Earnings Labs

Landmark Bancorp, Inc. (LARK)

Q1 2016 Earnings Call· Fri, Apr 29, 2016

$26.76

-2.34%

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good day and welcome to the Landmark Bancorp 1Q Earnings Conference Call. All participants will be in a listen-only mode. [Operator Instructions] After today’s presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. [Operator Instructions] Please note that this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Mr. Michael Scheopner, President and CEO. Please go ahead, sir.

Michael Scheopner

Analyst

Good morning. Thank you for joining our call today to discuss Landmark’s earnings and results of operations for the first quarter of 2016. Joining the call with me today to discuss various aspects of our first quarter performance are Mark Herpich, Chief Financial Officer of the Company; and Brad Chindamo, the Company’s Credit Risk Manager. Before we get started, I would like to remind our listeners that some of the information we will be providing today falls under the guidelines for forward-looking statements as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. As part of these guidelines, I must point out that any statements made during this presentation that discuss our hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements, and our actual results could differ materially from those expressed. Additional information on these factors is included from time-to-time in our 10-K and 10-Q filings, which can be obtained by contacting the Company or the SEC. We reported net earnings of $2.3 million or $0.62 per share on a fully diluted basis for the first quarter 2016. This compares to net earnings of $2.8 million during the first quarter of 2015. The climb from the prior year relates to a $1 million credit provision to loan losses during the first quarter of 2015 as a result of a large recovery one a previously charged off construction loan. Apart from this prior year credit earnings increased in comparison to the first quarter of last year. Landmark’s first quarter of 2016 return on average assets calculates to 1.04%. The Company’s return on average equity for the first quarter was 11.04%. Mark and Brad will provide additional details on Landmark’s financial performance and asset quality metrics. I am pleased to report that our Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.20 per share, to be paid May 25, 2016, to shareholders of record as of May 11, 2016. This represents the 59th consecutive quarterly cash dividend since the Company’s formation resulting from the merger of Landmark Bancorp Inc with MNB Bancshares Inc in October 2001. In summary Landmark’s banking operations performed strongly during the first quarter of 2016 and factoring in the effects of the 2015 credit provision on the comparison delivered growth in earnings compared to the same period last year. This is a credit to the continued efforts of our associates throughout our organization focusing on good banking fundamentals. The management team remains focused on managing the organization in a conservative and disciplined manner dedicated to underwriting loans and investments prudently monitoring interest rate risk and structuring the overall organizational risk profile in a way that will pair us as well as possible for any adverse economic events. As a community bank with a strong presence across the State of Kansas Landmark is committed to growing our customer relationships meeting the diverse financial meeting of families in businesses. I will now turn the call over to Mark Herpich, our CFO, who will review the financial results with you.

Mark Herpich

Analyst

Thanks, Michael and good morning to everyone. As Michael has already summarized our earnings for the first quarter of 2016, I would like to make a few comments on various elements comprising those results. While our 2016 first quarter net earnings were lower than the first quarter of 2015 earnings remained strong, since the impact of that first quarter 2015 credit provision for loan losses of $1 million it offers which related to a large recovery last year on a previously charged off loan. Excluding the after tax of the provision for loan losses for the first quarter of 2016 and 2015 earnings increased about $160,000 compared to the first quarter of last year. Starting with the first quarter income statement highlights net interest income increased $110,000 to $6.4 million, a 1.8% increase in comparison to the prior year's first quarter. The higher net interest income was primarily driven by a $12 million or 1.5% increase in our average interest earning assets from $780 million in the first quarter of 2015 to $792 million during the first quarter of 2016. While our net interest margin was 3.47% in both quarter our net interest income benefited from an increase in the tax equivalent yields and higher investment securities balances during the first quarter of 2016. Looking at our provision for loan losses, we provided $50,000 to the allowance in the first quarter of 2016 compared to a credit provision for loan losses of $1 million in the first quarter of 2015. The negative provision for loan losses in 2015 related to a recovery in the amount of $1.7 million on a construction loan which have been fully charged-off during 2010 and 2011. Non-interest income increased to $131,000 to $3.9 million for the first quarter of 2016, up 3.5% as compared to…

Brad Chindamo

Analyst

Thanks, Mark, and good morning to everyone. Net loans outstanding as of December 31, 2016 totaled $420 million. This is a $3 million increase from our March 31, 2015 total of $417 million in net loans and flat compared to December 31, as Mark mentioned previously. Our commercial banking team continues to focus on prospecting and expanding both new and existing high quality banking relationships. Non-performing loans, which primarily consist of loans greater than 90 days past due, totaled $2.7 million or 0.64% of gross loans as of December 31, 2016. This compares to a level of 0.51% as of year-end 2015 and represents a decline from the year earlier level of $5.9 million or 1.40% as of March 31, 2015. The increase this year-end primarily represents one loan that entered into the foreclosure process in the first quarter of this year. Our credit risk and collection efforts continue to be focused on reducing these totals. Another indicator we monitor is part of our credit risk management efforts, is our level of loans past due 30 to 89 days. The level of past due loans between 30 and 89 days still accruing interest as of March 31, 2016 totaled $957,000 or 0.22% of gross loans. This is a decline from 0.33% of gross loans as of December 31, 2015. We continue to monitor delinquency trends carefully in all loan categories. Our balance and other assets real estate owned totaled $310,000 as of March 31, a decline from $1 million at year-end 2015. The other real estate owned balances have declined as a result of efforts to move problem loans through the collection process towards resolution. We continue to market for sale properties held in real estate owned. We recorded net loan charge-offs of $103,000 during the first quarter of 2016.…

Michael Scheopner

Analyst

Thank you, Brad. And I also want to thank Mark for his comments. Before we go to questions, I just want to summarize by saying that we are pleased with Landmark's operating results for the first quarter of 2016, as results continue a trend of strong core earnings across all of our community banking lines of business. Our asset quality metrics continue to reflect extremely high credit quality standards, we believe that the company’s risk management practices and our capital strength continue to position us well for long term growth. I anticipate our trend of solid earnings to continue going forward into 2016. With that I’ll open the call up to questions that anyone might have.

Operator

Operator

Michael Scheopner

Analyst

Okay thank you. I want to thank everyone for participating in today’s earnings call I appreciate your continued support and the confidence in our company. I look forward to sharing news related to our second quarter 2016 results at our next earnings conference call. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

The conference has now concluded, thank you for attending today’s presentation. You may now disconnect the lines.