Pulaski Financial Reports 47% Increase in Second Fiscal Quarter EPS
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pulaski Financial Corp. (Nasdaq Global Select: PULB, the “Company”) reported net income available to common shareholders for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 of $3.1 million, or $0.25 per diluted common share, compared with $1.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted common share, for the same quarter last year. For the six months ended March 31, 2015, net income available to common shareholders was $6.2 million, or $0.52 per diluted common share, compared with $4.1 million, or $0.36 per diluted common share, for the same period last year. The Company reported sharply higher returns for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared with the same quarter last year. The annualized return on average assets increased to 0.91%, up 24 basis points from 0.67% reported in last year’s quarter. The annualized average return on common equity increased to 10.48%, up 291 basis points from 7.57% reported for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. Earnings for the quarter were marked by a 332% increase in mortgage revenues over the same quarter last year as low market interest rates fueled customer demand for loans to refinance existing mortgages. In addition, the Company saw a 57% increase in loans to finance home purchases compared with last year’s quarter. Net interest income for the quarter saw a 6% increase from the March 2014 quarter as the Company continued to benefit from substantial loan growth experienced in earlier quarters. This growth more than offset a decline in the net interest margin that resulted primarily from market driven declines in portfolio loan rates. However, the total balance of loans receivable decreased 2% from December 31, 2014 as the result of a decrease in residential real estate loans, and to a lesser extent, a decrease in commercial loans. The Company continued to be successful in raising deposits while controlling the total cost of deposits. Total deposits increased 3% during the quarter, while the average cost of deposits remained almost unchanged from the same quarter last year. Gary Douglass, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Considering that the March quarter is typically negatively impacted by mortgage and other seasonality, we are particularly pleased with our overall operating results for the current quarter. The better than anticipated results were largely driven by increased mortgage-related revenues and the absence of net credit costs for the quarter.” Douglass concluded, “We are looking forward to an even stronger second half of our fiscal year driven by a continued strengthening of mortgage revenues, a restart of modest commercial and residential portfolio growth and continued low net credit costs.” Conference Call Tomorrow Pulaski Financial’s management will discuss second quarter results and other developments tomorrow, April 29, 2015, during a conference call beginning at 11 a.m. EDT (10 a.m. CDT). The call will also be simultaneously webcast and archived for three months at: http://www.pulaskibank.com/our-story/shareholder-relations/. Participants in the conference call may dial 877-473-3757, conference ID 67756688, a few minutes before the start time. The call will also be available for replay through May 30, 2015 at 855-859-2056 or 404-537-3406, conference ID 67756688. About Pulaski Financial Pulaski Financial Corp., operating in its 93rd year through its subsidiary, Pulaski Bank, offers a full line of quality retail and commercial banking products through 13 full-service branch offices in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The Bank also offers mortgage loan products through loan production offices in the St. Louis, Kansas City, and Chicago metropolitan areas, mid-Missouri, southwestern Missouri, eastern Kansas, Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa. The Company’s website can be accessed at www.pulaskibank.com. This news release may contain forward-looking statements about Pulaski Financial Corp., which the Company intends to be covered under the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements cover, among other things, anticipated future revenue and expenses and the future plans and prospects of the Company. These statements often include the words "may," "could," "would," "should," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "potentially," "probably," "projects," "outlook" or similar expressions. You are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including changes in general business and economic conditions, changes in interest rates, legal and regulatory developments, increased competition from both banks and non-banks, changes in customer behavior and preferences, and effects of critical accounting policies and judgments. For discussion of these and other risks that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2014 on file with the SEC, including the sections entitled "Risk Factors." These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events. - - (1) Troubled debt restructured includes non-accrual loans totaling $14.4 million, $15.8 million and $16.6 million at March 31, 2015, December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2014, respectively. These totals are not included in non-accrual loans above. Non-performing loans excluding current troubled debt restructurings as a percent of total loans Non-performing assets excluding current troubled debt restructurings as a percent of total assets Allowance for loan losses as a percent of non-performing loans Allowance for loan losses as a percent of non-performing loans excluding current troubled debt restructurings and related allowance for loan losses
Apr 28, 2015 | www.businesswire.com
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