Southern Missouri Bancorp Reports Preliminary Third Quarter Results, Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.09 Per Common Share, Schedules Conference Call to Discuss Results for Tuesday, April 26, at 3:30pm Cdt


Poplar Bluff, April 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Matt Funke, CFO
April 25, 2016(573) 778-1800

SOUTHERN MISSOURI BANCORP REPORTS PRELIMINARY THIRD QUARTER RESULTS,
DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND OF $0.09 PER COMMON SHARE,
SCHEDULES CONFERENCE CALL TO DISCUSS RESULTS FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 26, AT 3:30PM CDT

Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. (“Company”) (NASDAQ: SMBC), the parent corporation of Southern Bank (“Bank”), today announced preliminary net income available to common shareholders for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 of $3.3 million, an increase of $6,000, or 0.2%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable to reduced provision for loan losses, increased noninterest income, and the elimination of preferred dividends as a result of the October 2015 preferred share repurchase, partially offset by lower net interest income, higher noninterest expense, and higher provision for income taxes. Preliminary net income available to common shareholders was $.45 per fully diluted common share for the third quarter of fiscal 2016, an increase of $0.01, or 2.3%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year, adjusted for the two-for-one common stock split in the form of a 100% common stock dividend paid in January 2015.

Highlights for the third quarter of fiscal 2016:

  • Earnings per common share (diluted) were $.45, up $.01, or 2.3%, as compared to $.44 earned in the same quarter a year ago (adjusted for the January 2015 stock split), and down $.11, or 19.6%, as compared to the $.56 earned in the second quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter, which included benefits from larger non-recurring items.
     
  • Annualized return on average assets was 0.99%, while annualized return on average common equity was 11.0%, as compared to 1.04% and 11.9%, respectively, in the same quarter a year ago, and 1.27% and 14.0%, respectively, in the second quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter.
     
  • Net loan growth for the first nine months of fiscal 2016 was $41.6 million, or 4.0%. Deposits were up $66.9 million, or 6.3%.
     
  • Net interest margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 was 3.72%, down from the 3.89% reported for the year ago period, and down from 3.88% for the second quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter.
     
  • Noninterest income (excluding available-for-sale securities gains) was up 4.0% for the third quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to the year ago period, and down 22.0% from the second quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter, which included benefits from larger non-recurring items.
     
  • Noninterest expense was up 2.1% for the third quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to the year ago period, and up 1.1% from the second quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter.
     
  • Nonperforming assets were $8.3 million, or 0.62% of total assets, at March 31, 2016, as compared to $7.6 million, or 0.57% of total assets, at December 31, 2015.

Dividend Declared:

As the Company noted in a report on Form 8-k filed April 21, 2016, the Board of Directors, on April 19, 2016, was pleased to declare its 88th consecutive quarterly dividend on common stock since the inception of the Company. The cash dividend of $.09 per common share will be paid May 31, 2016, to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 13, 2016. The Board of Directors and management believe the payment of a quarterly cash dividend enhances shareholder value and demonstrates our commitment to and confidence in our future prospects.

Conference Call:

The Company will host a conference call to review the information provided in this press release on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. central time (4:30 p.m. eastern). The call will be available live to interested parties by calling 1-888-339-0709 in the United States (Canada: 1-855-669-9657, international: 1-412-902-4189). Telephone playback will be available beginning one hour following the conclusion of the call through May 9, 2016. The playback may be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (Canada: 1-855-669-9658, international: 1-412-317-0088), and using the conference passcode 10085280. Participants should ask to be joined into the Southern Missouri Bancorp (SMBC) call.

Balance Sheet Summary:

The Company experienced balance sheet growth in the first nine months of fiscal 2016, with total assets of $1.3 billion at March 31, 2016, reflecting an increase of $44.4 million, or 3.4%, as compared to June 30, 2015. Balance sheet growth was funded primarily through deposit growth.

Available-for-sale (AFS) securities were $128.7 million at March 31, 2016, a decrease of $858,000, or 0.7%, as compared to June 30, 2015. The decrease was attributable to reductions in mortgage-backed securities and agency bonds, partially offset by increases in municipal and other securities. Cash equivalents and time deposits were $18.5 million, a decrease of $202,000, or 1.1%, as compared to June 30, 2015.

Loans, net of the allowance for loan losses, were $1.1 billion at March 31, 2016, an increase of $41.6 million, or 4.0%, as compared to June 30, 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to growth in commercial real estate, construction, and residential loan balances, partially offset by a reduction in commercial loan balances. The increase in commercial real estate loans was attributable to nonresidential and agricultural real estate loan originations. The increase in residential real estate loans was attributable primarily to multifamily real estate loan originations. The decrease in commercial loan balances was attributable to repayments from both commercial & industrial borrowers and agricultural borrowers. Loans anticipated to fund in the next 90 days stood at $59.4 million at March 31, 2016, as compared to $35.2 million at December 31, 2015, and $19.7 million at March 31, 2015.

Nonperforming loans were $5.0 million, or 0.45% of gross loans, at March 31, 2016, as compared to $3.8 million, or 0.36% of gross loans, at June 30, 2015. The increase in nonperforming loans was attributed primarily to a single commercial loan acquired in the FDIC-assisted acquisition of First Southern Bank in December 2010. Nonperforming assets were $8.3 million, or 0.62% of total assets, at March 31, 2016, as compared to $8.3 million, or 0.64% of total assets, at June 30, 2015. Our allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2016, totaled $13.7 million, representing 1.24% of gross loans and 276% of nonperforming loans, as compared to $12.3 million, or 1.15% of gross loans, and 323% of nonperforming loans, at June 30, 2015. For all impaired loans, the Company has measured impairment under ASC 310-10-35, and management believes the allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2016, is adequate, based on that measurement.

Total liabilities were $1.2 billion at March 31, 2016, an increase of $54.8 million, or 4.7%, as compared to June 30, 2015.

Deposits were $1.1 billion at March 31, 2016, an increase of $66.9 million, or 6.3%, as compared to June 30, 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to growth in interest-bearing transaction accounts, money market deposit accounts, and noninterest-bearing transaction accounts, partially offset by declines in savings accounts and certificates of deposit. The average loan-to-deposit ratio for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 was 96.9%, as compared to 97.6% for the same period of the prior fiscal year.

FHLB advances were $48.6 million at March 31, 2016, a decrease of $16.1 million, or 24.9%, as compared to June 30, 2015. The decrease was attributable to the Company’s reduction in overnight borrowings due to strong deposit growth during the fiscal year to date. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase totaled $31.6 million at March 31, 2016, an increase of $4.2 million, or 15.5%, as compared to June 30, 2015. At both dates, the full balance of repurchase agreements was due to local small business and government counterparties.

The Company’s stockholders’ equity was $122.2 million at March 31, 2016, a decrease of $10.4 million, or 7.8%, as compared to June 30, 2015. The decrease was attributable to the redemption of the Company’s $20.0 million in preferred stock which had been issued in July 2011 under the U.S. Treasury’s Small Business Lending Fund program and payment of dividends on common and preferred stock, partially offset by retention of net income and an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Income Statement Summary:

The Company’s net interest income for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, was $11.5 million, a decrease of $189,000, or 1.6%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The decrease was attributable to a decrease in net interest margin, to 3.72% in the current three-month period, as compared to 3.89% in the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, partially offset by a 2.7% increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets.

Accretion of fair value discount on acquired loans and amortization of fair value premiums on assumed time deposits related to the Company’s acquisition of Peoples Service Company and its subsidiary, Peoples Bank of the Ozarks in August 2014 (the “Peoples Acquisition”), decreased to $322,000 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, as compared to $558,000 in the same period of the prior fiscal year. This component of net interest income contributed ten basis points to net interest margin in the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, as compared to a contribution of 19 basis points both for the same period of the prior fiscal year, and for the three-month period ended December 31, 2015, the linked quarter. The dollar impact of this component of net interest income has generally been declining each sequential quarter as assets from the Peoples Acquisition mature or prepay; however, the decline from the three-month period ended December 31, 2015, was larger as a result of inclusion in that quarter’s results of the resolution of a purchased credit-impaired loan with a carrying value significantly less than the payoff realized.

The provision for loan losses for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, was $563,000, as compared to $837,000 in the same period of the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of average loans outstanding, provision for loan losses in the current three-month period represented a charge of .21% (annualized), while the Company recorded net charge offs during the period of .02% (annualized). During the same period of the prior fiscal year, provision for loan losses as a percentage of average loans outstanding represented a charge of .32% (annualized), while the Company recorded net charge offs of .02% (annualized).

The Company’s noninterest income for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, was $2.2 million, an increase of $84,000, or 4.0%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable primarily to deposit account service charges, bank card interchange income, loan origination fees, and gains realized on secondary market loan originations, partially offset by a decrease in loan late charges.

Noninterest expense for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, was $8.3 million, an increase of $166,000, or 2.1%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable primarily to higher occupancy expenses and employee compensation and benefits, partially offset by lower charges to amortize core deposit and other intangibles, legal and professional fees, and advertising expenses. The efficiency ratio for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, was 60.3%, as compared to 58.7% for the same period of the prior fiscal year. The deterioration resulted from the increase in noninterest expense and the decrease in net interest income, partially offset by the increase in noninterest income.

The income tax provision for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, was $1.5 million, an increase of $47,000, or 3.1%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year, attributable to an increase in the effective tax rate, from 30.8% to 31.7%, while pre-tax income was relatively unchanged. The general trend in the effective tax rate has been upward, as the Company’s taxable income has grown at a rate faster than its investments in tax advantaged assets.

Forward-Looking Information:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including: the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations; fluctuations in interest rates and in real estate values; monetary and fiscal policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the U.S. Government and other governmental initiatives affecting the financial services industry; the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses; our ability to access cost-effective funding; the timely development of and acceptance of our new products and services and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users, including the features, pricing and quality compared to competitors' products and services; expected cost savings, synergies and other benefits from the Company’s merger and acquisition activities might not be realized to the extent anticipated or within the anticipated time frames, if at all, and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention, might be greater than expected; fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions; demand for loans and deposits in our market area; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business; results of examinations of us by our regulators, including the possibility that our regulators may, among other things, require us to increase our reserve for loan losses or to write-down assets; the impact of technological changes; and our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing. Any forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements discussed might not occur, and you should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.



Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
      
Summary Balance Sheet Data as of: March 31,  December 31,  September 30,  June 30,  March 31,
  (dollars in thousands, except per share data)   2016    2015    2015    2015    2015  
      
Cash equivalents and time deposits$  18,517 $   25,794 $  20,250 $  18,719 $  23,496 
Available for sale (AFS) securities   128,735    129,085    127,485    129,593     133,637 
FHLB/FRB membership stock   5,886    6,238    7,162    6,467    6,475 
Loans receivable, gross   1,108,452     1,092,599    1,081,899    1,065,443    1,061,267 
  Allowance for loan losses   13,693    13,172    12,812    12,297     11,743 
Loans receivable, net   1,094,759    1,079,427    1,069,087    1,053,146    1,049,524 
Bank-owned life insurance   19,897    19,754     19,836    19,692    19,549 
Intangible assets   8,027    8,238    8,470    8,757    9,007 
Premises and equipment   46,670    45,505    42,788    39,726    37,490 
Other assets   21,981       23,631      24,715       23,964       23,680  
  Total assets$  1,344,472  $  1,337,672  $  1,319,793  $  1,300,064  $  1,302,858  
      
Interest-bearing deposits$   997,110 $  990,103 $  935,375 $  937,771 $  935,347 
Noninterest-bearing deposits   125,033    127,118    122,341    117,471    121,647 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   31,575    23,066    24,429    27,332    27,960 
FHLB advances   48,647    58,929    82,110    64,794    65,080 
Other liabilities   5,131    4,543    4,981    5,395    5,232 
Subordinated debt   14,729    14,705    14,682    14,658    14,635  
  Total liabilities   1,222,225      1,218,464     1,183,918     1,167,421     1,169,901  
      
Preferred stock   -     -     20,000    20,000    20,000 
Common stockholders' equity   122,247    119,208     115,875     112,643     112,957  
  Total stockholders' equity   122,247    119,208     135,875     132,643     132,957  
      
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$  1,344,472  $  1,337,672  $  1,319,793  $  1,300,064  $  1,302,858  
      
Equity to assets ratio 9.09% 8.91% 10.30% 10.20% 10.21%
Common shares outstanding   7,437,616    7,428,416    7,424,666    7,419,666    7,413,666 
   Less: Restricted common shares not vested   52,750    53,150    54,800    55,600    73,200  
Common shares for book value determination   7,384,866    7,375,266    7,369,866    7,364,066    7,340,466 
      
Book value per common share$  16.55 $  16.16 $  15.72 $   15.30 $  15.39 
Closing market price   24.02    23.90    20.72    18.85    18.87 
      
Nonperforming asset data as of: March 31,  December 31,  September 30,  June 30,  March 31,
  (dollars in thousands)   2016    2015    2015    2015    2015  
      
Nonaccrual loans$  4,890 $  3,803 $  4,021 $   3,758 $  4,200 
Accruing loans 90 days or more past due   70    79    50    45    137 
Nonperforming troubled debt restructurings (1)  -     -     -     -     -   
  Total nonperforming loans    4,960    3,882    4,071    3,803    4,337 
Other real estate owned (OREO)   3,244    3,617     4,392    4,440    4,291 
Personal property repossessed   90    118    109    64    36  
  Total nonperforming assets$  8,294  $  7,617  $  8,572  $  8,307  $  8,664  
      
Total nonperforming assets to total assets 0.62% 0.57% 0.65% 0.64% 0.66%
Total nonperforming loans to gross loans 0.45% 0.36% 0.38% 0.36% 0.41%
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans 276.07% 339.31% 314.71% 323.35% 270.76%
Allowance for loan losses to gross loans 1.24% 1.21% 1.18% 1.15% 1.11%
      
Performing troubled debt restructurings$  5,871 $  5,548 $  6,949 $  6,548 $  3,620 
      
  (1) reported here only if not otherwise listed as nonperforming (i.e., nonaccrual or 90+ days past due)  
      




 
 For the three-month period ended
Quarterly Average Balance Sheet Data: March 31,  December 31,  September 30,  June 30,  March 31,
  (dollars in thousands)   2016    2015    2015    2015    2015  
      
Interest-bearing cash equivalents$  14,475 $  10,352 $  9,488 $  12,398 $  16,148 
AFS securities and membership stock    132,913    135,044    135,706    136,063    147,433 
Loans receivable, gross  1,088,833     1,080,526    1,063,851    1,050,087     1,040,371  
  Total interest-earning assets   1,236,221    1,225,922    1,209,045    1,198,548    1,203,952 
Other assets   100,507     96,411    91,437    91,493    92,966  
  Total assets$  1,336,728  $  1,322,333  $  1,300,482  $  1,290,041  $  1,296,918  
      
Interest-bearing deposits$  995,555 $  963,510 $  935,089 $  933,444 $  943,035 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   29,496    24,861     25,885    27,442    26,256 
FHLB advances   41,987    70,107    68,844    56,377    57,596 
Subordinated debt  14,717    14,694    14,670    14,647    14,626  
  Total interest-bearing liabilities   1,081,755    1,073,172     1,044,488    1,031,910    1,041,513 
Noninterest-bearing deposits   128,284    125,759    120,283    124,436    123,033 
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities  5,765    755    1,472    802    754  
  Total liabilities   1,215,804     1,199,686      1,166,243     1,157,148     1,165,300  
      
Preferred stock   -     3,261    20,000    20,000    20,000 
Common stockholders' equity   120,924     119,386     114,239     112,893     111,618  
  Total stockholders' equity   120,924     122,647      134,239     132,893     131,618  
      
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$  1,336,728  $  1,322,333  $  1,300,482  $  1,290,041  $  1,296,918  
      
  For the three-month period ended
Quarterly Summary Income Statement Data: March 31,  December 31,  September 30,  June 30,  March 31,
  (dollars in thousands, except per share data)   2016    2015    2015    2015    2015  
      
Interest income:     
  Cash equivalents$  12 $  9 $  7 $  18 $  16 
  AFS securities and membership stock    853    864    865    843    918 
  Loans receivable  12,984     13,362    13,098     12,955     12,975  
  Total interest income  13,849     14,235    13,970     13,816     13,909  
Interest expense:     
  Deposits   1,872    1,847    1,785    1,800    1,756 
  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   32     29    29    32    30 
  FHLB advances   293    320    317     304    301 
  Subordinated debt  144    139    135    134    125  
  Total interest expense   2,341     2,335     2,266     2,270     2,212  
Net interest income   11,508    11,900     11,704    11,546    11,697 
Provision for loan losses   563    496    618    659    837 
Securities gains   -     -     -     -     3 
Other noninterest income   2,178     2,791    2,202    2,398    2,091 
Noninterest expense   8,257    8,168    7,988    8,002     8,091 
Income taxes   1,544     1,820     1,665     1,718     1,497  
Net income   3,322    4,207    3,635    3,565    3,366 
  Less: effective dividend on preferred shares  -     35    50    50    50  
  Net income available to common shareholders$  3,322  $  4,172  $  3,585  $  3,515  $  3,316  
      
Basic earnings per common share (2)$  0.45 $  0.56 $  0.48 $  0.47 $  0.45 
Diluted earnings per common share (2)    0.45    0.56    0.48    0.47    0.44 
Dividends per common share (2)   0.090    0.090    0.090    0.085    0.085 
Average common shares outstanding (2):     
  Basic   7,435,000    7,425,000    7,422,000    7,418,000    7,413,000 
  Diluted   7,464,000    7,460,000    7,454,000    7,524,000    7,604,000 
      
Return on average assets 0.99% 1.27% 1.12% 1.11% 1.04%
Return on average common shareholders' equity 11.0% 14.0% 12.6% 12.5% 11.9%
      
Net interest margin 3.72% 3.88% 3.87% 3.85% 3.89%
Net interest spread 3.61% 3.77% 3.75% 3.73% 3.77%
      
Efficiency ratio 60.3% 55.6% 57.4% 57.4% 58.7%
      
  (2) adjusted to reflect the 2-for-1 stock split in the form of a 100% stock dividend paid January 30, 2015