On Tuesday, Stephens, a financial services firm, increased its price target for Preferred Bank (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:PFBC) shares from $90.00 to $94.00. The firm has kept its Overweight rating on the stock. The adjustment follows Preferred Bank's recent quarterly financial results, which led to an updated operating earnings per share (EPS) forecast for 2025.
The new EPS forecast is set at $8.55, up from the previous $7.87 estimate. This revision primarily accounts for a stronger-than-expected net interest margin (NIM) and net interest income (NII). Despite a robust NIM performance in the third quarter, Stephens expects a decline in the fourth quarter, with NIM decreasing by 24 basis points to 3.86%.
The anticipated moderation is attributed to the bank's certificate of deposit (CD) heavy deposit portfolio, which comprises 54% of the total and may take longer to reprice compared to the 74% of loans that are floating rate.
Looking ahead, Stephens predicts that NIM will begin to stabilize in the second half of 2025, with potential for modest expansion thereafter. In the third quarter, Preferred Bank resolved a non-performing loan (NPL) issue, which resulted in a 52% quarter-over-quarter reduction in NPLs.
However, the bank saw a significant uptick in criticized loans, which rose to 4.22% of total loans from 1.36%, due to issues with one larger customer relationship involving seven loans. Despite the increase in criticized loans, the commentary from the bank's call suggested optimism regarding future resolutions.
The firm's stance on Preferred Bank remains positive, as reflected in the Overweight rating and the raised price target. Credit performance is expected to be a key focus for the bank in the upcoming quarters, as it navigates through the changes in its loan portfolio.
In other recent news, Preferred Bank reported strong Q3 results, with a net income of $33.6 million or $2.46 per share. The bank saw substantial loan growth and an improved net interest margin.
Despite a rise in criticized loans and a slight dip in deposits, the bank's financial health remains sturdy. The management anticipates maintaining a stable margin and expects steady loan demand, especially in strategic markets like Silicon Valley and Manhattan.
The bank successfully reduced non-performing loans with no charge-offs and achieved an interest recovery of $800,000. However, non-interest expenses rose unexpectedly due to a $1.7 million valuation charge. Preferred Bank projects a net interest margin above 3.85% for Q4 and anticipates stable operating expenses ranging between 20.5% to 21%.
Preferred Bank is expanding operations in strategic markets and hiring experienced bankers, indicating a robust strategy for future growth. The bank also plans to maintain a net interest margin of around 3.50% to 3.75% through mid-2025. These are some of the recent developments concerning Preferred Bank.
InvestingPro Insights
To complement Stephens' analysis, InvestingPro data offers additional insights into Preferred Bank's financial health. The bank's P/E ratio of 8.34 suggests that it's trading at a relatively low valuation compared to its earnings, which aligns with the firm's Overweight rating. This is further supported by an InvestingPro Tip indicating that Preferred Bank has been profitable over the last twelve months.
Despite the anticipated decline in NIM, Preferred Bank boasts a strong operating income margin of 74.49% for the last twelve months as of Q3 2024. This robust profitability metric underscores the bank's operational efficiency, which could help buffer against potential challenges in the loan portfolio.
An InvestingPro Tip reveals that management has been aggressively buying back shares, which often signals confidence in the company's future prospects. Additionally, Preferred Bank has maintained dividend payments for 11 consecutive years, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns that complements Stephens' positive outlook.
For investors seeking more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 6 additional tips for Preferred Bank, providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial position and market performance.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.