S&T BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2023 RESULTS

INDIANA, Pa., Jan. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- S&T Bancorp, Inc. (S&T) (NASDAQ: STBA), the holding company for S&T Bank, announced fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings. Net income of $37.0 million, or $0.96 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to net income of $33.5 million, or $0.87 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2023 and net income of $40.3 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2022.

Net income increased 6.83% to a record $144.8 million for 2023 compared to net income of $135.5 million for 2022. Earnings per diluted share, or EPS, increased 8.09% to a record $3.74 compared to $3.46 per diluted share in 2022.

Fourth Quarter of 2023 Highlights:

• Strong return metrics with return on average assets (ROA) of 1.55%, return on average equity (ROE) of 11.79% and return on average tangible equity (ROTE) (non-GAAP) of 17.00% compared to ROA of 1.42%, ROE of 10.84% and ROTE (non-GAAP) of 15.78% for the third quarter of 2023.
• Pre-provision net revenue to average assets (PPNR) (non-GAAP) was 1.97% compared to 1.99% for the third quarter of 2023.
• Net interest margin (NIM) (FTE) (non-GAAP) was solid at 3.92% compared to 4.09% in the third quarter of 2023.
• Total portfolio loans increased $137.4 million, or 7.25% annualized, compared to September 30, 2023.
• Total deposits increased $298.9 million with $98.2 million of growth in customer deposits and $200.7 million of brokered deposits compared to September 30, 2023.
• Net charge-offs of $3.6 million, or 0.19% of average loans (annualized), compared to net charge-offs of $3.7 million, or 0.20% of average loans (annualized), in the third quarter of 2023.

Full Year 2023 Highlights:

• Record EPS and net income for the second consecutive full year.
• Net income increased 6.83% to $144.8 million and EPS increased 8.09% to $3.74 per share compared to 2022.
• Strong return metrics with ROA of 1.56%, ROE of 11.80% and ROTE (non-GAAP) of 17.15% compared to ROA of 1.48%, ROE of 11.47% and ROTE (non-GAAP) of 17.02% for the prior year.
• PPNR (non-GAAP) was 2.12% compared to 1.93% in the prior year.
• Strong NIM (FTE) (non-GAAP) of 4.13% compared to 3.76% for the prior year.
• Net interest income increased $33.6 million, or 10.65%, compared to 2022.
• Total portfolio loans increased $469.4 million, or 6.53%, compared to December 31, 2022.
• Nonperforming assets remained low at $23.0 million, or 0.30% of total loans plus other real estate owned, or OREO compared to $22.1 million, or 0.31% at December 31, 2022.
• Net charge-offs of $13.2 million, or 0.18% of average loans, compared to net charge-offs of $2.6 million, or 0.04% of average loans, in the prior year.

"It was a great year for S&T with record net income and earnings per share for the second year in a row," said Chris McComish, chief executive officer. "Our highly engaged teams that go above and beyond every day to provide an award-winning customer experience are fundamental to our success. For the quarter, I am pleased that we achieved balanced loan and deposit growth, while delivering excellent returns and efficiency. Our people-forward purpose positions us well for continued growth."

Fourth Quarter of 2023 Results (three months ended December 31, 2023)

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $85.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $87.4 million for the third quarter of 2023. The decrease of $2.3 million in net interest income was driven by higher funding costs, partially offset by higher yields on interest-earning assets. Net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent basis (NIM) (FTE) (non-GAAP) was 3.92% compared to 4.09% in the prior quarter. The yield on total average loans increased 4 basis points to 6.19% compared to 6.15% in the third quarter of 2023. Average loan balances increased $151.4 million to $7.6 billion compared to $7.4 billion in the third quarter of 2023. Total interest-bearing deposit costs increased 49 basis points to 2.53% compared to 2.04% in the third quarter of 2023. Higher interest-bearing deposit costs primarily related to growth in higher costing deposit products combined with a continued shift in the mix of deposits. Average money market balances increased $247.4 million and average CD balances increased $150.7 million compared to the third quarter of 2023. Average borrowings decreased $151.5 million to $523.8 million compared to $675.3 million in the third quarter of 2023 due to increased deposits.

Asset Quality

The provision for credit losses was $0.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $5.5 million in the third quarter of 2023. The decrease in the provision for credit losses primarily related to a lower allowance for credit losses driven by improvement in loan risk ratings compared to the prior quarter. Net loan charge-offs were $3.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to net loan charge-offs of $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2023. The allowance for credit losses was relatively stable at $108.0 million, or 1.41% of total portfolio loans, as of December 31, 2023 compared to $108.2 million, or 1.44%, at September 30, 2023. Nonperforming assets to total loans plus OREO remained low at 0.30% at December 31, 2023 compared to 0.22% at September 30, 2023.

Noninterest Income and Expense

Noninterest income increased $5.9 million to $18.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $12.2 million in the third quarter of 2023. The increase mainly related to higher other income from a gain on OREO of $3.3 million and from valuation adjustments on our commercial loan swaps and a nonqualified benefit plan of $2.2 million compared to the third quarter of 2023. Noninterest expense increased $3.4 million to $56.2 million compared to $52.8 million in the third quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher salaries and employee benefits of $3.4 million mainly related to increases in medical, incentives and a valuation adjustment on a nonqualified benefit plan compared to the third quarter of 2023.

Financial Condition

Total assets were $9.6 billion at December 31, 2023 compared to $9.5 billion at September 30, 2023. Total portfolio loans increased $137.4 million, or 7.25% annualized, compared to September 30, 2023. The consumer loan portfolio increased $84.5 million with growth in residential mortgages of $77.0 million compared to September 30, 2023. The commercial loan portfolio increased $52.9 million with growth in commercial real estate of $71.3 million offset by a decrease in commercial construction of $25.2 million compared to September 30, 2023. Total deposits increased $298.9 million compared to September 30, 2023. CDs increased $93.8 million mainly due to growth from new and existing customers and a continued shift from other deposit types compared to September 30, 2023. Money Market increased $326.4 million mainly due to growth from new and existing customers, shifts from other deposit types and an increase in brokered money markets of $200.7 million compared to September 30, 2023. Total borrowings decreased $215.1 million to $503.6 million compared to $718.7 million at September 30, 2023 primarily related to deposit growth.

S&T continues to maintain a strong regulatory capital position with all capital ratios above the well-capitalized thresholds of federal bank regulatory agencies.

Full Year 2023 Results (twelve months ended December 31, 2023)

Net income increased 6.83% to a record $144.8 million compared to net income of $135.5 million for 2022. Earnings per diluted share, or EPS, increased 8.09% to a record $3.74 compared to $3.46 per diluted share in 2022.

Net interest income increased $33.6 million, or 10.65% compared to 2022 primarily due to the impact of higher interest rates which drove an increase in yields on earning assets and higher costing liabilities. NIM (FTE) (non-GAAP) expanded 37 basis points to 4.13% compared to 3.76% for 2022. The yield on total average loans increased 154 basis points to 6.04% compared to 4.50% in 2022. Total interest-bearing deposit costs increased 152 basis points to 1.92% compared to 0.40% in 2022. Total borrowing cost increased 258 basis points to 5.59% compared to 3.01% in 2022.

Noninterest income decreased $0.6 million compared to the prior year. Mortgage banking income decreased $1.1 million due to a decline in loan sale activity caused by higher interest rates and a shift to holding originated mortgage loans on the balance sheet. Debit and credit card fees decreased $0.8 million and service charges on deposit accounts decreased $0.6 million due to decreased customer activity. Offsetting these decreases was an increase in other noninterest income of $2.5 million compared to the prior year primarily related to valuation adjustments on our commercial loan swaps and a nonqualified benefit plan. Noninterest expense increased $13.6 million compared to 2022. Salaries and employee benefits increased $8.2 million primarily due to higher salaries related to inflationary wage pressure, the acquisition of new talent and a change in valuation adjustment on a nonqualified benefit plan. The efficiency ratio (non-GAAP) for 2023 was 51.35% compared to 52.34% for 2022 due to higher revenue.

Nonperforming assets remained low at $23.0 million compared to $22.1 million in the prior year resulting in a nonperforming assets to total loans plus OREO ratio of 0.30% compared to 0.31% at December 31, 2022. The provision for credit losses increased $9.5 million to $17.9 million for 2023 compared to $8.4 million for 2022 primarily due to higher net charge-offs. Net loan charge-offs were $13.2 million for 2023 compared to $2.6 million for 2022. The allowance for credit losses was 1.41% of total portfolio loans as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

Dividend

S&T's Board of Directors approved a $0.33 per share cash dividend on January 24, 2024. This is an increase of $0.01, or 3.13%, compared to a $0.32 per share cash dividend declared in the same period in the prior year. The dividend is payable February 22, 2024 to shareholders of record on February 8, 2024. Dividends declared in 2023 increased $0.09, or 7.50%, to $1.29 compared to $1.20 for 2022.

Conference Call

S&T will host its fourth quarter 2023 earnings conference call live over the Internet at 1:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 25, 2024. To access the webcast, go to S&T Bancorp, Inc.'s Investor Relations webpage www.stbancorp.com. After the live presentation, the webcast will be archived at www.stbancorp.com for 12 months.

About S&T Bancorp, Inc. and S&T Bank

S&T Bancorp, Inc. is a $9.6 billion bank holding company that is headquartered in Indiana, Pennsylvania and trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol STBA. Its principal subsidiary, S&T Bank, was established in 1902 and operates in Pennsylvania and Ohio. S&T Bank was named by Forbes as a 2023 Best-in-State Bank. For more information visit stbancorp.com or stbank.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This information contains or incorporates statements that we believe are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, outlook for earnings, revenues, expenses, capital and liquidity levels and ratios, asset levels, asset quality, financial position and other matters regarding or affecting S&T and its future business and operations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "will likely result," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "intend," "believe," "assume," "strategy," "trend," "plan," "outlook," "outcome," "continue," "remain," "potential," "opportunity," "comfortable," "current," "position," "maintain," "sustain," "seek," "achieve," and variations of such words and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as will, would, should, could or may. Although we believe the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of these assumptions could prove to be inaccurate and the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions could be incorrect. The matters discussed in these forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and trends to differ materially from those made, projected, or implied in or by the forward-looking statements depending on a variety of uncertainties or other factors including, but not limited to: credit losses and the credit risk of our commercial and consumer loan products; changes in the level of charge-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses, or ACL; cyber-security concerns; rapid technological developments and changes; operational risks or risk management failures by us or critical third parties, including fraud risk; our ability to manage our reputational risks; sensitivity to the interest rate environment, a rapid increase in interest rates or a change in the shape of the yield curve; a change in spreads on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities; the transition from LIBOR as a reference rate; regulatory supervision and oversight, including changes in regulatory capital requirements and our ability to address those requirements; unanticipated changes in our liquidity position; unanticipated changes in regulatory and governmental policies impacting interest rates and financial markets; changes in accounting policies, practices or guidance; legislation affecting the financial services industry as a whole, and S&T, in particular; developments affecting the industry and the soundness of financial institutions and further disruption to the economy and U.S. banking system; the outcome of pending and future litigation and governmental proceedings; increasing price and product/service competition; the ability to continue to introduce competitive new products and services on a timely, cost-effective basis; managing our internal growth and acquisitions; the possibility that the anticipated benefits from acquisitions cannot be fully realized in a timely manner or at all, or that integrating the acquired operations will be more difficult, disruptive or costly than anticipated; containing costs and expenses; reliance on significant customer relationships; an interruption or cessation of an important service by a third-party provider; our ability to attract and retain talented executives and employees; general economic or business conditions, including the strength of regional economic conditions in our market area; environmental, social and governance practices and disclosures, including climate change, hiring practices, the diversity of the work force, and racial and social justice issues; deterioration of the housing market and reduced demand for mortgages; deterioration in the overall macroeconomic conditions or the state of the banking industry that could warrant further analysis of the carrying value of goodwill and could result in an adjustment to its carrying value resulting in a non-cash charge to net income; the stability of our core deposit base and access to contingency funding; re-emergence of turbulence in significant portions of the global financial and real estate markets that could impact our performance, both directly, by affecting our revenues and the value of our assets and liabilities, and indirectly, by affecting the economy generally and access to capital in the amounts, at the times and on the terms required to support our future businesses.

Many of these factors, as well as other factors, are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, including Part I, Item 1A-"Risk Factors" and any of our subsequent filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements are based on beliefs and assumptions using information available at the time the statements are made. We caution you not to unduly rely on forward-looking statements because the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and projections about future events may, and often do, differ materially from actual results. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as to the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect developments occurring after the statement is made.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to traditional measures presented in accordance with GAAP, our management uses, and this information contains or references, certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as tangible book value, return on average tangible shareholder's equity, pre-provision net revenue to average assets, efficiency ratio, tangible common equity to tangible assets and net interest margin on an FTE basis. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide information useful to investors in understanding our underlying operational performance and our business and performance trends as they facilitate comparisons with the performance of other companies in the financial services industry. Although we believe that these non-GAAP financial measures enhance investors' understanding of our business and performance, these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to GAAP or considered to be more important than financial results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable with non-GAAP measures which may be presented by other companies. See Definitions and Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for more information related to these financial measures.