Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation Reports Strong Third Quarter Results, Driven by Solid Advances in Wealth and Commercial Banking Activities

BEDMINSTER, N.J., Oct. 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market: PGC) (the “Company”) announces its third quarter 2019 results, a quarterly dividend, and the status of the stock repurchase program. 

For the quarter ended September 30, 2019, the Company recorded revenue of $44.51 million, pretax income of $17.45 million, net income of $12.23 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.63, compared to $39.12 million, $14.34 million, $10.72 million and $0.56 for the same three-month period last year. The 2019 quarter included increased net interest income and non-interest income, partially offset by an increased provision for loan and lease losses (due to loan growth) and increased operating expenses. In comparing the third quarter of 2019 to the third quarter of 2018, revenue increased 14% and pretax income increased 22%, reflecting favorable operating leverage during the period. For the same periods net income increased 14% and EPS increased 13%.  The lower growth in net income relative to pre-tax income was due to a higher effective tax rate in 2019.      

For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company recorded total revenue of $128.53 million, pretax income of $48.33 million, net income of $35.20 million and diluted earnings per share of $1.81, compared to $118.71 million, $44.10 million, $33.44 million and $1.75, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, reflecting increases of 8% in revenue and 10% in pretax income, reflecting favorable operating leverage. Net income and EPS increased 5% and 3%, respectively, due to the increase in the effective tax rate in 2019. The effective tax rate was 27.17% for nine months of 2019 compared to 24.17% for the nine months of 2018; the increase was caused by changes in NJ State tax law.    

As previously announced, on July 25, 2019, the Company authorized the repurchase of up to 960,000 shares, or approximately 5% of its outstanding shares, through June 30, 2020.  During the third quarter of 2019, under this program, the Company purchased 595,853 shares, at an average price of $28.06, for a total cost of $16.7 million.

Douglas L. Kennedy, President and CEO, said, “We acknowledge the challenges the Bank and the industry face given the current yield curve and Fed rate decreases.  We were pleased our core net interest margin remained relatively stable over the periods reported.  Further, we believe our strategy (which results in a higher incidence of fee income - 32% of total revenue for the third quarter of 2019) will enable us to deliver higher quality earnings and increased shareholder value over time.”

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The following tables summarize specified financial measures for the periods shown.

September 2019 Quarter Compared to Prior Year Quarter

(A) The September 2019 quarter included a full quarter of wealth management fee income and expense related to Lassus Wherley, which was acquired effective September 1, 2018, and includes one month of wealth management fee income and expense related to Point View Wealth Management, which was acquired effective September 1, 2019.

September 2019 Quarter Compared to Linked Quarter

             
(A) The quarter ended September 30, 2019 includes one month of wealth management fee income and expense related to Point View Wealth Management, which was acquired effective September 1, 2019.

Year over Year Comparison

               
(A) The nine months ended September 30, 2019 included a full nine months of wealth management fee income and expense related to Lassus Wherley, which was acquired effective September 1, 2018, and includes one month of wealth management fee income and expense related to Point View Wealth Management, which was acquired effective September 1, 2019.

Mr. Kennedy said, “Our continued revenue growth and expense management has delivered additional positive operating leverage. Additionally, as noted below, we closed on another strategic wealth management acquisition in the last month of the quarter.”

Other highlights for the quarter included:

• Wealth Management remains integral to our strategy and provides a diversified, predictable, and stable source of revenue over time:
  
  
  • As previously announced, effective September 1, 2019 the Company completed its acquisition of Point View Wealth Management, Inc. (“Point View”), a registered investment advisor headquartered in Summit, NJ, which added nearly $350 million of assets under management and/or administration (“AUM/AUA”).
  • At September 30, 2019, the market value of AUM/AUA at the Peapack Private Wealth Management Division of Peapack-Gladstone Bank (the “Bank”) was $7.0 billion reflecting an increase of $469 million from $6.6 billion at June 30, 2019, and $594 million from $6.4 billion at September 30, 2018, reflecting growth of 9% from prior year.
  • Wealth management fee income totaled $9.50 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, reflecting an increase of $1.3 million, or 16%, from the September 2018 quarter. 
  • Wealth management fee income, which comprised approximately 21% of the Company’s total revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, continues to contribute significantly to the Company’s diversified revenue sources.
    
    
• Growth in Commercial Banking also continues to be integral to our strategy:
  
  
  • Total commercial and industrial (“C&I”) loans (including equipment finance leases and loans of $547 million) at September 30, 2019 were $1.58 billion.  This reflected net growth of $394 million (33%) when compared to $1.18 billion at September 30, 2018 and reflected net growth of $56 million when compared to the June 30, 2019 balance (4% growth linked quarter; 15% annualized). 
  • C&I momentum has continued to build and pipelines remain strong as of September 30, 2019.
  • As of September 30, 2019, total C&I loans comprised 38% of the total loan portfolio, as compared to 31% at September 30, 2018.  As of September 30, 2019, total multifamily loans comprised 29% of the total loan portfolio compared to 34% a year earlier at September 30, 2018.
  • The Bank’s concentration in commercial real estate loans was 390% of risk-based capital at September 30, 2019 compared to 416% at September 30, 2018.
    
    
• Deposits, funding, and interest rate risk continue to be actively managed:
  
  
  • Deposits totaled $4.06 billion at September 30, 2019.  This reflected net growth of $402 million (11%) when compared to $3.66 billion at September 30, 2018 and declined slightly when compared to the June 30, 2019 balance, as several larger higher cost deposit accounts were managed out of the Bank.   
  • The Company’s loan-to-deposit ratio was 102.6% at September 30, 2019, up from June 30, 2019 levels, due in part to higher cost deposits being managed out of the Bank. This level is well within manageable and acceptable levels and has declined from 103.9% at September 30, 2018.   
  • The Company continues to have access to approximately $1.5 billion of available secured funding at the Federal Home Loan Bank.
  • With the transformation to a commercial bank balance sheet and business model, the Company’s interest rate sensitivity models indicate the Company is asset sensitive as of September 30, 2019, and that net interest income would improve in a rising rate environment but decline in a falling rate environment. Over the past quarter, the Company has been managing its balance sheet to be closer to interest rate neutral.
    
    
• Capital and asset quality continue to be strong.
  
  
  • The Company’s and Bank’s capital ratios at September 30, 2019 remain strong, despite $16.7 million of share repurchases made during the third quarter as part of the Company’s stock repurchase program. At September 30, 2019 the Company’s tangible capital ratio stood at 9.30%. The Company believes its existing capital and capital generation from earnings will be more than adequate to support planned balance sheet growth, wealth acquisitions, and potential purchases under its stock repurchase program.
  • The Company authorized a 5% (960,000 shares) stock repurchase program on July 25, 2019 under which the Company has purchased 595,853 shares through the end of the third quarter.
  • The Company’s tangible book value per share at September 30, 2019 was $23.91 reflecting an increase of 9% from $21.88 at September 30, 2018.
  • Asset quality metrics continued to be strong as of September 30, 2019. Nonperforming assets at September 30, 2019 were $29.7 million, or 0.60% of total assets as compared to $25.7 million and 0.56% of total assets at December 31, 2018.  

SUPPLEMENTAL QUARTERLY DETAILS:

Wealth Management Business

In the September 2019 quarter, the Bank’s wealth management business generated $9.50 million in fee income, reflecting an increase of $1.30 million compared to $8.20 million for the September 2018 quarter, but relatively flat to the June 2019 quarter. The June 2019 quarter included $509,000 of tax preparation fee income, while the September 2019 quarter only included $87,000. The September 2019 quarter included three months of fee income related to Lassus Wherley compared to one month in the September 2018 quarter, which was acquired effective September 1, 2018 and one month of fee income related to Point View, which was acquired September 1, 2019, as well as increased fees from net organic growth in assets under management. 

John P. Babcock, President of the newly-branded, “Peapack Private Wealth Management” division said, “I am pleased with our results; we had $585 million of new business inflows so far in 2019 and have a strong pipeline as we look ahead to finish the year strong.  We are making significant forward progress on integrating the systems, processes and people from our 2017, 2018, and 2019 acquisitions and continue to selectively look for additional acquisitions that can add talent and expertise to our wealth management organization.”

Loans / Commercial Banking

Net loans increased by $133 million from $3.99 billion at June 30, 2019 to $4.13 billion at September 30, 2019 (3% growth linked quarter, 13% annualized). Loan/line origination levels continued to be strong ($401 million for the September 30, 2019 quarter) but paydown activity was also robust. Mr. Kennedy noted, “We were pleased to have strong net loan growth, despite increased paydown activity. And, we have entered the fourth quarter with very strong loan pipelines.” 

Total C&I loans (including equipment finance leases and loans) grew $56 million (4% growth linked quarter, 15% annualized) to $1.58 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2019, as compared to $1.52 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2019.

Mr. Kennedy said, “The loan market continues to be extremely competitive from a structure/credit and a pricing perspective. As I have noted before, we will continue to be disciplined and not compromise our credit standards, but we will compete on price, as long as returns remain reasonable as measured by our proprietary loan pricing model.”

Mr. Kennedy also said, “Our newly expanded Corporate Advisory and Structured Finance businesses give us the capability to engage in high level strategic debt, capital and valuation analysis coupled with succession, estate and wealth planning strategies, enabling us to provide a unique boutique level of service, giving us a competitive advantage over much of our peers.”

Funding / Liquidity / Interest Rate Risk Management

The Company actively manages its deposit base to reduce reliance on wholesale sourced deposits, volatility, and/or operational risk.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2019, the Company utilized its excess balance sheet liquidity (basically interest-earning deposits) and a short-term borrowing position to fund its loan growth while managing some higher cost deposit relationships out of the bank.

Mr. Kennedy noted, “As a commercial bank with an asset sensitive balance sheet, as the Fed reduces rates, our loans reprice faster than our deposits. Thus, we remain focused on our comprehensive deposit rate reduction program with an eye toward relationship profitability.” 

As of September 30, 2019, in addition to approximately $585 million of cash, cash equivalents and investment securities on its balance sheet, the Company also had approximately $1.5 billion of secured funding available from the Federal Home Loan Bank, of which only $172 million was drawn as of September 30, 2019.
             
Mr. Kennedy noted, “We may continue to utilize lower cost fixed rate wholesale borrowings and/or interest rate swaps, as opposed to retail deposits, to fund fixed rate loan production.”

Kennedy went on to note, “The northeast market continues to be extremely competitive for deposits. The Company is focused on providing high touch client service, a key element in growing its personal and commercial core deposit base.  The Company is focused on multiple retail channels, as well as commercial channels, including its enhanced Treasury Management and Escrow offerings. Further, all of our Private Bankers remain keenly focused on deposit gathering.”

Net Interest Income (NII)/Net Interest Margin (NIM)

Net interest income and net interest margin comparisons are shown above.

Mr. Kennedy noted, “Last quarter we said that our forecasting models indicated a net interest margin in the 2.95% to 3.00% range by the end of 2021 (previously guidance was the end of 2020). We also said, while we still believe our margin will improve over that time frame, the target may be difficult to attain if the shape of the current yield curve remains for an extended period. Given the extended inverted yield curve as well as the prospects for continued Fed rate decreases in the near term, we still believe our margin will improve over a two to three-year time frame, but we cannot commit to a 2.95% to 3.00% margin by the end of 2021.  We will manage our Company accordingly by focusing even more on fee based activities and expense management.”    

Other Noninterest Income (other than Wealth Management fee income)

The third quarter of 2019 included $2.3 million of loan level, back-to-back swap income compared to $721,000 in the June 2019 quarter and $854,000 in the September 2018 quarter.  This program provides a borrower with a degree of interest rate protection on a variable rate loan, while still providing an adjustable rate to the Company, thus helping to manage the Company’s interest rate risk, while contributing to income.

The third quarter of 2019 included $224,000 of income related to the Company’s SBA lending and sale program, compared to $573,000 generated in the June 2019 quarter, and $514,000 in the September 2018 quarter.

Income from both of these programs are not linear each quarter, as some quarters will be higher than others.

Other income totaled $902,000 for the third quarter of 2019, compared to $740,000 for the second quarter of 2019, and $444,000 for the third quarter of 2018. The September 2019 quarter included increased commercial lending fees, particularly unused line of credit fees and other fees.

Operating Expenses

The Company’s total operating expenses were $26.26 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, compared to $26.17 million for the June 2019 quarter and $24.28 million for the September 2018 quarter.  The September 2019 and the June 2019 quarters each included three months of expense related to Lassus Wherley (which closed in September 2018) while the September 2018 quarter included only one month. Further, the September 2019 quarter included one month of expenses related to Point View’s operations as well as approximately $200,000 of professional fees related to the acquisition.  Strategic hiring and normal salary increases also contributed to the increase for the September 2019 quarter.  FDIC insurance expense for the September 2019 quarter reflected a credit of $277,000, which was a reversal of the June 2019 quarterly accrual and included no accrual for the September 2019 quarter, as the Bank was notified by the FDIC of a small bank assessment credit.  Mr. Kennedy said, “As we reported last quarter, the Company launched a company-wide expense review, with a goal of slowing expense growth, while continuing our investment in digital and in client acquisition initiatives.  Both activities are becoming more important given the current yield curve.”

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the September 2019 quarter was 29.9%, compared to 22.9% for the June 2019 quarter, and 25.2% for the September 2018 quarter. The September 2019 quarter included higher NJ State Income Tax due to the change in NJ Tax law. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was 27.2% compared to 24.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.   

Asset Quality / Provision for Loan and Lease Losses

Nonperforming assets at September 30, 2019 (which does not include troubled debt restructured loans that are performing in accordance with their terms) were $29.7 million, or 0.60% of total assets, compared to $31.2 million, or 0.64% of total assets, at June 30, 2019 and $10.8 million, or 0.24% of total assets, at September 30, 2018.  Total loans past due 30 through 89 days and still accruing were $6.3 million at September 30, 2019, compared to $432,000 at June 30, 2019 and $2.5 million at September 30, 2018. The $6.3 million at September 30, 2019 included one $4.3 million commercial real estate loan that was in process of a rate modification (not a troubled debt modification) at September 30, 2019. The loan was brought fully current in early October.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2019, the Company’s provision for loan and lease losses was $800,000 compared to $1.2 million for the June 2019 quarter and $500,000 for the September 2018 quarter. The Company’s provision for loan and lease losses (and its allowance for loan and lease losses) reflect, among other things, the Company’s asset quality metrics, net loan growth, net charge-offs/recoveries, and the composition of the loan portfolio.

At September 30, 2019, the allowance for loan and lease losses of $41.58 million (142% of nonperforming loans and 1.00% of total loans), compared to $39.79 million at June 30, 2019 (128% of nonperforming loans and 0.99% of total loans), and $37.29 million (348% of nonperforming loans and 0.98% of total loans) at September 30, 2018. 

The September 2019 quarter included an approximate $1 million recovery resulting from the payoff of a nonperforming loan. The current quarter also included $1.5 million of specific reserves allocated to two nonperforming loans.

Capital / Dividend / Stock Repurchase Program

The Company’s capital position during the September 2019 quarter was benefitted by net income, as well as shares issued in the acquisition of Point View Wealth Management, almost fully offset by the purchase of shares through the Company’s stock repurchase program. During the quarter, the Company purchased 595,853 shares, at an average price of $28.06, for a total cost of $16.7 million.

The Company’s and Bank’s capital ratios at September 30, 2019 all remain strong.  Such ratios remain well above regulatory well capitalized standards.

On October 24, 2019, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share payable on November 22, 2019 to shareholders of record on November 7, 2019.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation is a New Jersey bank holding company with total assets of $4.93 billion and AUM/AUA of $7.0 billion as of September 30, 2019.  Founded in 1921, Peapack-Gladstone Bank is a commercial bank that provides innovative private banking services to businesses, non-profits and consumers, which help them to establish, maintain and expand their legacy.  Through its private banking locations in Bedminster, Morristown, Princeton and Teaneck, its Private Wealth Management Division, and its branch network and online platforms, Peapack-Gladstone Bank offers an unparalleled commitment to client service.

The foregoing may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about management’s confidence and strategies and management’s expectations about new and existing programs and products, investments, relationships, opportunities and market conditions.  These statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as “expect,” “look,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “may” or similar statements or variations of such terms.  Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements.  Factors that may cause results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

• our inability to successfully grow our business and implement our strategic plan, including an inability to generate revenues to offset the increased personnel and other costs related to the strategic plan;
• the impact of anticipated higher operating expenses in 2019 and beyond;
• our inability to successfully integrate wealth management firm acquisitions;
• our inability to manage our growth;
• our inability to successfully integrate our expanded employee base;
• an unexpected decline in the economy, in particular in our New Jersey and New York market areas;
• declines in our net interest margin caused by the interest rate environment and/or our highly competitive market;
• declines in value in our investment portfolio;
• higher than expected increases in our allowance for loan and lease losses;
• higher than expected increases in loan and lease losses or in the level of nonperforming loans;
• changes in interest rates;
• decline in real estate values within our market areas;
• legislative and regulatory actions (including the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Basel III and related regulations) that may result in increased compliance costs;
• successful cyberattacks against our IT infrastructure and that of our IT and third party providers;
• higher than expected FDIC insurance premiums;
• adverse weather conditions;
• our inability to successfully generate new business in new geographic markets;
• our inability to execute upon new business initiatives;
• our lack of liquidity to fund our various cash obligations;
• reduction in our lower-cost funding sources;
• our inability to adapt to technological changes;
• claims and litigation pertaining to fiduciary responsibility, environmental laws and other matters;
• our inability to retain key employees;
• demands for loans and deposits in our market areas;
• adverse changes in securities markets;
• changes in accounting policies and practices;
• effects related to a prolonged shutdown of the federal government which could impact SBA and other government lending programs; and
• other unexpected material adverse changes in our operations or earnings.

A discussion of these and other factors that could affect our results is included in our SEC filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.  We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company’s expectations.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

Contact:

Jeffrey J. Carfora, SEVP and CFO

Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation

T: 908-719-4308

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(Dollars in Thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

(A) The December 31, 2018 quarter includes death benefit from life insurance policy of $3.0 million related to the December 31, 2018 passing of the founder and managing principal of MCM.
(B) Total revenue includes net interest income plus total other income.
(C) Calculated as total operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue.  For Non-GAAP efficiency ratio, see Non-GAAP financial measures reconciliation included in these tables.

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(Dollars in Thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

(A) Total revenue includes net interest income plus total other income.
(B) Calculated as total operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue.  For Non-GAAP efficiency ratio, see Non-GAAP financial measures reconciliation included in these tables.

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION
(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)

(A) Includes goodwill and intangibles from the Murphy Capital Management, Quadrant Capital Management, Lassus Wherley and Associates and Point View Wealth Management acquisitions completed in August 2017, November 2017, September 2018 and September 2019, respectively.
(B) Resulted from the January 1, 2019 adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”.

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA
(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)

(A) Amount includes one healthcare real estate secured loan with a loan balance of $14.5 million at September 30, 2019, $14.6 million at June 30, 2019, $14.8 million at March 31, 2019 and $15.2 million at December 31, 2018.  In addition, one casual dining commercial banking relationship with a balance of $6.3 million at September 30, 2019 and $6.6 million at June 30, 2019 went on nonaccrual at June 30, 2019.
(B) Amounts reflect TDRs that are paying according to restructured terms.
(C) Amount does not include $19.7 million at September 30, 2019, $19.8 million at June 30, 2019, $20.0 million at March 31, 2019, $20.5 million at December 31, 2018, and $5.5 million at September 30, 2018, of TDRs included in nonaccrual loans.
(D) The $6.3 million at September 30, 2019 included one $4.3 million commercial real estate loan that was in process of a rate modification (not a TDR modification).  The loan was brought fully current in early October 2019.
(E) Total ALLL less specific reserves equals general ALLL.

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA
(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)

(A) Equity to total assets is calculated as total shareholders’ equity as a percentage of total assets at period end.
(B) Tangible equity and tangible assets are calculated by excluding the balance of intangible assets from shareholders’ equity and total assets, respectively. Tangible equity as a percentage of tangible assets at period end is calculated by dividing tangible equity by tangible assets at period end.  See Non-GAAP financial measures reconciliation included in these tables.
(C) Book value per common share is calculated by dividing shareholders’ equity by period end common shares outstanding.
(D) Tangible book value per excludes intangible assets.  Tangible book value per share is calculated by dividing tangible equity by period end common shares outstanding.  See Non-GAAP financial measures reconciliation tables.
(E) Regulatory well capitalized standard = 5.00%
(F) Regulatory well capitalized standard = 6.50%
(G) Regulatory well capitalized standard = 8.00%
(H) Regulatory well capitalized standard = 10.00%

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
LOANS CLOSED
(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)

(A) Includes loans and lines of credit that closed in the period but not necessarily funded.
(B) Includes equipment finance.

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET
UNAUDITED
THREE MONTHS ENDED
(Tax-Equivalent Basis, Dollars in Thousands)

(A) Average balances for available for sale securities are based on amortized cost.
(B) Interest income is presented on a tax-equivalent basis using a 21% federal tax rate.
(C) Loans are stated net of unearned income and include nonaccrual loans.
(D) Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis as a percentage of total average interest-earning assets.

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET
UNAUDITED
THREE MONTHS ENDED
(Tax-Equivalent Basis, Dollars in Thousands)