treasury management capabilities. Business clients also benefit from a powerful array of specialized financial services that provide strong expertise and tailored solutions for a wide variety of industries and sectors. A national presence with a regional footprint, Western Alliance Bank operates individually branded, full-service banking divisions and has offices in key markets nationwide. For more information, visit westernalliancebank.com.

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