Bank OZK Announces Third Quarter 2019 Earnings

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Oct. 17, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bank OZK (the “Bank”) (Nasdaq: OZK) today announced that net income for the third quarter of 2019 was $103.9 million, a 40.1% increase from $74.2 million for the third quarter of 2018, but a 6.0% decrease from $110.5 million for the second quarter of 2019.  Diluted earnings per common share for the third quarter of 2019 were $0.81, a 39.7% increase from $0.58 for the third quarter of 2018, but a 5.8% decrease from $0.86 for the second quarter of 2019.

The Bank’s results for the third quarter of 2018 included (i) pretax expenses of $10.8 million as a result of its name change and strategic rebranding and (ii) net charge-offs of $45.5 million on two unrelated credits.

For the first nine months of 2019, net income totaled $325.1 million, a 7.6% increase from $302.1 million for the first nine months of 2018.  Diluted earnings per common share for the first nine months of 2019 were $2.52, a 7.2% increase from $2.35 for the first nine months of 2018.

The Bank’s annualized returns on average assets, average common stockholders’ equity and average tangible common stockholders’ equity for the third quarter of 2019 were 1.81%, 10.22% and 12.33%, respectively, compared to 1.33%, 8.07% and 9.99%, respectively, for the third quarter of 2018.  The Bank’s annualized returns on average assets, average common stockholders’ equity and average tangible common stockholders’ equity for the first nine months of 2019 were 1.92%, 11.07%, and 13.44%, respectively, compared to 1.85%, 11.32%, and 14.11%, respectively, for the first nine months of 2018. The calculation of the Bank’s annualized return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity and the reconciliation to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) are included in the schedules accompanying this release.

George Gleason, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are very pleased to have once again delivered financial metrics among the best in the industry for the quarter just ended.  We continue to maintain our focus on our strong credit culture and consistent discipline, which are paramount in this interest rate and competitive environment.  Our excellent team of bankers have us well positioned for continued success as we remain focused on delivering long-term value for our shareholders.”

KEY BALANCE SHEET METRICS

Total loans were $17.73 billion at September 30, 2019, a 6.0% increase from $16.73 billion at September 30, 2018.  Non-purchased loans, which exclude loans acquired in previous acquisitions, were $16.31 billion at September 30, 2019, a 12.9% increase from $14.44 billion at September 30, 2018.  Purchased loans, which consist of loans acquired in previous acquisitions, were $1.43 billion at September 30, 2019, a 37.5% decrease from $2.29 billion at September 30, 2018.  The unfunded balance of closed loans was $11.43 billion at September 30, 2019, a 3.9% decrease from $11.89 billion at September 30, 2018, but a 2.4% increase from $11.17 billion at June 30, 2019.

Deposits were $18.44 billion at September 30, 2019, a 3.5% increase from $17.82 billion at September 30, 2018.  Total assets were $23.40 billion at September 30, 2019, a 6.0% increase from $22.09 billion at September 30, 2018.

Common stockholders’ equity was $4.08 billion at September 30, 2019, an 11.6% increase from $3.65 billion at September 30, 2018.  Tangible common stockholders’ equity was $3.39 billion at September 30, 2019, a 14.8% increase from $2.95 billion at September 30, 2018.  Book value per common share was $31.63 at September 30, 2019, an 11.3% increase from $28.41 at September 30, 2018.  Tangible book value per common share was $26.30 at September 30, 2019, a 14.5% increase from $22.97 at September 30, 2018.  The calculations of the Bank’s tangible common stockholders’ equity and tangible book value per common share and the reconciliations to GAAP are included in the schedules accompanying this release.

The Bank’s ratio of total common stockholders’ equity to total assets increased to 17.43% at September 30, 2019 compared to 16.54% at September 30, 2018.  Its ratio of total tangible common stockholders’ equity to total tangible assets increased to 14.93% at September 30, 2019 compared to 13.81% at September 30, 2018.  The calculation of the Bank’s ratio of total tangible common stockholders’ equity to total tangible assets and the reconciliation to GAAP are included in the schedules accompanying this release.

MANAGEMENT’S COMMENTS, CONFERENCE CALL, TRANSCRIPT AND FILINGS

In connection with this release, the Bank released management’s comments on the results for the quarter just ended, which are available at http://ir.ozk.com.  This release should be read in conjunction with management’s comments on the results for the third quarter of 2019.

Management will conduct a conference call to take questions on these quarterly results and management’s comments at 10:00 a.m. CT (11:00 a.m. ET) on October 18, 2019.  Interested parties may listen to this call by dialing 1-844-818-5110 (U.S. and Canada) or 210-229-8841 (internationally) and asking for the Bank OZK conference call.  A recorded playback of the call will be available for one week following the call at 1-855-859-2056 (U.S. and Canada) or 404-537-3406 (internationally).  The passcode for this playback is 7188336.  The call will be available live or in a recorded version on the Bank’s Investor Relations website at ir.ozk.com under “Company News/Webcasts.”  The Bank will also provide a transcript of the conference call on its Investor Relations website.

The Bank files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy materials and other information required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), copies of which are available electronically at the FDIC’s website at https://efr.fdic.gov/fcxweb/efr/index.html and are also available on the Bank’s Investor Relations website at http://ir.ozk.com.  To receive automated email alerts for these materials, please visit http://ir.ozk.com/EmailNotification to sign up.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures.  The Bank uses these non-GAAP financial measures, specifically return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity, tangible book value per common share, total tangible common stockholders’ equity and the ratio of total tangible common stockholders’ equity to total tangible assets, as important measures of the strength of its capital and its ability to generate earnings on its tangible capital invested by its shareholders. These measures typically adjust GAAP financial measures to exclude intangible assets.  Management believes presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful supplemental information which contributes to a proper understanding of the financial results and capital levels of the Bank. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other banks.  Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the tables at the end of this release under the caption “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release and other communications by the Bank include certain “forward-looking statements” regarding the Bank’s plans, expectations, thoughts, beliefs, estimates, goals and outlook for the future that are intended to be covered by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations as well as certain assumptions and estimates made by, and information available to, management at the time.  Those statements are not guarantees of future results or performance and are subject to certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements.  These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to: potential delays or other problems implementing the Bank’s growth, expansion and acquisition strategies, including delays in identifying satisfactory sites, hiring or retaining qualified personnel, obtaining regulatory or other approvals, obtaining permits and designing, constructing and opening new offices or relocating or closing existing offices; the ability to enter into and/or close additional acquisitions; the availability of and access to capital; possible downgrades in the Bank’s credit ratings or outlook which could increase the costs or availability of funding from capital markets; the ability to attract new or retain existing or acquired deposits or to retain or grow loans, including growth from unfunded closed loans; the ability to generate future revenue growth or to control future growth in non-interest expense; interest rate fluctuations, including changes in the yield curve between short-term and long-term interest rates or changes in the relative relationships of various interest rate indices; the potential impact of the change in the method for determining LIBOR; competitive factors and pricing pressures, including their effect on the Bank’s net interest margin or core spread; general economic, unemployment, credit market and real estate market conditions, and the effect of such conditions on the creditworthiness of borrowers, collateral values, the value of investment securities and asset recovery values; changes in legal, financial and/or regulatory requirements; recently enacted and potential legislation and regulatory actions and the costs and expenses to comply with new and/or existing legislation and regulatory actions; changes in U.S. government monetary and fiscal policy; FDIC special assessments or changes to regular assessments; the ability to keep pace with technological changes, including changes regarding maintaining cybersecurity; the impact of failure in, or breach of, the Bank’s operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of third parties with whom it does business, including as a result of cyber attacks or an increase in the incidence or severity of fraud, illegal payments, security breaches or other illegal acts impacting the Bank or its customers; adoption of new accounting standards, including the estimated effects from the adoption of the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model on January 1, 2020, or changes in existing standards; and adverse results (including costs, fines, reputational harm and/or other negative effects) from current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other legal and/or regulatory actions or rulings as well as other factors identified in this press release or as detailed from time to time in the other public reports the Bank files with the FDIC, including those factors described in the disclosures under the headings “Forward-Looking Information” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Bank’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Should one or more of the foregoing risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those projected in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements.  The Bank disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements based on the occurrence of future events, the receipt of new information or otherwise.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Bank OZK (Nasdaq: OZK) is a regional bank providing innovative financial solutions delivered by expert bankers with a relentless pursuit of excellence.  Bank OZK has been recognized as the top performing bank in the nation in its asset size 13 times in the past eight years. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Bank OZK conducts operations through more than 250 offices in Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, California, New York and Mississippi.  Bank OZK can be found at www.ozk.com and on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn or contacted at (501) 978-2265 or P. O. Box 8811, Little Rock, Arkansas 72231-8811.

(1)Calculations of tangible book value per common share and return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity and the reconciliations to GAAP are included in the schedules accompanying this release.(2)Ratios for interim periods annualized based on actual days.(3)Excludes purchased loans and net charge-offs related to such loans.(4)Excludes purchased loans, except for their inclusion in total assets.(5)Excludes purchased loans and any allowance for such loans.NM – Not meaningful

(1)Calculations of tangible book value per common share and return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity and the reconciliations to GAAP are included in the schedules accompanying this release.(2)Ratios for interim periods annualized based on actual days.(3)Excludes purchased loans and net charge-offs related to such loans.(4)Excludes purchased loans, except for their inclusion in total assets.(5)Excludes purchased loans and any allowance for such loans

(1)Ratios for interim periods annualized based on actual days.(2)Excludes purchased loans and net charge-offs related to such loans.(3)Excludes purchased loans, except for their inclusion in total assets.(4)Excludes purchased loans and any allowance for such loans.