Date: 10/17/2017

Title: Ames National Corporation Announces 2017 Q3 Earnings Results (10/14/17)

AMES NATIONAL CORPORATION
ANNOUNCES 2017 THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS RESULTS

 

 

Third Quarter 2017 Results:

 

For the quarter ended September 30, 2017, net income for Ames National Corporation (the Company) totaled $3,928,000 or $0.42 per share, compared to $3,804,000 or $0.41 per share earned in 2016. The increase in earnings is primarily the result of increased loan interest income and a decline in the provision for loan losses, offset in part by higher deposit interest expense. The higher volume in the loan portfolio had a positive effect, resulting in increased loan interest income. Average net loans for the three months were $41 million higher for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 compared to a year earlier. The increase in loan volume occurred primarily in Ames and Des Moines metro markets.

While loan interest income was $493,000 higher than third quarter 2016, interest expense also moved up $433,000. Third quarter net interest income totaled $10,152,000, an increase of $102,000, or 1.0%, compared to the same quarter a year ago. All deposit categories had higher average balances except for time deposits. Deposit interest rates increased in conjunction with general market interest rates, as the Federal Reserve Bank increased short term interest rate targets by 0.50% since December, 2016. The Company’s net interest margin was 3.29% for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 as compared to 3.38% for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 primarily as the result higher deposit interest rates.

A provision for loan losses of $57,000 was recognized in the third quarter of 2017 as compared to $235,000 in the third quarter of 2016. An increase in specific reserves for one loan in 2016 was the primary factor for the higher provision for loan losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 as compared to 2017. Net loan charge offs totaled $105,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 compared to net loan recoveries of $81,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. While the current provision for loan losses are not related to agricultural loans, Company management is seeing weakness in the Iowa agricultural economy as a result of the current low grain prices; however, initial crop yield reports have been favorable in the Company’s market area as of the end of the quarter.

Noninterest income for the third quarter of 2017 totaled $1,860,000 as compared to $2,004,000, a decrease of 7.2%, for the same period in 2016. The decrease in noninterest income is primarily due to a slowdown in the refinance of home loans held for sale resulting in lower revenue, offset in part by a 9.2% increase in wealth management income.

Noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2017 totaled $6,296,000 compared to $6,112,000 recorded in 2016, an increase of 3.0%, which was primarily due to lower other real estate income and higher occupancy costs. The efficiency ratio was 52.42% for the third quarter of 2017 as compared to 50.71% in 2016.

Nine months 2017 results:

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, net income the Company totaled $11,011,000 or $1.18 per share, compared to $11,710,000 or $1.26 per share earned in 2016. The decline in earnings is primarily the result of an increased provision for loan losses and higher deposit interest expense, offset in part by an increase in loan interest income. Average net loans for the nine months were $51 million higher for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to a year earlier. The higher loan volume was the primary factor leading to the improved loan interest income.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, net interest income totaled $30,100,000, an increase of $223,000, or 0.8%, compared to the same period a year ago. Offsetting the higher loan interest income was an increase in deposit interest expense. All deposit categories had higher balances except time deposits less than $250,000. Deposit interest rates increased in conjunction with general market interest rates, as the Federal Reserve Bank increased short term interest rate targets by 0.50% since December, 2016. The Company’s net interest margin was 3.25% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to 3.37% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 as the result of lower loan yields and higher deposit interest rates.

A provision for loan losses of $1,222,000 was recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $441,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. An increase in the specific reserve for one commercial credit and growth in the loan portfolio were the primary factors for the higher provision for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Net loan charge offs totaled $589,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to net loan recoveries of $22,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in the specific reserve and the charge-off amount related primarily to commercial operating loans with construction contractors. While the current provision for loan losses are not related to agricultural loans, Company management is seeing weakness in the Iowa agricultural economy as a result of the current low grain prices; however, initial crop yield reports have been favorable in the Company’s market area as of the end of the quarter.

Noninterest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 totaled $5,966,000 as compared to $6,029,000 for the same period in 2016, a decrease of 1.0%. The decrease in noninterest income is primarily due to lower gains on the sale of loans, offset in part by higher level of security gains. The decrease in the gain on the sale of loans is primarily due to a slowdown in the refinance of home loans held for sale resulting in lower revenue.

Noninterest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 totaled $19,172,000 compared to $18,668,000 in 2016, an increase of 2.7%, which was primarily due to normal salary and benefit increases and higher data processing costs. The efficiency ratio was 53.16% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to 51.99% in 2016.

Balance Sheet Review:

As of September 30, 2017, total assets were $1,364,940,000, a $24.6 million increase in assets compared to September 30, 2016. The increase in assets was due primarily to an increase in the loan portfolio, which was funded primarily by an increase in deposits.

Securities available-for-sale as of September 30, 2017 declined to $506,610,000 from $517,579,000 as of September 30, 2016. The decrease in securities available-for-sale is primarily due to maturities of municipal investments and lower unrealized gain in the investment portfolio as higher market interest rates caused a decline in the fair value of the investment portfolio. These decreases were offset in part by purchases in excess of maturities and sales in the other investment categories.

Net loans as of September 30, 2017 increased 3%, to $764,229,000, as compared to $740,322,000 as of September 30, 2016. Although loan volume is higher than a year ago, loan demand since June 30, 2017 has weakened as reflected in a decrease in the net loans of $4.0 million since June 30, 2017. Impaired loans were $4,730,000, $5,077,000 and $2,980,000 as of September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016, respectively. The increase in impaired loans was due primarily to two commercial relationships being downgraded to substandard-impaired classification during the fourth quarter of 2016. The allowance for loan losses on September 30, 2017 totaled $11,140,000, or 1.44% of gross loans, compared to $10,451,000 or 1.39% of gross loans as of September 30, 2016. The provision for loan losses in 2017 was necessary due to increases in the specific reserves and growth in the loan portfolio.

Deposits totaled $1,114,538,000 on September 30, 2017, compared to $1,061,809,000 recorded at September 30, 2016. The increase in deposits is primarily due to increases in demand deposit and NOW balance and retail money market balances, offset in part by a decrease in time deposits.

The largest source of funding for the Company besides deposits is securities sold under agreements to repurchase which totaled $39,001,000 as of September 30, 2017 as compared to $49,858,000 recorded as of September 30, 2016.

The Company’s stockholders’ equity represented 12.7% of total assets as of September 30, 2017 with all of the Company’s five affiliate banks considered well-capitalized as defined by federal capital regulations. Total stockholders’ equity was $173,329,000 as of September 30, 2017, compared to $170,737,000 as of September 30, 2016. The increase in stockholders’ equity was the result of the retention of net income in excess of dividends, offset in part by the after tax impact of depreciation in the fair value of securities available for sale.

Shareholder Information:

Return on average assets was 1.15% for the quarters ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. Return on average equity was 9.08% for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, compared to the 8.91% in 2016.

Return on average assets was 1.07% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to 1.18% for the same period in 2016. Return on average equity was 8.64% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the 9.33% in 2016.

The Company’s stock, which is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol ATLO, closed at $29.85 on September 30, 2017. During the third quarter of 2017, the price ranged from $26.60 to $31.15.

On August 9, 2017, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend on common stock, payable on November 15, 2017 to stockholders of record as of November 1, 2017, equal to $0.22 per share.

 

Click to review the Consolidated Balance Sheets & Statements of Income.

 

About Ames National Corporation

Ames National Corporation is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol, ATLO. The Corporation affiliate banks, all located in central Iowa, include: First National Bank, Ames, Boone Bank & Trust Co., Boone, State Bank & Trust Co., Nevada, Reliance State Bank, Story City, and United Bank & Trust, Marshalltown. Information regarding the process for purchasing stock can be obtained through Richard Nelson at First Point Wealth Management, (515) 663-3074.

For further information contact:
Thomas H. Pohlman, President and CEO
(515) 232-6251 or [email protected]