RED BANK, N.J., July 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OceanFirst Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:OCFC) (the “Company”), the holding company for OceanFirst Bank N.A. (the “Bank”), announced net income available to common stockholders of $26.8 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2023, as compared to $28.0 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for the corresponding prior year period, and $26.9 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the prior linked quarter. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company reported net income available to common stockholders of $53.7 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, as compared to $52.7 million, or $0.89 per diluted share, for the corresponding prior year period. Selected performance metrics are as follows (refer to “Selected Quarterly Financial Data” for additional information):

^(a) _{Return on average tangible stockholders’ equity and return on average tangible common equity (“ROTCE”), which are non-GAAP (“generally accepted accounting principles”) financial measures, exclude the impact of intangible assets and goodwill from both assets and stockholders’ equity. ROTCE also excludes preferred stock from stockholders’ equity. Refer to “Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” tables for additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures.}

Core earnings¹ for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 were $27.2 million and $59.9 million, respectively, or $0.46 and $1.01 per diluted share, representing a decrease from $34.6 million and $63.4 million, or $0.59 and $1.08 per diluted share, for the corresponding prior year periods, and a decrease from $32.7 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, for the prior linked quarter.

Core earnings PTPP¹ for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 were $37.6 million and $83.7 million, respectively, or $0.64 and $1.42 per diluted share, as compared to $47.0 million and $86.7 million, or $0.80 and $1.47 per diluted share, for the corresponding prior year periods, and $46.1 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, for the prior linked quarter. Selected performance metrics are as follows:

Key developments for the recent quarter are described below:

• Excess Liquidity: The Company maintained elevated levels of on-balance sheet cash and funding availability, which represented 260% of adjusted uninsured deposits² at June 30, 2023. Deposits increased $165.2 million during the quarter, which included a shift from non-maturity deposits to time deposits.
• Asset Quality: Continued strong asset quality as criticized assets, non-performing loans, and loans 30 to 89 days past due as a percent of total loans receivable were 1.18%, 0.23%, and 0.03%, respectively, at June 30, 2023. Net charge-off activity continues to remain at zero percent of total average loans on an annualized basis.
• Strong Capital: Capital ratios remained above “well-capitalized” levels, including the Company’s common equity tier 1 capital, which increased 19 bps from the prior quarter, to 10.21% at June 30, 2023. Book value and tangible book value per share were $27.37 and $17.72³, respectively, both up $0.30 from the prior quarter.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Christopher D. Maher, commented on the Company’s results, “Our current quarter results were impacted by continued prudent balance sheet measures to increase liquidity, preserve our deposits, and continue supporting our existing banking relationships. We are optimistic that the pace of margin compression is behind us, but the outlook is uncertain should rates and competition remain elevated for longer. Although profitability decreased, our credit quality remains stellar, we grew capital, and remain well positioned to manage through any market uncertainty.” Mr. Maher added, “Our strong balance sheet will serve as a catalyst for our strategic initiatives and investments to improve our operating expenses. These initiatives are anticipated to improve performance as early as the fourth quarter and should enhance returns in future periods.”

The Company’s Board of Directors declared its 106th consecutive quarterly cash dividend on common stock. The quarterly cash dividend on common stock of $0.20 per share will be paid on August 18, 2023 to common stockholders of record on August 7, 2023. The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend on preferred stock of $0.4375 per depositary share, representing 1/40th interest in the Series A Preferred Stock. This dividend will be paid on August 15, 2023 to preferred stockholders of record on July 31, 2023.

¹ _{Core earnings and core earnings before income taxes and provision for credit losses (“PTPP or Pre-Tax-Pre-Provision”), and ratios derived therefrom, are non-GAAP financial measures. For the periods presented, core earnings exclude merger related expenses, net branch consolidation (benefit) expense, net loss (gain) on equity investments, net loss on sale of investments, and the income tax effect of these items, (collectively referred to as “non-core” operations). PTPP excludes the aforementioned pre-tax “non-core” items along with income tax expense (benefit) and provision for credit losses (benefit). Refer to “Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” tables for additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures.}

² _{For additional information, refer to Earnings Release Supplement furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 20, 2023.}

³ _{Tangible book value per common share (also referred to as “tangible common equity per common share”) and tangible common equity to tangible assets, non-GAAP financial measures, exclude the impact of intangible assets, goodwill, and preferred equity from both stockholders’ equity and total assets. Refer to “Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” tables for additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures.}

Results of Operations

The current quarter results were impacted by the following matters. Net interest income and cost of funds were adversely impacted by shifts to higher cost time deposits, repricing of government deposits, and maintaining excess liquidity on balance sheet, which outpaced the increase in interest-earning assets, driving an increase in deposit betas to 29%⁴. Total operating expenses included $580,000 of real estate charges on assets held for sale and $400,000 of talent acquisition retainers, which are not expected to reoccur.

⁴ _{Deposit beta measures the change in the interest rates paid for interest-bearing deposit accounts versus the change in the federal funds target rate. Represents the deposit beta for total deposits (interest-bearing and non-interest bearing) for the current rate cycle (since December 31, 2021).}

Net Interest Income and Margin

Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 vs. June 30, 2022

Net interest income increased to $92.1 million, from $90.8 million, reflecting a net impact of higher interest rates and to a lesser extent, an increase in average interest-earning assets.

Net interest margin decreased to 3.02% from 3.29%. Excluding the impact of purchase accounting accretion and prepayment fees of 0.05% and 0.17% for the respective three months, net interest margin decreased to 2.97% from 3.12%. Net interest margin decreased primarily due to the increase in cost of funds outpacing that of average interest earning assets in the current interest rate environment.

Average interest-earning assets increased by $1.17 billion for the three months, primarily driven by organic commercial loan growth, which increased $634.2 million. The average yield for interest-earning assets increased to 4.91% from 3.60%.

The cost of average interest-bearing liabilities increased to 2.41%, from 0.42% due to higher cost of deposits noted above and higher cost Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances. The total cost of deposits (including non-interest bearing deposits) increased to 1.52% from 0.18%.

Six months ended June 30, 2023 vs. June 30, 2022

Net interest income increased to $190.9 million, from $175.0 million, reflecting a net impact of higher interest rates and to a lesser extent, an increase in average interest-earning assets.

Net interest margin decreased to 3.17% from 3.24%. Excluding the impact of purchase accounting accretion and prepayment fees of 0.04% and 0.15% for the respective six months, net interest margin increased to 3.13% from 3.09%.

Average interest-earning assets increased by $1.22 billion. The cost of average interest-bearing liabilities increased to 2.10% from 0.39%. The total cost of deposits (including non-interest bearing deposits) increased to 1.21% from 0.17%.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 vs. March 31, 2023

Net interest income decreased by $6.7 million, reflecting a decrease in net interest margin to 3.02%, from 3.34%, as the increase in cost of funds outpaced the increase of average interest earning assets. Excluding the impact of purchase accounting accretion and prepayment fees of 0.05% and 0.04% for the respective three months, net interest margin decreased to 2.97%, from 3.30%. The compression in net interest margin was primarily attributable to higher cost of deposits noted above, a mix-shift to higher cost time deposits, and the impact of excess on-balance sheet liquidity built in the prior quarter.

Average interest-earning assets increased by $240.0 million, primarily due to maintaining excess liquidity during the quarter and, to a lesser extent, commercial loan growth. The yield on average interest-earning assets increased to 4.91%, from 4.68%. The total cost of average interest-bearing liabilities increased to 2.41%, from 1.76%, and the total cost of deposits (including non-interest bearing deposits) increased to 1.52% from 0.88%, primarily due to higher cost of deposits and a mix-shift to higher cost time deposits.

Provision for Credit Losses

Provision for credit losses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 was $1.2 million and $4.2 million, respectively, as compared to $1.3 million and $3.1 million for the corresponding prior year periods, and $3.0 million in the prior linked quarter. The provision for credit losses for the current quarter reflected an increase to the allowance for loan credit losses, primarily related to commercial real estate, which was driven by sustained macroeconomic headwinds.

Net loan charge-offs were $123,000 and $76,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. Net loan charge-offs were $9,000 and net loan recoveries were $83,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively. Net loan recoveries were $47,000 in the prior linked quarter. Refer to “Asset Quality” section for further discussion.

Non-interest Income

Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 vs. June 30, 2022

Other income increased to $8.9 million, as compared to $7.5 million. Other income was adversely impacted by non-core operations of $559,000 and $8.1 million, for the respective quarters, primarily related to net losses on preferred stock equity investments.

Excluding non-core operations, other income decreased $6.1 million. The primary drivers were decreases in commercial loan swap income of $2.3 million and fees and service charges of $2.0 million, which were adversely impacted by the current interest rate environment resulting in lower swap volume and mortgage activity. Bankcard services revenue decreased $1.8 million due to the Durbin amendment, which became effective for the Company on July 1, 2022.

Six months ended June 30, 2023 vs. June 30, 2022

Other income decreased to $11.0 million, as compared to $16.4 million. Other income was adversely impacted by non-core operations of $8.1 million and $10.9 million, for the respective periods, primarily related to net losses on preferred stock equity investments. The current year’s non-core operations also included $5.3 million of losses related to the sale of investments in the first quarter.

Excluding non-core operations, other income decreased $8.2 million. The primary drivers were decreases in commercial loan swap income on lower volume of $4.4 million, bankcard services revenue of $3.4 million, and income from bank owned life insurance of $1.1 million on lower claims.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 vs. March 31, 2023

Other income in the prior linked quarter included non-core operations of $7.5 million primarily related to net losses on preferred stock equity investments. Excluding non-core operations, other income decreased by $84,000.

Non-interest Expense

Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 vs. June 30, 2022

Operating expenses increased to $62.9 million, as compared to $58.7 million. Operating expenses were adversely impacted by $742,000 of non-core operations in the prior year period.

Excluding non-core operations, operating expenses increased by $5.0 million. This was due to increases in professional fees of $2.6 million related to the ongoing investments to improve profitability and operational efficiencies, and compensation and benefits expense of $1.1 million primarily related to inflation, annual merit-related compensation increases and higher medical costs. The current quarter also included increases to federal deposit insurance and regulatory assessments of $677,000 due to new assessment rates that went into effect on January 1, 2023, and real estate charges on assets held for sale of $580,000.

Six months ended June 30, 2023 vs. June 30, 2022

Operating expenses increased to $124.2 million, as compared to $116.2 million. Operating expenses for the periods were adversely impacted by $92,000 and $3.1 million of non-core operations, respectively.

Excluding non-core operations, operating expenses increased by $11.1 million. This was due to increases in professional fees of $4.4 million and compensation and benefits expense of $4.3 million. The drivers of expenses for the three months ended were also the drivers for the six months ended. Additionally, other operating expenses included higher expenses of $580,000 and $427,000 related to real estate charges on assets held for sale and title search fees, respectively.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 vs. March 31, 2023

Excluding non-core operations of $92,000 in the prior linked quarter, operating expenses increased $1.7 million primarily due to increases in other operating expense of $898,000, related to real estate charges of $580,000, and federal deposit insurance and regulatory assessments of $716,000, primarily due to the one-time recovery of $661,000 for historical overpayments which was recognized in the prior linked quarter.

Income Tax Expense

The provision for income taxes was $9.0 million and $17.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively, as compared to $8.9 million and $16.9 million for the same prior year periods, and $8.7 million for the prior linked quarter. The effective tax rate was 24.4% and 24.0% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively, as compared to 23.3% and 23.4% for the same prior year periods, and 23.7% for the prior linked quarter.

Financial Condition

June 30, 2023 vs. December 31, 2022

Total assets increased by $435.0 million to $13.54 billion, from $13.10 billion, due to higher cash and due from banks and loans. Cash and due from banks increased $289.8 million to $457.7 million, from $167.9 million as the Company maintained excess liquidity on balance sheet. Total loans increased by $165.6 million to $10.08 billion, from $9.92 billion, due to loan originations.

Total liabilities increased by $394.2 million to $11.91 billion, from $11.52 billion. Deposits increased by $483.1 million to $10.16 billion, from $9.68 billion. Time deposits increased to $2.77 billion from $1.54 billion, or 27.2% and 15.9% of total deposits, respectively. Brokered time deposits increased $547.9 million and retail time deposits increased $674.9 million. The loans-to-deposit ratio was 99.3%, as compared to 102.50%. FHLB advances decreased by $119.5 million to $1.09 billion, from $1.21 billion.

Total stockholders’ equity increased to $1.63 billion, as compared to $1.59 billion, reflecting net income for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and a net increase in the fair market value of available-for-sale debt securities, net of tax, which decreased accumulated other comprehensive loss by $5.6 million.

For the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company did not repurchase shares under its stock repurchase program. There were 2,934,438 shares available for repurchase at June 30, 2023 under the existing repurchase program. Stockholders’ equity per common share⁵ increased to $27.37, as compared to $26.81. Tangible common equity per common share³ increased to $17.72, as compared to $17.08.

⁵ _{Also referred to as “book value per common share.”}

Asset Quality

June 30, 2023 vs. December 31, 2022

The Company's asset quality remained strong, as evidenced by the following credit metrics. The Company’s non-performing loans decreased to $22.8 million from $23.3 million. The allowance for loan credit losses as a percentage of total non-performing loans was 271.51%, as compared to 244.25%. The level of 30 to 89 days delinquent loans decreased to $3.1 million, from $14.1 million, partly due to the number of days in each period. The Company’s allowance for loan credit losses was 0.61% of total loans, as compared to 0.57%. Refer to “Provision for Credit Losses” section for further discussion on the allowance.

The Company’s asset quality excluding purchased with credit deterioration (“PCD”) loans were as follows. Non-performing loans increased to $19.6 million, from $19.3 million. The allowance for loan credit losses as a percentage of total non-performing loans was 315.47%, as compared to 294.10%. The level of 30 to 89 days delinquent loans decreased to $1.2 million, from $10.5 million, partly due to the number of days in each period. The allowance for loan credit losses plus the unamortized credit and PCD marks amounted to $71.5 million, or 0.71% of total loans, as compared to $68.2 million, or 0.69% of total loans.

Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reported amounts are presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s management believes that the supplemental non-GAAP information, which consists of reported net income excluding non-core operations and in some instances excluding income taxes and provision for credit losses, and reporting equity and asset amounts excluding intangible assets, goodwill or preferred stock, which can vary from period to period, provides a better comparison of period-to-period operating performance. Additionally, the Company believes this information is utilized by regulators and market analysts to evaluate a company’s financial condition and, therefore, such information is useful to investors. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures which may be presented by other companies. Refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliation table at the end of this document for details on the earnings impact of these items.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will host an earnings conference call on Friday, July 21, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The direct dial number for the call is (833) 470-1428, using the access code 845952. For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available. To access the replay, dial (866) 813-9403, access code 307056, from one hour after the end of the call until August 18, 2023. The conference call, as well as the replay, are also available (listen-only) by internet webcast at www.oceanfirst.com in the Investor Relations section.

OceanFirst Financial Corp.’s subsidiary, OceanFirst Bank N.A., founded in 1902, is a $13.5 billion regional bank providing financial services throughout New Jersey and in the major metropolitan markets of Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Boston. OceanFirst Bank delivers commercial and residential financing, treasury management, trust and asset management, and deposit services and is one of the largest and oldest community-based financial institutions headquartered in New Jersey. To learn more about OceanFirst, go to www.oceanfirst.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements
        
In addition to historical information, this news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “will,” “should,” “may,” “view,” “opportunity,” “potential,” or similar expressions or expressions of confidence. The Company’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to: changes in interest rates, inflation, general economic conditions, potential recessionary conditions, levels of unemployment in the Bank’s lending area, real estate market values in the Bank’s lending area, future natural disasters, potential increases to flood insurance premiums, the current or anticipated impact of military conflict, terrorism or other geopolitical events, the level of prepayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities, legislative/regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the quality or composition of the loan or investment portfolios, demand for loan products, deposit flows, changes in liquidity, including the size and composition of the Company’s deposit portfolio, including the percentage of uninsured deposits in the portfolio, competition, demand for financial services in the Company’s market area, changes in consumer spending, borrowing and saving habits, changes in accounting principles, a failure in or breach of the Company’s operational or security systems or infrastructure, including cyberattacks, the failure to maintain current technologies, failure to retain or attract employees, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or any other pandemic on our operations and financial results and those of our customers and the Bank’s ability to successfully integrate acquired operations. These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, under Item 1A - Risk Factors and elsewhere, and subsequent securities filings and should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

_{* Not meaningful as amounts are net loan recoveries.}