HF Financial Corp. Reports Earnings of $0.15 per share in Second Fiscal Quarter

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Jan. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- HF Financial Corp. HFFC today reported its earnings increased 44% to $1.0 million, or $0.15 per diluted share for the second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2012, compared to $715,000, or $0.10 per diluted share for the prior year's second fiscal quarter. Similar to the preceding quarter, improving asset quality produced low provisions for loan and lease losses, increased loan production and gains on the sale of mortgage loans along with a reduction in expenses helped to drive results for the quarter. HF Financial increased its deposits more than 4% since fiscal year end and foreclosed properties have declined 45%. Capital ratios continued to remain well above minimum regulatory requirements, and tangible book value per share was $13.42 at quarter end.

"Demand for residential mortgages remains robust. Mortgage originations continued at a record pace, with gains on loan sales contributing $1.4 million to our second quarter and $2.4 million to our first half revenues," said Stephen Bianchi, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Financial results for the first half of the fiscal year reflect our focus on delivering shareholder value through driving operational efficiencies and improving asset quality while building our brand in the communities we serve."

Fiscal Second Quarter Financial Highlights: (at or for the period ended December 31, 2012, compared to September 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011)

• Earnings per diluted share ("EPS") for the fiscal second quarter increased 50% to $0.15 versus $0.10 in the second fiscal quarter a year ago.  For the first half of fiscal 2013, EPS increased 42% to $0.44 from $0.31.
• The provision for loan loss was $128,000 for the second fiscal quarter versus a benefit of $300,000 the preceding quarter and a provision of $2.1 million one year earlier. Net loan charge-offs remained minimal. 
• The allowance for loan losses was 1.59% of gross loans at December 31, 2012, versus 1.55% at September 30, 2012, and 1.45% a year ago.
• Nonperforming assets ("NPAs") were $17.1 million, or 1.40% of total assets from $16.7 million, or 1.45%, of total assets at the end of the preceding quarter.  Of the $16.2 million of nonperforming loans included in NPAs, $14.9 million of these loans were current on their scheduled payments. Troubled debt restructuring balances declined to $10.2 million from $18.6 million in the second fiscal quarter a year ago and $12.4 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2012.
• The net interest margin, expressed on a fully taxable equivalent basis ("NIM, TE"), was 2.68% versus 2.72% for the preceding quarter, and 3.16% a year ago. 
• Strong mortgage lending activity led to gain on sale of loans of $1.4 million. The provision for impairment of mortgage servicing rights totaled $707,000 for the quarter and is included as a deduction within loan servicing income, net.
• Capital levels at December 31, 2012 continued to remain well above the regulatory "well-capitalized" minimum levels of 10.00%, 6.00% and 5.00%, respectively:
  • Total risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets was 16.51% versus 16.32% at September 30, 2012.
  • Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets was 15.26% versus 15.07% at September 30, 2012.
  • Tier 1 capital to adjusted total assets was 9.54% versus 10.05% at September 30, 2012.
• The most recent dividend of $0.1125 per share represents the nineteenth consecutive quarter at this level and provides a 3.36% current yield at recent market prices.
• Tangible book value per share increased to $13.42 per share, compared to $13.03 per share at December 31, 2011.

Balance Sheet and Asset Quality Review

Total assets at December 31, 2012, increased to $1.22 billion from $1.15 billion at the end of the preceding quarter due primarily to increased cash and investment securities arising from an increase of deposit balances.  Meanwhile, due in part to seasonality, total loans decreased to $677.6 million from $695.6 million during the most recent quarter.  By design, the Bank's loan portfolio remains well-diversified as part of management's efforts to minimize risk.  Commercial real estate loans, the largest component of the loan portfolio, accounted for 43.0% of the total loans.  Agricultural loans remain an important lending focus accounting for 22.3% of the loan portfolio, followed by consumer loans at 14.7%, commercial business loans at 12.2% and residential loans at 7.8%.

"The high volume of refinancing and purchase activity is contributing both gains from sale of loans in the short-term and future servicing income for the long-term," added Bianchi.  "Most of the residential mortgages we originate are sold in the secondary market, but we continue to service the loans for our customers providing long-term revenue opportunity.  With interest rates at historical lows, the expected life of our servicing portfolio is lengthening.   Also, the large volume of mortgage originations over the past year reflects our belief that borrowers are increasingly looking to Home Federal for their mortgage needs."

Total deposits were $933.1 million at December 31, 2012, versus $861.6 million at September 30, 2012. Deposit balances increased in the second fiscal quarter from the preceding quarter, due primarily to a $54.0 million increase from in-market deposits, exclusive of seasonal public fund deposits, which also increased by $18.0 million from the preceding quarter. 

Nonperforming assets, which include nonaccruing loans that have been restructured, increased minimally to $17.1 million at December 31, 2012, from $16.7 million the preceding quarter and decreased from $27.7 million a year ago.  Total NPAs decreased to 1.40% of total assets at the end of the quarter, compared to 2.26% one year earlier.  Borrowers who are in financial difficulty and who have been granted concessions that include term extensions or payment alterations are categorized as troubled debt restructured (TDR). Over 95% of the balances of the TDRs at December 31, 2012 are in-compliance with their restructured terms and payment structures. TDRs totaled $10.2 million at the end of December, compared to $12.4 million at the end of September and $18.6 million a year ago. 

Charge-off activity has slowed considerably over the past year, while recoveries have increased.  This improvement reflects stabilization in market values of collateral and the results of a restructuring of the lending department put in place over the past two years. "Though we may charge-off portions of loan principal, we will continue to seek recovery of our investment," said Bianchi. Charge-offs in the quarter totaled $627,000 while recoveries totaled $470,000.

The allowance for loan and lease losses at December 31, 2012, totaled $10.8 million, representing 1.59% of total loans outstanding. Relative to the preceding quarter, reserves decreased $29,000 while the ratio of reserves to total loans increased slightly due to the decrease in total loans.

Tangible common shareholders' equity decreased to 7.79% of tangible assets at December 31, 2012 compared to 8.23% at September 30, 2012, but remains higher than the amount reported in the second fiscal quarter of the prior year of 7.43%.  Tangible book value per common share was $13.42 at December 31, 2012, up from $13.03 per share a year ago. 

Capital ratios continued to remain strong and the Bank remained well-capitalized with Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 15.26% at December 31, 2012, while its Tier 1 capital to adjusted total assets was 9.54%.  These regulatory ratios were significantly higher than the required minimum levels of 6.00% and 5.00%, respectively.

Review of Operations

For the quarter ended December 31, 2012, HF Financial's earnings reflected continued control of overhead expenses and strong gains on the sale of loans from mortgage financing activities.  "At quarter end, we were servicing nearly $1.2 billion in mortgage loans sold into the secondary market.  The loan sales are offsetting pressure we are seeing on our net interest margin," said Brent Olthoff, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.  "The current low interest rate environment combined with lower volume of loans originated for our portfolio has resulted in thinner margins relative to earlier periods.  We are focused on adding quality loans to our portfolio while working hard to contain overhead expenses."

Net interest income totaled $7.2 million for the second fiscal quarter of 2013 compared to $7.3 million for the previous fiscal quarter, and $8.7 million in the year ago quarter.  The NIM, TE was 2.68% for the second quarter compared to 2.72% the previous quarter.

Gains on the sale of loans contributed to a stronger level of noninterest income. Continued high levels of mortgage activity produced $1.4 million in gains during the second fiscal quarter compared to $1.0 million the preceding quarter. Fees on deposits totaled $1.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 versus $2.1 million the previous quarter and $1.5 million one year earlier.  Deposit fees boosted first fiscal quarter income by approximately $600,000 from a nonrecurring vendor incentive related to debit cards. The provision for impairment of mortgage servicing rights totaled $707,000 for the quarter, which is an increase of $444,000 from the prior quarter. Total noninterest income was $3.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 compared to $4.1 million the previous quarter and $3.4 million one year earlier.

Noninterest expenses decreased to $8.5 million in the second fiscal quarter from $8.8 million in the preceding quarter, reflecting the streamlining of the branch footprint completed in the prior fiscal year. In the fiscal second quarter a year ago, noninterest expenses totaled $9.0 million. Total compensation and employee benefit expenses totaled $4.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2012, which is a $147,000 decrease from the preceding quarter. One year earlier, the second quarter's compensation and employee benefit expenses totaled $4.9 million. Professional fees for the second fiscal quarter decreased by $532,000 from the same quarter of the prior year due to costs related to governance issues incurred in fiscal 2012. Primarily due to the consolidation of six branches to other nearby branches during the past five quarters, occupancy and equipment expense decreased $67,000 from the second quarter a year ago to $1.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. Generally, total noninterest expenses reflect lower compensation, occupancy and professional fees relative to the same time period one year ago. 

These financial results are preliminary until the Form 10-Q is filed in February 2013.

Quarterly Dividend Declared

The board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.1125 per common share for the second fiscal quarter 2013. The dividend is payable February 15, 2013 to stockholders of record February 8, 2013.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). "Net Interest Margin, TE" is a non-GAAP financial measure. Information regarding the usefulness of Net Interest Margin, TE appears in the notes to the attached financial statements.  The Company believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures will permit investors to assess the Company's core operating results on the same basis as management. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered supplemental to, not a substitute for or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. As other companies may use different calculations for these measures, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are set forth in the notes to the attached financial statements.

About HF Financial Corp.

HF Financial Corp., based in Sioux Falls, SD, is the parent company for financial services companies, including Home Federal Bank, Mid America Capital Services, Inc., dba Mid America Leasing Company, Hometown Investment Services, Inc. and HF Financial Group, Inc.  As the largest publicly traded savings association headquartered in South Dakota, HF Financial Corp. operates with 28 offices in 19 communities, throughout Eastern South Dakota and one location in Marshall, Minnesota.  The Company operates a branch in the Twin Cities market as Infinia Bank, a Division of Home Federal Bank of South Dakota.  Internet banking is also available at www.homefederal.com and www.infiniabank.com.

This news release and other reports issued by the Company, including reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, contain "forward-looking statements" that deal with future results, expectations, plans and performance.  In addition, the Company's management may make forward-looking statements orally to the media, securities analysts, investors or others.  These forward-looking statements might include one or more of the following:

• Projections of income, loss, revenues, earnings or losses per share, dividends, capital expenditures, capital structure, adequacy of loan loss reserves, tax benefit or other financial items.
• Descriptions of plans or objectives of management for future operations, products or services, transactions, investments and use of subordinated debentures payable to trusts.
• Forecasts of future economic performance.
• Use and descriptions of assumptions and estimates underlying or relating to such matters.

Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.  They often include words such as "optimism," "look-forward," "bright," "pleased," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate" or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may".

Forward-looking statements about the Company's expected financial results and other plans are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  These include, but are not limited to the following: possible legislative changes and adverse economic, business and competitive conditions and developments (such as shrinking interest margins and continued short-term environments); deposit outflows, reduced demand for financial services and loan products; changes in accounting policies or guidelines, or in monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government; changes in credit and other risks posed by the Company's loan and lease portfolios; the ability or inability of the Company to manage interest rate and other risks; unexpected or continuing claims against the Company's self-insured health plan; the ability or inability of the Company to successfully enter into a definitive agreement for and close anticipated transactions; technological, computer-related or operational difficulties; adverse changes in securities markets; results of litigation; and the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, and its subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.  The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.  Although the Company believes its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.  Based upon changing conditions, should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in any forward-looking statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOURCE HF Financial Corp.