BATON ROUGE, LA / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2024 / Investar Holding Corporation ("Investar") (NASDAQ:ISTR), the holding company for Investar Bank, National Association (the "Bank"), today announced financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. Investar reported net income of $3.5 million, or $0.36 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to net income of $2.8 million, or $0.28 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and net income of $8.9 million, or $0.88 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2022.

On a non-GAAP basis, core earnings per diluted common share for the fourth quarter of 2023 were $0.39 compared to $0.33 for the third quarter of 2023 and $0.62 for the fourth quarter of 2022. Core earnings exclude certain non-operating items including, but not limited to, loss on call or sale of investment securities, net, loss on sale or disposition of fixed assets, net, income from insurance proceeds, severance, the Employee Retention Credit ("ERC"), and loan purchase expense (refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics).

Investar's President and Chief Executive Officer John D'Angelo commented:

"During the fourth quarter, we made significant progress on our strategy of consistent, quality earnings through the optimization of our balance sheet.

We continued to originate high quality loans and allow higher risk credit relationships to run off. As a result, nonperforming loans improved to 0.26% of total loans. Additionally, we completed the purchase of the approximately $127 million second tranche of the previously announced acquisition of revolving lines of credit. The transaction improved the composition of the loan portfolio to 27% floating rate while raising the yield. Additionally, due to our diligent workout process, we reached final resolution on a nonperforming oil and gas relationship and recognized an interest recovery of $1.1 million in the fourth quarter, which was highly accretive to our core performance metrics.

We generated record high total revenues in the fourth quarter while continuing to closely monitor and control noninterest expense. Stockholders' equity increased by $18.1 million, or 8.6%, compared September 30, 2023 due to net income for the quarter and an improvement of $15.3 million in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Our digital transformation and optimization of our physical branch and ATM footprint progressed as we consolidated another branch in our Alabama market in January. We are actively evaluating potential opportunities to further optimize our asset mix to improve shareholder returns.

We anticipate a more favorable rate environment in 2024. Our liability sensitive balance sheet is well-positioned if interest rates do come down to benefit from the repricing of deposits and short-term borrowings. During the fourth quarter, we refinanced all of our borrowings under the Bank Term Funding Program at a lower rate.

As always, we remain focused on shareholder value and returning capital to shareholders. We repurchased 31,766 shares of our common stock during the fourth quarter at an average price of $10.43 per share and 222,448 shares during 2023 at an average price of $13.47."

Fourth Quarter Highlights

Loans

Total loans were $2.21 billion at December 31, 2023, an increase of $107.6 million, or 5.1%, compared to September 30, 2023, and an increase of $105.9 million, or 5.0%, compared to December 31, 2022. Excluding the tranche of revolving lines of credit purchased in the fourth quarter of 2023, total loans decreased $19.4 million, or 0.9%, to $2.08 billion at December 31, 2023, compared to $2.10 billion at September 30, 2023 consistent with our strategy to optimize the balance sheet.

The following table sets forth the composition of the total loan portfolio as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).

At December 31, 2023, Investar's total business lending portfolio, which consists of loans secured by owner-occupied commercial real estate properties and commercial and industrial loans, was $993.0 million, an increase of $141.5 million, or 16.6%, compared to the business lending portfolio of $851.5 million at September 30, 2023, and an increase of $112.8 million, or 12.8%, compared to the business lending portfolio of $880.2 million at December 31, 2022. The increase in the business lending portfolio compared to September 30, 2023 is primarily driven by the purchase of commercial and industrial revolving lines of credit and loan growth in owner-occupied commercial real estate as we remain focused on relationship banking and our strategy to optimize the mix of the portfolio. The increase in the business lending portfolio compared to December 31, 2022 is primarily driven by the purchase of commercial and industrial revolving lines of credit, partially offset by lower loan demand due to higher rates.

Nonowner-occupied loans totaled $488.1 million at December 31, 2023, a decrease of $13.6 million, or 2.7%, compared to $501.6 million at September 30, 2023, and a decrease of $25.0 million, or 4.9%, compared to $513.1 million at December 31, 2022. The decrease in nonowner-occupied loans compared to September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 is due to loan amortization and aligns with our strategy to optimize the mix of the portfolio.

Credit Quality

Nonperforming loans were $5.8 million, or 0.26% of total loans, at December 31, 2023, an increase of $0.2 million compared to $5.6 million, or 0.27% of total loans, at September 30, 2023, and a decrease of $5.5 million compared to $11.3 million, or 0.54% of total loans, at December 31, 2022. The increase in nonperforming loans compared to September 30, 2023 is mainly attributable to one 1-4 family loan relationship totaling $1.4 million and one construction and development relationship totaling $0.6 million, partially offset by paydowns on one commercial and industrial oil and gas loan relationship during the quarter ended December 31, 2023.

On January 1, 2023, Investar adopted FASB ASC Topic 326 " Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments " Update No. 2016-13 . The ASU, referred to as the Current Expected Credit Loss ("CECL") standard, requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Upon adoption, Investar recorded a one-time, cumulative effect adjustment to increase the allowance for credit losses by $5.9 million and reduce retained earnings, net of tax, by $4.3 million.

The allowance for credit losses was $30.5 million, or 529.3% and 1.38% of nonperforming and total loans, respectively, at December 31, 2023, compared to $29.8 million, or 534.1% and 1.42% of nonperforming and total loans, respectively, at September 30, 2023, and $24.4 million, or 214.9% and 1.16% of nonperforming and total loans, respectively, at December 31, 2022.

The provision for credit losses was $0.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to a negative provision for credit losses of $34,000 and a provision for credit losses of $1.3 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The provision for credit losses in the quarter ended December 31, 2023 is primarily attributable to loan growth resulting from the purchase of commercial and industrial revolving lines of credit, partially offset by an improvement in the economic forecast. The negative provision for credit losses in the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was primarily due to net recoveries. The provision for credit losses for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was due to organic loan growth.

Deposits

Total deposits at December 31, 2023 were $2.26 billion, an increase of $46.3 million, or 2.1%, compared to $2.21 billion at September 30, 2023, and an increase of $173.4 million, or 8.3%, compared to $2.08 billion at December 31, 2022.

The following table sets forth the composition of deposits as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).

The decrease in noninterest-bearing demand deposits and money market deposit accounts at December 31, 2023 compared to September 30, 2023 is primarily due to customers drawing down on their existing deposit accounts. The increase in interest-bearing demand deposits and savings accounts at December 31, 2023 compared to September 30, 2023 is primarily due to organic growth resulting from a deposit campaign. The decrease in time deposits at December 31, 2023 compared to September 30, 2023 is primarily due to a reduced emphasis on time deposits. Time deposits and brokered time deposits increased, and other deposit categories decreased at December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022 primarily due to shifts into interest-bearing deposit products as a result of rising interest rates. Brokered time deposits increased to $269.1 million at December 31, 2023 from $197.7 million and $10.0 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Investar utilizes brokered time deposits, entirely in denominations of less than $250,000, to secure fixed cost funding and reduce short-term borrowings. We utilized shorter term brokered time deposits, which were laddered to provide flexibility, to fund a portion of the purchase of commercial and industrial revolving lines of credit. At December 31, 2023, the balance of brokered time deposits remained below 10% of total assets, and the remaining weighted average duration is approximately 12 months with a weighted average rate of 5.18%.

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders' equity was $226.8 million at December 31, 2023, an increase of $18.1 million, or 8.6%, compared to September 30, 2023, and an increase of $11.0 million, or 5.1%, compared to December 31, 2022. The increase in stockholders' equity compared to September 30, 2023 is primarily attributable to the net income for the quarter and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss due to an increase in the fair value of the Bank's available for sale securities portfolio. The increase in stockholders' equity compared to December 31, 2022 is primarily attributable to net income for the last 12 months and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss due to an increase in the fair value of the Bank's available for sale securities portfolio, partially offset by the cumulative effect adjustment as a result of the adoption of the CECL standard, reflected in retained earnings.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2023 totaled $18.5 million, an increase of $1.0 million, or 5.9%, compared to the third quarter of 2023, and a decrease of $4.0 million, or 17.9%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. Included in net interest income for the quarters ended December 31, 2023, September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 is $25,000, $36,000, and $66,000, respectively, of interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans. Also included in net interest income for the quarters ended December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023 are interest recoveries of $1.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively. There were no interest recoveries for the quarter ended December 31, 2022.

Investar's net interest margin was 2.72% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2.66% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and 3.50% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The increase in net interest margin for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was driven by a 35 basis point increase in the yield on interest-earning assets, partially offset by a 33 basis point increase in the overall cost of funds. The decrease in net interest margin for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was driven by a 195 basis point increase in the overall cost of funds, partially offset by an 83 basis point increase in the yield on interest-earning assets.

The yield on interest-earning assets was 5.40% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to 5.05% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and 4.57% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The increase in the yield on interest-earning assets compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was driven by a 40 basis point increase in the yield on our loan portfolio. The increase in the yield on interest-earning assets compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was driven by an 86 basis point increase in the yield on our loan portfolio and a 22 basis point increase in the yield on the taxable securities portfolio.

Exclusive of the interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans and interest recoveries, discussed above, adjusted net interest margin decreased to 2.56% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2.64% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and 3.49% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The adjusted yield on interest-earning assets was 5.23% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to 5.03% and 4.56% for the quarters ended September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures table for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics.

The cost of deposits increased 44 basis points to 3.17% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to 2.73% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and increased 235 basis points compared to 0.82% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The increase in the cost of deposits compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 resulted from both a higher average balance and an increase in rates paid on brokered time deposits, an increase in rates paid on time deposits, and an increase in rates paid on interest-bearing demand deposits and savings deposits. The increase in the cost of deposits compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 resulted from both a higher average balance and an increase in rates paid on time deposits and brokered time deposits and an increase in rates paid on interest-bearing demand deposits and savings deposits, partially offset by a lower average balance of interest-bearing demand deposits and savings deposits.

The cost of short-term borrowings decreased 13 basis points to 4.84% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to 4.97% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and increased 95 basis points compared to 3.89% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. Beginning in the second quarter of 2023, the Bank began utilizing the BTFP to secure fixed rate funding for up to a one-year term and reduce short-term Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") advances, which are priced daily. The Bank utilized this source of funding due to its lower rate as compared to FHLB advances, the ability to prepay the obligations without penalty, and as a means to lock in funding. The decrease in the cost of short-term borrowings compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 resulted primarily from both a lower average balance and a decrease in the cost of short-term borrowings under the BTFP and the increased utilization of short-term repurchase agreements. The increase in the cost of short-term borrowings compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 resulted from an increase in the Federal Reserve's federal funds rate, which drives the costs of short-term borrowings under the BTFP and short-term advances from the FHLB.

The overall costs of funds for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 increased 33 basis points to 3.40% compared to 3.07% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and increased 195 basis points compared to 1.45% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The increase in the cost of funds for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 resulted from both a higher average balance and an increase in the cost of deposits, partially offset by both a lower average balance and a decrease in the cost of short-term borrowings. The increase in the cost of funds for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 resulted from both a higher average balance and an increase in the cost of deposits and an increase in the cost of short-term borrowings, partially offset by a lower average balance of short-term borrowings.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2023 totaled $1.8 million, an increase of $0.1 million, or 7.2%, compared to the third quarter of 2023 and a decrease of $1.7 million, or 49.0%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.

The increase in noninterest income compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 is driven by a $0.3 million decrease in loss on sale or disposition of fixed assets and a $0.1 million increase in other operating income, partially offset by a $0.3 million loss on call or sale of investment securities recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase in other operating income was primarily attributable to a $0.1 million increase in the change in the net asset value of other investments.

The decrease in noninterest income compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 is primarily due to the $1.4 million in nontaxable income from insurance proceeds recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022 related to an insurance policy for the former chief financial officer of the Company and the Bank and a $0.3 million loss on call or sale of investment securities recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2023 totaled $15.4 million, a decrease of $0.3 million, or 2.1%, compared to the third quarter of 2023, and an increase of $1.5 million, or 11.0%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.

The decrease in noninterest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was driven by a $0.5 million decrease in salaries and employee benefits, partially offset by a $0.1 million increase in occupancy expense and a $0.1 million increase in other operating expenses. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits was primarily due to decreases in incentive-based compensation, severance, and health insurance claims. The increase in occupancy expense is primarily due to higher maintenance costs. Other operating expenses include, among other things, software expense, other real estate expense, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation assessments, bank security, and bank shares tax.

The increase in noninterest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was driven by a $1.5 million increase in salaries and employee benefits and a $0.3 million increase in other operating expenses, partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in depreciation and amortization. The increase in salaries and employee benefits was primarily due to an employee retention credit, net of consulting fees, of $2.3 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022, partially offset by $0.6 million in severance recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022 pursuant to a separation agreement with the former chief financial officer of the Company and the Bank and a $0.3 million decrease in incentive-based compensation. The increase in other operating expenses is primarily due to an increase in bank shares tax, partially offset by a decrease in collection and repossession expenses, the majority of which were related to one loan relationship impaired as a result of Hurricane Ida.

Taxes

Investar recorded income tax expense of $0.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, which equates to an effective tax rate of 18.1%, an increase from the effective tax rates of 17.4% and 17.5% for the quarters ended September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

Investar reported basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.36 for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.28 for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.90 and $0.88, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2022.

About Investar Holding Corporation

Investar, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, provides full banking services, excluding trust services, through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Investar Bank, National Association. The Bank currently operates 28 branch locations serving Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. At December 31, 2023, the Bank had 326 full-time equivalent employees and total assets of $2.8 billion.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP. These measures and ratios include "tangible common equity," "tangible assets," "tangible equity to tangible assets," "tangible book value per common share," "core noninterest income," "core earnings before noninterest expense," "core noninterest expense," "core earnings before income tax expense," "core income tax expense," "core earnings," "core efficiency ratio," "core return on average assets," "core return on average equity," "core basic earnings per share," and "core diluted earnings per share." We also present certain average loan, yield, net interest income and net interest margin data adjusted to show the effects of excluding interest recoveries and interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide information useful to investors in understanding Investar's financial results, and Investar believes that its presentation, together with the accompanying reconciliations, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting Investar's business and allow investors to view performance in a manner similar to management, the entire financial services sector, bank stock analysts and bank regulators. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and results, and Investar strongly encourages investors to review its consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in this press release to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of the financial statement tables.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect Investar's current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. Investar generally identifies forward-looking statements by terminology such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "could," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," or the negative version of those words or other comparable words.

Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the historical performance of Investar and its subsidiaries or on Investar's current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by Investar that the future plans, estimates or expectations by Investar will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and assumptions relating to Investar's operations, financial results, financial condition, business prospects, growth strategy and liquidity. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Investar's underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, Investar's actual results may vary materially from those indicated in these statements. Investar does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following, any one or more of which could materially affect the outcome of future events:

These factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Additional information on these and other risk factors can be found in Part I Item 1A. "Risk Factors" and in the "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in Part II Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Investar's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and in Part II Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in Investar's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023, and September 30, 2023 filed with the SEC.

For further information contact:

Investar Holding Corporation
John Campbell
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(225) 227-2215
John.Campbell@investarbank.com