Provident Financial Services, Inc. Announces First Quarter Earnings and Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

ISELIN, N.J., April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS) (the “Company”) reported net income of $23.5 million, or $0.37 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to net income of $21.0 million, or $0.33 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, were favorably impacted by growth in average loans outstanding and growth in average core deposits.  In addition, new accounting guidance for share-based transactions, which the Company adopted in the third quarter of 2016, resulted in a $1.2 million reduction of income tax expense in the quarter.

Christopher Martin, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer commented:  "We are pleased to report record earnings for the quarter, driven by an expanding net interest margin, solid credit quality and ongoing expense management.  Our loan and deposit pipelines remain strong and we look forward to prudent growth and additional modest margin expansion throughout 2017."

Declaration of Quarterly Dividend

The Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per common share payable on May 31, 2017, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 15, 2017.

Balance Sheet Summary

Total assets increased $9.2 million to $9.51 billion at March 31, 2017, from $9.50 billion at December 31, 2016, primarily due to a $13.8 million increase in cash and cash equivalents and a $9.6 million increase in total investments, partially offset by a $6.0 million decrease other assets, a $5.4 million decrease in total loans and a $2.0 million decrease in banking premises and equipment.

The Company’s loan portfolio decreased $5.4 million to $7.00 billion at March 31, 2017.  The loan portfolio had net decreases of $14.4 million in consumer loans, $13.7 million in residential mortgage loans, $12.5 million in commercial mortgage loans and $3.0 million in multi-family mortgage loans, partially offset by net increases of $29.8 million in commercial loans and $8.6 million in construction loans.  Loan originations totaled $724.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  Commercial real estate, commercial and construction loans represented 75.7% of the loan portfolio at March 31, 2017, compared to 75.3% at December 31, 2016. 

At March 31, 2017, the Company’s unfunded loan commitments totaled $1.91 billion, including commitments of $1.10 billion in commercial loans, $384.0 million in construction loans and $141.0 million in commercial mortgage loans.  Unfunded loan commitments at December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016 were $1.83 billion and $1.24 billion, respectively.

Total investments increased $9.6 million to $1.61 billion at March 31, 2017, from $1.60 billion at December 31, 2016, largely due to purchases of mortgage-backed and municipal securities and an increase in unrealized gains on securities available for sale, partially offset by principal repayments on mortgage-backed securities, maturities of municipal and agency bonds, and calls of certain mortgage-backed securities.

Total deposits decreased $23.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017, to $6.53 billion, from $6.55 billion at December 31, 2016.  Total core deposits, which consist of savings and demand deposit accounts, decreased $51.9 million to $5.85 billion at March 31, 2017, from $5.90 billion at December 31, 2016, while time deposits increased $28.2 million to $679.4 million at March 31, 2017, from $651.2 million at December 31, 2016.  The decrease in core deposits was largely attributable to a $44.8 million decrease in money market deposits, a $20.7 million decrease in interest bearing demand deposits and a $2.7 million decrease in non-interest bearing demand deposits, partially offset by a $16.3 million increase in savings deposits.  Core deposits represented 89.6% of total deposits at March 31, 2017, compared to 90.1% at December 31, 2016.

Borrowed funds increased $27.8 million, or 1.7% during the three months ended March 31, 2017, to $1.64 billion, as wholesale funding replaced net outflows of deposits for the period.  Borrowed funds represented 17.3% of total assets at March 31, 2017, an increase from 17.0% at December 31, 2016.

Stockholders’ equity increased $15.3 million, or 1.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, to $1.27 billion, primarily due to net income earned during the period and an increase in unrealized gains on securities available for sale, partially offset by dividends paid to stockholders.  For the three months ended March 31, 2017, common stock repurchases totaled 42,155 shares at an average per share cost of $27.19, in connection with withholding to cover income taxes on the vesting of stock-based compensation.  At March 31, 2017, 3.1 million shares remained eligible for repurchase under the current authorization.  Book value per share and tangible book value per share⁽¹⁾ at March 31, 2017 were $19.10 and $12.73, respectively, compared with $18.94 and $12.54, respectively, at December 31, 2016.

Results of Operations

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, net interest income increased $4.0 million to $67.0 million, from $63.1 million for the same period in 2016.  The improvement in net interest income was due to growth in average loans outstanding resulting from organic originations and increases in both average interest bearing core deposits and average non-interest bearing demand deposits.  The growth in average core deposits mitigated the Company's reliance upon higher-cost sources to fund loan growth.

The net interest margin was 3.11% for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, which remained unchanged from the quarter ended March 31, 2016.  The weighted average yield on interest-earning assets decreased three basis points to 3.63% for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, compared with 3.66% for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, while the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased three basis points to 0.65% for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, compared to 0.68% for the same quarter in 2016.  Average non-interest bearing demand deposits totaled $1.33 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, compared with $1.19 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.  The weighted average cost of total deposits, including non-interest bearing deposits, for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 was 0.28%, compared with 0.26% for the same period last year.  The average cost of borrowed funds for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 was 1.63%, compared with 1.71% for the same period last year.  

The Company’s net interest margin increased four basis points to 3.11% for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, from 3.07% for the trailing quarter.  The improvement in net interest margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, was largely a function of a change in asset mix as excess liquidity from the trailing quarter was reinvested in higher yielding asset categories, along with an increase in the yield on total investment securities primarily resulting from a reduction in premium amortization on mortgage-backed securities.  The weighted average yield on interest-earning assets increased five basis points to 3.63% for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, compared with 3.58% for the quarter ended December 31, 2016.  The weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 increased one basis point to 0.65%, compared with 0.64% for the trailing quarter.  Average non-interest bearing demand deposits totaled $1.33 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, compared with $1.32 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2016.  The weighted average cost of total deposits, including non-interest bearing deposits, for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 was 0.28%, compared with 0.27% for the quarter ended December 31, 2016. The average cost of borrowed funds for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 was 1.63%, compared with 1.67% for the trailing quarter.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income totaled $12.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, a decrease of $553,000, or 4.2%, compared to the same period in 2016.  Fee income decreased $456,000 to $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $6.5 million for the same period in 2016, largely due to a $475,000 decrease in commercial loan prepayment fee income, a $352,000 decrease in debit card revenue, a $234,000 decrease in net gains on loan sales and a $204,000 decrease related to a gain on sale of deposits from a strategic branch divestiture recognized in the quarter ended March 31, 2016.  These decreases in fee income were partially offset by a $524,000 increase in net fees on loan-level interest rate swap transactions, a $263,000 increase in net gains recognized on the sale of foreclosed real estate and a $201,000 increase in deposit related fee income.  Also contributing to the decrease in non-interest income, wealth management income decreased $98,000 to $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $4.3 million for the same period in 2016.  The decrease in wealth management income was primarily due to a reduction in income associated with the licensing of indices to exchange traded fund providers.  Net gains on securities transactions decreased $96,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016.

Non-Interest Expense

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, non-interest expense increased $1.2 million to $46.1 million, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016.  Compensation and benefits expense increased $818,000 to $26.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $26.0 million for the same period in 2016.  This increase was principally due to additional salary expense related to annual merit increases, an increase in the accrual for incentive compensation and an increase in stock-based compensation, partially offset by a decrease in retirement benefit costs.  Net occupancy costs increased $521,000, to $7.0 million for three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, primarily due to an increase in seasonal expenses and increases in facilities and equipment maintenance costs.  In addition, data processing expenses increased $212,000 to $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, largely due to increases in telecommunication costs and software maintenance expense.  Partially offsetting these increases in non-interest expense, the amortization of intangibles decreased $253,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with the same period in 2016, as a result of scheduled reductions in amortization.  Additionally, FDIC insurance expense decreased $223,000 to $1.1 million for three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $1.3 million for the same period in 2016.  This decrease was due to the FDIC's reduction of assessment rates for depository institutions with less than $10.0 billion in assets, effective for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.  The decrease in the FDIC assessment rate was partially offset by an increase in the Company's total assets subject to assessment.

The Company’s annualized non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets⁽¹⁾ was 1.97% for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, compared with 2.01% for the same period in 2016.  The efficiency ratio (non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income)⁽¹⁾ was 58.02% for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, compared with 58.98% for the same period in 2016. 

Asset Quality

The Company’s total non-performing loans at March 31, 2017 were $40.5 million, or 0.58% of total loans, compared with $42.4 million, or 0.61% of total loans at December 31, 2016, and $50.6 million, or 0.76% of total loans at March 31, 2016.  The $1.9 million decrease in non-performing loans at March 31, 2017, compared with the trailing quarter, was due to a $2.0 million decrease in non-performing residential mortgage loans, a $474,000 decrease in non-performing multi-family loans, a $138,000 decrease in non-performing consumer loans and an $85,000 decrease in non-performing commercial mortgage loans, partially offset by a $785,000 increase in non-performing commercial loans.  At March 31, 2017, impaired loans totaled $53.5 million with related specific reserves of $3.0 million, compared with impaired loans totaling $52.0 million with related specific reserves of $2.3 million at December 31, 2016.  At March 31, 2016, impaired loans totaled $54.2 million with related specific reserves of $5.1 million.

At March 31, 2017, the Company’s allowance for loan losses was 0.89% of total loans, an increase from 0.88% at December 31, 2016, and a decrease from 0.94% of total loans at March 31, 2016.  The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, consistent with the provision recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2016.  For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company had net charge-offs of $1.2 million compared with net charge-offs of $734,000 for the same period in 2016.  The allowance for loan losses increased $272,000 to $62.2 million at March 31, 2017, from $61.9 million at December 31, 2016.

At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company held $7.7 million and $8.0 million of foreclosed assets, respectively.  During the three months ended March 31, 2017, there were six additions to foreclosed assets with a carrying value of $1.7 million and ten properties sold with a carrying value of $1.9 million.  Foreclosed assets at March 31, 2017 consisted of $4.1 million of commercial real estate and $3.6 million of residential real estate.  Total non-performing assets at March 31, 2017 decreased $2.2 million, or 4.4%, to $48.2 million, or 0.51% of total assets, from $50.4 million, or 0.53% of total assets at December 31, 2016.

Income Tax Expense

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company’s income tax expense was $8.4 million compared with $8.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016.  The Company’s effective tax rate was 26.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with 29.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2016.  Income tax expense and the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were both favorably impacted by discrete excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation.  The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU”) No. 2016-09, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718)" in the third quarter of 2016.  Under the new guidance, all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies associated with share-based compensation are recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the application of this new guidance resulted in a $1.2 million decrease in income tax expense.

About the Company

Provident Financial Services, Inc. is the holding company for Provident Bank, a community-oriented bank offering "commitment you can count on" since 1839.  Provident Bank provides a comprehensive array of financial products and services through its network of branches throughout northern and central New Jersey, as well as Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania.  The Bank also provides fiduciary and wealth management services through its wholly owned subsidiary, Beacon Trust Company.

Post Earnings Conference Call

Representatives of the Company will hold a conference call for investors on Friday, April 28, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss highlights of the Company’s financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.  The call may be accessed by dialing 1-888-336-7149 (Domestic), 1-412-902-4175 (International) or 1-855-669-9657 (Canada).  Internet access to the call is also available (listen only) at www.Provident.Bank by going to Investor Relations and clicking on Webcast.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Such forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods, or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “may,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “continue,” or similar terms or variations on those terms, or the negative of those terms.  Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those set forth in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and those related to the economic environment, particularly in the market areas in which the Company operates, competitive products and pricing, fiscal and monetary policies of the U.S. Government, changes in government regulations affecting financial institutions, including regulatory fees and capital requirements, changes in prevailing interest rates, acquisitions and the integration of acquired businesses, credit risk management, asset-liability management, the financial and securities markets and the availability of and costs associated with sources of liquidity.

The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date made.  The Company advises readers that the factors listed above could affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements.  The Company does not have any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement.

Footnotes

⁽¹⁾ Tangible book value per share, return on average tangible equity, annualized non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets and the efficiency ratio are non-GAAP financial measures.  Please refer to the Notes following the Consolidated Financial Highlights which contain the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures and the associated calculations.