First Commonwealth Announces First Quarter 2024 Earnings; Increases Quarterly Dividend

INDIANA, Pa., April 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (NYSE: FCF) today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2024.

Financial Summary

First Quarter 2024 Highlights

Financial results

• GAAP Net income of $37.5 million and diluted earnings per share totaled $0.37, an increase of $7.3 million, or $0.07 per share from the first quarter of 2023 and a decrease of $7.3 million, or $0.07 per share from the prior quarter. The results during the first quarter of 2023 included $19.2 million, or $0.15 per share, of merger-related expenses and day-1 non-purchased credit deterioration (PCD) provision from the Company’s acquisition of Centric Financial Corporation (Centric).
  • Core pre-tax pre-provision net revenue (PPNR)(1) totaled $50.8 million, a decrease of $3.6 million from the first quarter of 2023 and a decrease of $4.2 million from the previous quarter. The decrease from the prior quarter was primarily as a result of a 13 basis point decrease in the net interest margin (FTE)
• Average deposits increased $51.7 million from the previous quarter, or 2.3% annualized, including a $169.6 million increase in average time deposits offsetting a $132.2 million decrease in noninterest-bearing deposits.
  • End of period deposits increased $254.1 million, or 11.1% annualized from the previous quarter, including a $186.3 million increase in time deposits and a $113.0 million increase in savings deposits offsetting a $54.0 million decrease in noninterest-bearing deposits
  • 82% of deposits were insured or secured as of March 31, 2024
• Total loans increased $33.2 million, or 1.5% annualized from the previous quarter
• The loan-to-deposit ratio decreased 228 basis points to 95.6% in the first quarter of 2024
• Net interest income (FTE) of $92.6 million decreased $3.4 million from the previous quarter and $2.1 million from the first quarter of 2023
• Noninterest income of $24.0 million decreased $0.3 million from the previous quarter
• Noninterest expense (excluding merger-related expense) of $65.5 million increased $0.5 million from the previous quarter
• Tangible book value per share increased $0.17, or 7.4% annualized from the previous quarter
  • AOCI as a percentage of tangible common equity increased 53 basis points to 12.58% in the first quarter of 2024

Profitability

• The net interest margin of 3.52% decreased 13 basis points compared to the prior quarter
• The core efficiency ratio(1) increased by 205 basis points to 55.05% compared to the prior quarter
• The core ROAA decreased 25 basis points to 1.31% compared to the prior quarter
• Core pre-tax pre-provision ROAA(1) of 1.77% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023

Strong capital positions

• On April 22, 2024, the Board of Directors authorized a 4.0% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to shareholders
• Bank-level Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (CET1) ratio of 11.1%, which represents $435.3 million in excess capital above the regulatory “well capitalized” requirement of 6.5%.
• There were no shares repurchased in the first quarter of 2024. The remaining capacity under the current program was $17.4 million as of March 31, 2024.
• On June 1, 2024, the Bank will retire $50 million of variable rate subordinate corporate debentures with a current interest rate of 7.45%. This will reduce Total Risk Based Capital by approximately 44 basis points and improve the net interest margin by approximately three basis points beginning in the third quarter of 2024. The Company expects to incur approximately $360 thousand in other operating expenses in the second quarter of 2024 related to this redemption.

Asset quality

• The total provision for credit losses was $4.2 million, an increase of $6.1 million from the ($1.9) million provision for credit losses in the previous quarter.
• Reserve build/(release)(2) was $1.4 million, which brings reserves to total loans to 1.32% of total loans from 1.31% in the previous quarter
• Nonperforming loans of $42.4 million increased $3.0 million from the previous quarter
• Net charge-offs on loans totaled $4.3 million, a decrease of $12.0 million from the prior quarter, which included approximately $12.0 million of net charge-offs for loans specifically reserved for in previous quarters
  • Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans outstanding (annualized) was 0.19% in the first quarter of 2024, a decrease of 53 basis points from the previous quarter
    

“We are pleased to report another solid quarter of performance, highlighted by our strong pre-tax, pre-provision return on average assets of 1.77% and return on average tangible common equity of 16.51%,” stated T. Michael Price, President and Chief Executive Officer. Our commitment to disciplined financial management and profitability remain our primary focus. And we are confident in our ability to navigate the evolving economic environment and deliver sustainable value for our shareholders.”

Earnings

Net income for the first quarter of 2024 was $37.5 million, or $0.37 per share, compared to $44.8 million, or $0.44 per share in the fourth quarter of 2023 and $30.2 million, or $0.30 per share for the first quarter of 2023.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income (FTE) of $92.6 million decreased $3.4 million from the previous quarter and $2.0 million from the prior year quarter. The decrease from the prior quarter was primarily due to a 13 basis point decline in the net interest margin.

The net interest margin for the first quarter of 2024 was 3.52% as compared to 3.65% in the prior quarter and 4.01% in the year ago quarter. The decrease from the prior quarter was primarily due to a 19 basis point increase in the cost of funds only partially offset by a 6 basis point increase in the yield on loans.

Total average deposits grew $51.7 million in the first quarter of 2023 as compared to the previous quarter. Average time deposits grew $169.6 million and the cost of total time deposits increased 40 basis points from the prior quarter. The increase in time deposits was partially offset by a $132.2 million decrease in average noninterest-bearing deposits.

End of period deposits increased $254.1 million from the previous quarter, including a $186.3 million increase in time deposits and a $113.0 million increase in savings deposits, offsetting a $54.0 million decrease in noninterest-bearing deposits.

Asset Quality

Provision for credit losses totaled $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to ($1.9) million in the previous quarter. The increase from the previous quarter was primarily driven by net charge-offs.

The allowance for credit losses (ACL) as a percentage of end-of-period loans was 1.32% in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to 1.31% in the previous quarter.

At March 31, 2024, nonperforming assets totaled $44.3 million as compared to $40.9 million in the prior quarter and $45.2 million in the first quarter of 2023.

Nonperforming loans represented 0.47% of total loans as of March 31, 2024 as compared to 0.44% and 0.51% for the periods ended December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively.

At March 31, 2024, criticized loans totaled $211.9 million, an increase of $1.7 million from the previous quarter.

During the first quarter of 2024, net charge-offs were $4.3 million, compared to $16.3 million in the prior quarter and $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2023. Net charge-offs during the prior quarter were primarily driven by acquired loans.

Net charge-offs were 0.19%, 0.72% and 0.06% of average loans (annualized) for the periods ended March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively.

Noninterest Income and Noninterest Expense

Noninterest income totaled $24.0 million for the first quarter of 2024, as compared to $24.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 and $23.0 million for the first quarter of 2023. There were no material securities gains during the current or comparable quarters.

The $0.3 million decrease from the previous quarter was primarily driven by a $0.5 million seasonal decrease in card-related interchange income and a $0.5 million decrease in commercial swap fees, partially offset by a $0.6 million increase in gain on sale of mortgage loans due to an increased mix of sold loans and a $0.3 million increase in gain on sale of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.

Noninterest expense (excluding merger-related) totaled $65.5 million for the first quarter of 2024, as compared to $65.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 and $62.8 million for the first quarter of 2023. The $0.5 million increase from the previous quarter was primarily the result of a $0.9 million increase in PA shares tax due to a release of accrued tax obligations in the prior quarter and a $0.7 million increase in occupancy expense. This increase was partially offset by a $0.9 million decrease in salaries and employee benefits due to a $1.3 million decrease in hospitalization expense.

The core efficiency ratio was 55.05% during the first quarter of 2024 as compared to 53.00% in the previous quarter and 52.41% in the first quarter of 2023.

Full time equivalent staff was 1,465, 1,475 and 1,536 at March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively.

Dividends and Capital

First Commonwealth Financial Corporation declared a common stock quarterly dividend of $0.13 per share, which represents a 4.0% increase from the previous quarter. The cash dividend is payable on May 17, 2024 to shareholders of record as of May 3, 2024. This dividend represents a 3.9% projected annual yield utilizing the April 22, 2024 closing market price of $13.29.

First Commonwealth’s capital ratios for Total, Tier I, Leverage and Common Equity Tier I at March 31, 2024 were 14.3%, 12.2%, 10.2% and 11.4% respectively. First Commonwealth’s current capital levels exceed the fully phased-in Basel III capital requirements issued by U.S. bank regulators.

Conference Call

First Commonwealth will host a quarterly conference call to discuss its financial results for the first quarter of 2024 on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 2:00 PM (ET). The call can be accessed by dialing (toll free) 1-888-330-3181 conference ID # 4651379 or through the company’s web page, http://www.fcbanking.com/InvestorRelations. A replay of the call will be available approximately one hour following the conclusion of the conference by dialing 1-800-770-2030 and entering the conference ID # 4651379. A link to the webcast replay will also be accessible on the company’s web.

About First Commonwealth Financial Corporation

First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (NYSE: FCF), headquartered in Indiana, Pennsylvania, is a financial services company with 126 community banking offices in 30 counties throughout western and central Pennsylvania and throughout Ohio, as well as commercial lending operations in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Canton, Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio. The company also operates mortgage offices in Wexford, Pennsylvania, as well as Hudson and Lewis Center, Ohio. First Commonwealth provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking, mortgage, equipment finance, wealth management and insurance products and services through its subsidiaries First Commonwealth Bank and First Commonwealth Insurance Agency. For more information about First Commonwealth or to open an account today, please visit www.fcbanking.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, notwithstanding that such statements are not specifically identified as such. In addition, certain statements may be contained in our future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by us or with our approval that are not statements of historical fact and constitute “forward-looking statements” as well. These statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate” or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties, and could be affected by many factors, including, but not limited to: (1) volatility and disruption in national and international financial markets; (2) the effects of and changes in trade and monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; (3) inflation, interest rate, commodity price, securities market and monetary fluctuations; (4) the effect of changes in laws and regulations (including laws and regulations concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance) with which First Commonwealth or its customers must comply; (5) the soundness of other financial institutions; (6) political instability; (7) impairment of First Commonwealth’s goodwill or other intangible assets; (8) acts of God or of war or terrorism; (9) the timely development and acceptance of new products and services and perceived overall value of these products and services by users; (10) changes in consumer spending, borrowings and savings habits; (11) changes in the financial performance and/or condition of First Commonwealth’s borrowers; (12) technological changes; (13) acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses; (14) First Commonwealth’s ability to attract and retain qualified employees; (15) changes in the competitive environment in First Commonwealth’s markets and among banking organizations and other financial service providers; (16) the ability to increase market share and control expenses; (17) the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters; (18) the reliability of First Commonwealth’s vendors, internal control systems or information systems; (19) the costs and effects of legal and regulatory developments, the resolution of legal proceedings or regulatory or other governmental inquiries, the results of regulatory examinations or reviews and the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals; and (20) other risks and uncertainties described in this report and in the other reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements in this release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Relations:
Ron Wahl
Communications and Media Relations
Phone: 724-463-6806
E-mail: RWahl@fcbanking.com

Investor Relations:
Ryan M. Thomas
Vice President / Finance and Investor Relations
Phone: 724-463-1690
E-mail: RThomas1@fcbanking.com