Waterstone Financial, Inc. Announces Results of Operations for the Quarter and Six Months Ended June 30, 2024

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Jul 25, 2024

WAUWATOSA, Wis., July 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Waterstone Financial, Inc. ( WSBF), holding company for WaterStone Bank, reported net income of $5.7 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 compared to net income of $4.0 million, or $0.20 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Net income per diluted share was $0.47 for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to net income per diluted share of $0.30 for the six months ended June 30, 2023.

“The results this quarter reflect our continued efforts over the past year to improve efficiencies at the Mortgage Banking segment,” said William Bruss, Chief Executive Officer of Waterstone Financial, Inc. "While our results have improved, we continue to face many challenges within the Mortgage Banking segment, as the mortgage banking industry continues to face unknown variables driven by consumer demand, affordable inventory, and interest rates. The Community Banking segment continues to deal with margin pressure, as short-term funding rates remain elevated due to the restrictive monetary policy of the Federal Reserve. Throughout this challenging period, we have maintained a robust share repurchase program that continues to return strong value to shareholders through repurchase activity that is accretive to book value."

Highlights of the Quarter Ended June 30, 2024

Waterstone Financial, Inc. (Consolidated)

Consolidated net income of Waterstone Financial, Inc. totaled $5.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to net income of $4.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Consolidated return on average assets was 1.02% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to 0.74% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Consolidated return on average equity was 6.84% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, and 4.41% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Dividends declared during the quarter ended June 30, 2024, totaled $0.15 per common share.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2024, we repurchased approximately 481,000 shares at a cost (including the federal excise tax) of $5.8 million, or $11.99 per share. This share repurchase activity was accretive to book value per share in the amount of $0.13 during the quarter ended June 30, 2024.
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets was 0.25% at June 30, 2024, 0.23% at March 31, 2024, and 0.19% at June 30, 2023.
Past due loans as a percentage of total loans was 0.76% at June 30, 2024, 0.64% at March 31, 2024, and 0.50% at June 30, 2023.
Book value per share was $17.20 at June 30, 2024 and $16.94 at December 31, 2023.

Community Banking Segment

Pre-tax income totaled $5.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, which represents a $1.3 million, or 20.5%, decrease compared to $6.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Net interest income totaled $11.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, which represents a $2.0 million, or 15.1%, decrease compared to $13.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Average loans held for investment totaled $1.67 billion during the quarter ended June 30, 2024, which represents an increase of $81.6 million, or 5.1%, compared to $1.59 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. The increase was primarily due to increases in the construction and commercial real estate mortgages. Average loans held for investment increased $4.1 million compared to $1.66 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The increase was primarily due to increases in construction and commercial real estate mortgages.
Net interest margin decreased 46 basis points to 2.01% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to 2.47% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, which was a result of an increase in weighted average cost of deposits and borrowings as the federal funds rate increases resulted in increased funding rates. Net interest margin decreased 14 basis points compared to 2.15% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, driven by an increase in weighted average cost of deposits and borrowings as the short-term borrowing rates increased resulted in increased funding rates.
Past due loans at the community banking segment totaled $9.3 million at June 30, 2024, $8.1 million at March 31, 2024, and $5.7 million at June 30, 2023.
The segment had a negative provision for credit losses related to funded loans of $197,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to a provision for credit losses related to funded loans of $619,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. The current quarter decrease was primarily due to decrease to historical loss rates and improvements in certain internal asset quality metrics offset by an adjustment in the qualitative factors primarily related to increases in economic risks related to commercial real estate loans during the quarter. The negative provision for credit losses related to unfunded loan commitments was $82,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to a negative provision for credit losses related to unfunded loan commitments of $462,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. The negative provision for credit losses related to unfunded loan commitments for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, was due primarily to a decrease of loans that are currently waiting to be funded compared to the prior quarter end.
The efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP ratio, was 62.37% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to 55.81% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Average deposits (excluding escrow accounts) totaled $1.22 billion during the quarter ended June 30, 2024, an increase of $35.7 million, or 3.0%, compared to $1.18 billion during the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Average deposits increased $28.8 million, or 9.7% annualized, compared to $1.19 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Mortgage Banking Segment

Pre-tax income totaled $2.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to $1.4 million of pre-tax loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Loan originations increased $10.8 million, or 1.7%, to $634.1 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to $623.3 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Origination volume relative to purchase activity accounted for 92.7% of originations for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to 96.4% of total originations for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Mortgage banking non-interest income increased $2.0 million, or 8.9%, to $25.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to $23.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Gross margin on loans sold totaled 3.93% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to 3.73% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2024, the Company sold mortgage servicing rights related to $233.1 million in loans receivable and with a book value of $2.0 million for $2.1 million resulting in a gain on sale of $152,000. There was no comparable sale during the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Total compensation, payroll taxes and other employee benefits decreased $1.0 million, or 5.8%, to $16.9 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to $17.9 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2023. The decrease primarily related to decreased salary expense and health insurance expense driven by reduced employee headcount and lower claims.

About Waterstone Financial, Inc.

Waterstone Financial, Inc. is the savings and loan holding company for WaterStone Bank. WaterStone Bank was established in 1921 and offers a full suite of personal and business banking products. The Bank has branches in Wauwatosa/State St, Brookfield, Fox Point/North Shore, Franklin/Hales Corners, Germantown/Menomonee Falls, Greenfield/Loomis Rd, Milwaukee/Oklahoma Ave, Oak Creek/27th St, Oak Creek/Howell Ave, Oconomowoc/Lake Country, Pewaukee, Waukesha, West Allis/Greenfield Ave, and West Allis/National Ave, Wisconsin. WaterStone Bank is the parent company to Waterstone Mortgage, which has the ability to lend in 48 states. For more information about WaterStone Bank, go to http://www.wsbonline.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements or information that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding expected financial and operating activities and results that are preceded by, followed by, or that include words such as “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” or “believes.” Any such statements are based upon current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include changes in interest rates; demand for products and services; the degree of competition by traditional and nontraditional competitors; changes in banking regulation or actions by bank regulators; changes in tax laws; the impact of technological advances; governmental and regulatory policy changes; the outcomes of contingencies; trends in customer behavior as well as their ability to repay loans; changes in local real estate values; changes in the national and local economies; and other factors, including risk factors referenced in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Waterstone’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and as may be described from time to time in Waterstone’s subsequent SEC filings, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect only Waterstone’s belief as of the date of this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management uses non-GAAP financial information in its analysis of the Company's performance. Management believes that this non-GAAP measure provides a greater understanding of ongoing operations and enhance comparability of results of operations with prior periods. The Company’s management believes that investors may use this non-GAAP measure to analyze the Company's financial performance without the impact of unusual items or events that may obscure trends in the Company’s underlying performance. This non-GAAP data should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, and is not a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risks that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items included in this measure and that different companies might calculate this measure differently.

WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
For The Three Months Ended June 30,For The Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
(In Thousands, except per share amounts)
Interest income:
Loans$25,601$22,150$50,085$42,035
Mortgage-related securities1,1259692,2231,912
Debt securities, federal funds sold and short-term investments1,2941,1282,6172,190
Total interest income28,02024,24754,92546,137
Interest expense:
Deposits9,7165,95518,68610,043
Borrowings7,6255,61714,4239,624
Total interest expense17,34111,57233,10919,667
Net interest income10,67912,67521,81626,470
Provision (credit) for credit losses(225)186(158)646
Net interest income after provision (credit) for loan losses10,90412,48921,97425,824
Noninterest income:
Service charges on loans and deposits4656118891,041
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance8047141,1521,039
Mortgage banking income24,83821,91444,90638,684
Other3902867981,315
Total noninterest income26,49723,52547,74542,079
Noninterest expenses:
Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits21,76222,39541,63842,447
Occupancy, office furniture, and equipment2,0292,0464,1374,309
Advertising9879441,9011,833
Data processing1,2421,0902,4482,212
Communications240225466476
Professional fees7586181,5011,034
Real estate owned11142
Loan processing expense8619321,9071,950
Other2,3792,6713,7975,766
Total noninterest expenses30,25930,92257,80960,029
Income before income taxes7,1425,09211,9107,874
Income tax expense1,4301,0853,1601,712
Net income$5,712$4,007$8,750$6,162
Income per share:
Basic$0.31$0.20$0.47$0.30
Diluted$0.31$0.20$0.47$0.30
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic18,52420,38418,77220,635
Diluted18,56820,43118,80220,702
WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
June 30,December 31,
20242023
(Unaudited)
Assets(In Thousands, except per share amounts)
Cash$36,177$30,667
Federal funds sold4,8735,493
Interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions and other short-term investments266261
Cash and cash equivalents41,31636,421
Securities available for sale (at fair value)204,835204,907
Loans held for sale (at fair value)222,756164,993
Loans receivable1,678,7671,664,215
Less: Allowance for credit losses ("ACL") - loans18,41418,549
Loans receivable, net1,660,3531,645,666
Office properties and equipment, net19,66319,995
Federal Home Loan Bank stock (at cost)23,22020,880
Cash surrender value of life insurance69,19167,859
Real estate owned, net145254
Prepaid expenses and other assets48,13552,414
Total assets$2,289,614$2,213,389
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Liabilities:
Demand deposits$182,628$187,107
Money market and savings deposits274,685273,233
Time deposits766,610730,284
Total deposits1,223,9231,190,624
Borrowings660,824611,054
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes21,1366,607
Other liabilities48,78561,048
Total liabilities1,954,6681,869,333
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock--
Common stock195203
Additional paid-in capital92,964103,908
Retained earnings272,778269,606
Unearned ESOP shares(11,276)(11,869)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes(19,715)(17,792)
Total shareholders' equity334,946344,056
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity$2,289,614$2,213,389
Share Information
Shares outstanding19,47920,315
Book value per share$17.20$16.94
WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
At or For the Three Months Ended
June 30,March 31,December 31,September 30,June 30,
20242024202320232023
(Dollars in Thousands, except per share amounts)
Condensed Results of Operations:
Net interest income$10,679$11,137$11,756$11,989$12,675
Provision (credit) for credit losses(225)67(435)445186
Total noninterest income26,49721,24816,87622,23023,525
Total noninterest expense30,25927,55029,66230,02130,922
Income (loss) before income taxes (benefit)7,1424,768(595)3,7535,092
Income tax expense (benefit)1,4301,730(555)5001,085
Net income (loss)$5,712$3,038$(40)$3,253$4,007
Income (loss) per share – basic$0.31$0.16$(0.00)$0.16$0.20
Income (loss) per share – diluted$0.31$0.16$(0.00)$0.16$0.20
Dividends declared per common share$0.15$0.15$0.15$0.15$0.20
Performance Ratios (annualized):
Return on average assets - QTD1.02%0.56%(0.01)%0.58%0.74%
Return on average equity - QTD6.84%3.56%(0.05)%3.63%4.41%
Net interest margin - QTD2.01%2.15%2.25%2.26%2.47%
Return on average assets - YTD0.79%0.56%0.44%0.59%0.59%
Return on average equity - YTD5.17%3.56%2.62%3.46%3.37%
Net interest margin - YTD2.08%2.15%2.46%2.53%2.67%
Asset Quality Ratios:
Past due loans to total loans0.76%0.64%0.68%0.53%0.50%
Nonaccrual loans to total loans0.33%0.29%0.29%0.25%0.26%
Nonperforming assets to total assets0.25%0.23%0.23%0.20%0.19%
Allowance for credit losses - loans to loans receivable1.10%1.11%1.11%1.12%1.14%
WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY AVERAGE BALANCES AND YIELD/COSTS
(Unaudited)
At or For the Three Months Ended
June 30,March 31,December 31,September 30,June 30,
20242024202320232023
Average balances(Dollars in Thousands)
Interest-earning assets
Loans receivable and held for sale$1,859,608$1,805,102$1,797,988$1,797,233$1,759,001
Mortgage related securities171,895172,077172,863174,202171,938
Debt securities, federal funds sold and short-term investments107,992110,431106,504132,935123,195
Total interest-earning assets2,139,4952,087,6102,077,3552,104,3702,054,134
Noninterest-earning assets104,019103,815105,073105,714108,320
Total assets$2,243,514$2,191,425$2,182,428$2,210,084$2,162,454
Interest-bearing liabilities
Demand accounts$91,300$87,393$91,868$90,623$69,147
Money market, savings, and escrow accounts293,483281,171302,121306,806305,576
Certificates of deposit758,252739,543735,418719,708695,310
Total interest-bearing deposits1,143,0351,108,1071,129,4071,117,1371,070,033
Borrowings622,771602,724549,210584,764551,545
Total interest-bearing liabilities1,765,8061,710,8311,678,6171,701,9011,621,578
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits93,63792,129102,261106,042130,291
Noninterest-bearing liabilities48,31545,48456,85946,80546,446
Total liabilities1,907,7581,848,4441,837,7371,854,7481,798,315
Equity335,756342,981344,691355,336364,139
Total liabilities and equity$2,243,514$2,191,425$2,182,428$2,210,084$2,162,454
Average Yield/Costs (annualized)
Loans receivable and held for sale5.54%5.46%5.36%5.26%5.05%
Mortgage related securities2.63%2.57%2.48%2.41%2.26%
Debt securities, federal funds sold and short-term investments4.82%4.82%4.94%4.45%3.67%
Total interest-earning assets5.27%5.18%5.10%4.97%4.73%
Demand accounts0.11%0.11%0.11%0.11%0.09%
Money market and savings accounts1.89%1.79%1.64%1.54%1.42%
Certificates of deposit4.41%4.19%3.76%3.43%2.80%
Total interest-bearing deposits3.42%3.26%2.90%2.64%2.23%
Borrowings4.92%4.54%4.83%4.71%4.08%
Total interest-bearing liabilities3.95%3.71%3.53%3.35%2.86%
COMMUNITY BANKING SEGMENT
SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
At or For the Three Months Ended
June 30,March 31,December 31,September 30,June 30,
20242024202320232023
(Dollars in Thousands)
Condensed Results of Operations:
Net interest income$11,234$11,598$12,056$12,431$13,238
Provision (credit) for credit losses(279)105(550)445158
Total noninterest income1,4919908949661,540
Noninterest expenses:
Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits5,1165,3605,3974,6184,683
Occupancy, office furniture and equipment9831,000916852873
Advertising229174363200230
Data processing687693626672602
Communications7265757072
Professional fees177208186176146
Real estate owned113111
Loan processing expense-----
Other6726916287031,641
Total noninterest expense7,9378,2048,1927,2928,248
Income before income taxes5,0674,2795,3085,6606,372
Income tax expense7181,6391,2341,1211,182
Net income$4,349$2,640$4,074$4,539$5,190
Efficiency ratio - QTD (non-GAAP)62.37%65.17%63.26%54.43%55.81%
Efficiency ratio - YTD (non-GAAP)63.77%65.17%56.86%54.94%55.17%
MORTGAGE BANKING SEGMENT
SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
At or For the Three Months Ended
June 30,March 31,December 31,September 30,June 30,
20242024202320232023
(Dollars in Thousands)
Condensed Results of Operations:
Net interest loss$(552)$(541)$(367)$(550)$(622)
Provision for credit losses54(38)115-28
Total noninterest income25,08120,32816,02821,45223,041
Noninterest expenses:
Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits16,88614,75614,88117,18617,929
Occupancy, office furniture and equipment1,0461,1081,1051,1411,173
Advertising758740667716714
Data processing549508583551480
Communications168161194173153
Professional fees569520704564466
Real estate owned-----
Loan processing expense8611,046756722932
Other1,6416172,7011,9351,914
Total noninterest expense22,47819,45621,59122,98823,761
Income (loss) before income taxes (benefit)1,997369(6,045)(2,086)(1,370)
Income tax expense (benefit)68471(1,827)(657)(126)
Net income (loss)$1,313$298$(4,218)$(1,429)$(1,244)
Efficiency ratio - QTD (non-GAAP)91.64%98.33%137.86%109.98%105.99%
Efficiency ratio - YTD (non-GAAP)94.62%98.33%116.99%111.63%112.49%
Loan originations$634,109$485,109$458,363$597,562$623,342
Purchase92.7%93.0%95.7%95.4%96.4%
Refinance7.3%7.0%4.3%4.6%3.6%
Gross margin on loans sold(1)3.93%4.10%3.51%3.62%3.73%

(1) Gross margin on loans sold equals mortgage banking income (excluding the change in interest rate lock value) divided by total loan originations.

Contact: Mark R. Gerke
Chief Financial Officer
414-459-4012
[email protected]

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