SmartFinancial, Inc. (SMBK) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Access earnings results, analyst expectations, report, slides, earnings call, and transcript.
Overview
The earnings call highlights strong financial performance with record earnings, robust loan and deposit growth, and improved efficiency ratio. While management acknowledges challenges in sustaining double-digit loan growth, they provide optimistic guidance with potential NIM expansion and disciplined expense management. The Q&A reveals management's focus on organic growth and talent acquisition, with no significant negative concerns. Overall, the company's strategic execution and financial metrics suggest a positive stock price movement over the next two weeks.
Key Financial Performance
Tangible Book Value $26.85 per share, up over 13% annualized quarter-over-quarter and 17% for the year. This increase reflects the company's strong financial performance and strategic execution.
Operating Earnings $13.7 million or $0.81 per diluted share for the quarter, with record earnings of over $51 million for the year. This marks the seventh consecutive quarter of positive operating leverage.
Loan Growth 13% annualized growth in loans for the quarter and $457 million or 12% growth for the year. This growth is attributed to strong sales momentum and balanced performance across regions.
Deposit Growth 8% annualized growth in deposits for the quarter and $626 million or 14% growth for the year, excluding brokered CD activity. This reflects the company's focus on building core relationships.
Nonperforming Assets 22 basis points of nonperforming assets, indicating strong credit quality. A small increase in allowance was made to cover loan growth and address specific fountain equipment loans.
Total Operating Revenue $53.3 million for the quarter, with pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) growing 44% year-over-year to $20.9 million. This reflects outstanding revenue expansion.
Operating Noninterest Expenses $32.5 million for the quarter, flat compared to Q3, demonstrating expense discipline.
Net Interest Margin 3.38%, up 13 basis points for the quarter, driven by a reduction in funding costs and a slight decrease in interest-earning asset yields.
Provision Expense $4.1 million for the quarter, including $2.4 million allocated to fountain equipment loans. This supports strong loan growth and maintains low asset quality ratios.
Operating Noninterest Income $8.2 million for the quarter, exceeding expectations due to elevated mortgage banking revenue and customer swap fees.
Efficiency Ratio 60% for the quarter, improved from 64% in the previous quarter, driven by margin improvement and expense management.
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Operating Highlights
Expansion into Columbus, Georgia: SmartFinancial announced plans to expand into the Columbus, Georgia market, leveraging existing business relationships from their Auburn office. The expansion is driven by market opportunities and the addition of experienced local bankers.
Tangible Book Value Growth: Tangible book value increased to $26.85 per share, reflecting a 13% annualized quarter-over-quarter growth and 17% growth for the year.
Loan and Deposit Growth: Loans grew 13% annualized quarter-over-quarter, while deposits increased 8% annualized. For the year, net loan balances grew by $457 million (12%) and core deposit balances by $626 million (14%).
Revenue and Efficiency Improvements: Total operating revenue for Q4 2025 was $53.3 million, with pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) reaching a record $20.9 million, a 44% year-over-year increase. Operating noninterest expenses remained flat at $32.5 million, improving the operating efficiency ratio to 60%.
Talent Acquisition and Culture: SmartFinancial continues to focus on recruiting experienced bankers to support growth, including hires for the Columbus, Georgia expansion and other markets. The company emphasizes building a culture that attracts top talent.
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Risk or Challenges
Allowance for Credit Losses: The company anticipates an increase in the allowance for credit losses ratio due to transitioning to a new allowance model. This could indicate potential risks in credit quality or economic conditions.
Fountain Equipment Loans: A small segment of the loan portfolio related to fountain equipment loans has been identified as challenging, requiring additional provision expense.
Brokered Deposits: The company is reducing reliance on brokered deposits, which have higher costs. This strategy could impact liquidity management if not carefully executed.
Noninterest Expenses: Slightly elevated salary and benefit expenses are expected due to seasonality and new hires, which could pressure operating efficiency.
Economic Forecasting in Allowance Model: The new allowance model includes loan segment-specific economic forecasting, which could introduce variability in credit loss provisioning based on economic conditions.
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Guidance & Outlook
Revenue and Earnings Growth: The company aims to achieve a $4 EPS run rate by the end of 2026, targeting $1 in earnings per share by Q4 2026. Revenue growth is expected to continue at a high single-digit plus pace.
Margin Projections: Net interest margin for Q1 2026 is projected to be in the range of 3.4% to 3.45%. The company remains optimistic about margin improvements due to strong loan production and rate resets in the loan portfolio over the next couple of years.
Deposit and Funding Strategy: The ratio of noninterest-bearing deposits to total deposits is expected to stabilize near 19%. The company plans to pay down an additional $44 million in broker deposits during Q1 2026, reducing reliance on high-cost funding.
Allowance for Credit Losses: The allowance for credit losses is expected to increase slightly in Q1 2026 due to the transition to a new allowance model with expanded capabilities for economic forecasting and qualitative adjustments.
Noninterest Income and Expenses: Noninterest income for Q1 2026 is projected to be approximately $7.6 million. Noninterest expenses are expected to range from $33.5 million to $34 million, with salary and benefit expenses slightly elevated due to merit increases and new hires.
Expansion Plans: The company plans to expand into the Columbus, Georgia market in 2026, leveraging market disruption and hiring experienced bankers to establish a strong presence.
Talent Acquisition: The company will continue to focus on recruiting experienced bankers to drive organic growth and deepen market penetration across all regions.
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Shareholder Return Plan
The selected topic was not discussed during the call.
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Key Q&A
Q:Is the double-digit organic loan growth rate sustainable in 2026?
A:Management believes sustaining double-digit growth is challenging as the balance sheet grows. They are targeting high-single-digit growth (8%-9%) for 2026, with some quarters potentially exceeding 10%.
Q:What is the status of the recruitment pipeline and hiring plans outside of Columbus?
A:Management is actively recruiting bankers who align with their culture and vision. They are not focused on any specific market but aim to deepen talent in key zones.
Q:What is the expected core expense growth rate for the year?
A:Management is targeting around 5% overall expense growth year-over-year, staying within the $34.5 million to $35 million range.
Q:Can NIM expansion continue in the back half of the year if rates remain stable?
A:Management expects NIM to stabilize after Q1 at 3.45% and potentially reach 3.50% by year-end, assuming stable rates.
Q:What is the outlook for the size of the bond book in 2026?
A:Management plans to keep the bond book around 11%-12% of total assets, with no significant growth expected.
Q:What are the expectations for funding costs and liability management?
A:Funding costs are expected to decrease by 17-18 basis points in Q1, with slower reductions throughout the year depending on market conditions.
Q:What is the hiring outlook for Columbus and its impact on expenses?
A:Management plans to continue hiring in Columbus but will balance expense growth with production. They do not expect a material impact on expense run rates.
Q:What are the updated thoughts on M&A?
A:Management prefers organic growth and would only consider M&A for unique and special opportunities. They aim to grow organically without issuing new shares.
Q:Are there other markets similar to Columbus for potential expansion?
A:Management is open to expanding into markets like North Georgia, Macon, or South Georgia but is currently focused on deepening presence in Nashville and Birmingham.
Q:What is needed to achieve the $1 EPS quarterly run rate by year-end 2026?
A:Management believes no significant changes are needed. They plan to continue driving operating leverage, organic growth, and disciplined expense management.
Q:Review of Unclear Management Responses
A:Management avoided providing specific details on the recruitment pipeline's size or exact markets for expansion. They also used vague language when discussing potential M&A opportunities, emphasizing organic growth without elaborating on specific criteria for acquisitions.
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Earnings Word Cloud
The most frequently occurring keywords in this quarter's earning call
Auburn office
CD activity
Columbus Georgia
Columbus banker
Columbus move
Columbus way
Corporate Development
Development SmartFinancial
Director Corporate
Georgia market
Georgia opportunity
Group source
Salary benefit
banking
broker deposit
commitment
core deposit
deposit balance
example
foundation
fountain equipment
funding
interest asset
issuance
model
noninterest deposit
point decrease
ratio basis
record
reduction
segment
sheet loan
sub debt
SMBK Transcript
SmartFinancial, Inc. (SMBK) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive1-21
The earnings call highlights strong financial performance with record earnings, robust loan and deposit growth, and improved efficiency ratio. While management acknowledges challenges in sustaining double-digit loan growth, they provide optimistic guidance with potential NIM expansion and disciplined expense management. The Q&A reveals management's focus on organic growth and talent acquisition, with no significant negative concerns. Overall, the company's strategic execution and financial metrics suggest a positive stock price movement over the next two weeks.
SmartFinancial, Inc. (SMBK) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive10-22
The earnings call indicates solid financial performance, with strong loan growth, optimistic margin expansion, and effective cost management. The Q&A section reinforces this with positive growth outlooks across various markets and initiatives. Although some responses lacked detail, the overall sentiment is positive, with strategic focus on organic growth and efficiency improvements. Despite potential concerns over lack of specific guidance on tech initiatives and M&A, the company's robust performance and optimistic guidance suggest a positive stock price movement.
SmartFinancial, Inc. (SMBK) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive7-23
The earnings call summary and Q&A indicate strong loan growth, low nonperforming assets, and a robust capital ratio. The company has a clear strategy for growth and is focused on organic expansion in existing markets. The management's guidance for net interest margin expansion and stable credit quality further supports a positive outlook. Despite some lack of specificity in management's responses, the overall sentiment is positive, with no significant credit concerns or negative trends highlighted.
SmartFinancial, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMBK) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive4-23
The earnings call highlights strong financial performance, including increased net income, EPS, and tangible book value, along with robust loan and deposit growth. The company's commitment to shareholder value and strong capital ratios are positive indicators. Despite slight margin compression, the guidance and strategic initiatives like the REIT subsidiary and sales team expansion are promising. The Q&A reveals cautious optimism and prudent growth strategies, with management addressing concerns about expenses and market conditions. Overall, the sentiment is positive, suggesting a likely stock price increase in the next two weeks.
SMBK Slides
SMBK Report
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this earnings call transcript come from?
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Who creates the AI Summary and Key Q&A highlights shown above the transcript?
They are generated by a specialized financial-language model trained exclusively on 15+ years of earnings transcripts. The model extracts financial figures, guidance, and tone with 97%+ accuracy and is regularly validated against human analysts. The full raw transcript always remains available for verification.
