Investar Holding Corporation Announces 2021 First Quarter Results

BATON ROUGE, La., April 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Investar Holding Corporation (“Investar”) (NASDAQ:ISTR), the holding company for Investar Bank, National Association (the “Bank”), today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Investar reported record net income of $5.4 million, or $0.51 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2021, compared to $4.5 million, or $0.42 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, and $0.6 million, or $0.05 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

On a non-GAAP basis, core earnings per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2021 were $0.49 compared to $0.39 for the fourth quarter of 2020 and $0.15 for the first quarter of 2020. Core earnings exclude certain non-operating items including, but not limited to, gain on sale of investment securities, change in the fair value of equity securities, and acquisition expense (refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures table for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics).

Investar Holding Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer John D’Angelo said:

“This was a solid quarter of positive performance for Investar. Net income has grown 18% to a record $5.4 million compared to the prior quarter. As intended, we continued to reduce our cost of funds through an improved deposit mix and a disciplined approach to repricing all categories of deposits, positioning us to maintain a stable margin throughout 2021. Noninterest-bearing deposits increased by 15% and our time deposits decreased by 7.5% during the first quarter of 2021. Our net interest margin increased to 3.64% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 3.55% in the fourth quarter of 2020. As a result of the positive performance and the Company’s share repurchase activity, earnings per share and tangible book value per common share also hit record highs of $0.51 and $20.72, respectively, representing growth of 21% and 4%, respectively, compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.

Also, we were excited to complete the acquisition of Cheaha Bank on April 1, 2021 as announced and discussed last quarter. We believe that this acquisition fits well with our strategy of expanding Investar’s footprint in Alabama. We also believe that the acquisition further positions us to grow the franchise and increase long-term shareholder value.”

First Quarter Highlights

• Net interest margin increased to 3.64% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 compared to 3.55% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 and 3.46% for quarter ended March 31, 2020.
• Cost of deposits decreased 13 basis points to 0.63% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 0.76% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, and decreased 84 basis points compared to 1.47% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. Our overall cost of funds decreased 12 and 79 basis points to 0.83% compared to 0.95% and 1.62% for the quarters ended December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020, respectively.
• Book value per common share increased to $23.79 at March 31, 2021 compared to $22.93 and $21.32 at December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020, respectively. Tangible book value per common share increased to $20.72 at March 31, 2021, or 4.2% (16.7% annualized), compared to $19.89 at December 31, 2020, and increased 12.7% compared to $18.38 at March 31, 2020.
• The allowance for loan losses to total loans increased to 1.11% at March 31, 2021, compared to 1.09% at December 31, 2020 and 0.82% at March 31, 2020, representing a 35% increase in the allowance for loan losses to total loans compared to March 31, 2020.
• Noninterest-bearing deposits increased $67.3 million, or 15.0%, to $515.5 million at March 31, 2021, compared to $448.2 million at December 31, 2020 and increased $176.1 million, or 51.9%, compared to $339.4 million at March 31, 2020. Time deposits as a percentage of total deposits decreased to 24.6% at March 31, 2021, compared to 28.4% at December 31, 2020 and 40.2% at March 31, 2020.
• On January 25, 2021, Investar announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Cheaha Financial Group, Inc., headquartered in Oxford, Alabama, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cheaha Bank. The transaction closed on April 1, 2021 and was Investar’s seventh whole-bank acquisition since 2011. As of March 31, 2021, Cheaha Bank had approximately $238 million in assets, $120 million in net loans, and $206 million in total deposits. In the aggregate, Cheaha’s shareholders received approximately $41.1 million in cash consideration.
• Investar repurchased 225,950 shares of its common stock through its stock repurchase program at an average price of $17.64 per share during the quarter ended March 31, 2021, leaving 338,880 shares authorized for repurchase under the current stock repurchase plan after the board approved, on March 17, 2021, an additional 300,000 shares for repurchase. 

Loans

Total loans were $1.85 billion at March 31, 2021, a decrease of $14.3 million, or 0.8%, compared to December 31, 2020, and an increase of $116.2 million, or 6.7%, compared to March 31, 2020.

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

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the first quarter of 2020, the Bank instituted a 90-day loan deferral program for customers impacted by the pandemic. As of March 31, 2021, the balance of loans participating in the 90-day deferral program was approximately $11.2 million, or 0.6% of the total loan portfolio, compared to $5.9 million, or 0.3% of the total loan portfolio, at December 31, 2020. As 90-day loan deferrals have expired, most customers have returned to their regular payment schedules. The Bank continues to support borrowers experiencing financial hardships related to the pandemic and expects to process additional deferrals requested by qualified borrowers. Therefore, we may experience fluctuations in the balance of loans participating in the deferral program.

In addition, in the second quarter of 2020, the Bank began participating as a lender in the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) as established by the CARES Act. The PPP loans are generally 100% guaranteed by the SBA, have an interest rate of 1%, and are eligible to be forgiven based on certain criteria, with the SBA remitting any applicable forgiveness amount to the lender. At March 31, 2021, the balance of the Bank’s PPP loans was $106.6 million, compared to $94.5 million at December 31, 2020. Eighty-five percent of the total number of PPP loans we have originated have principal balances of $150,000 or less. Excluding PPP loans, total loans decreased $26.5 million, or 1.5%, compared to December 31, 2020 and increased $9.5 million, or 0.6%, compared to March 31, 2020. At March 31, 2021, approximately 31% of the total balance of PPP loans originated have been forgiven by the SBA or paid off by the customer.

We experienced the greatest loan growth in the owner-occupied commercial real estate portfolio for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 as we remain focused on relationship banking and growing our commercial loan portfolios.

At March 31, 2021, Investar’s total business lending portfolio, which consists of loans secured by owner-occupied commercial real estate properties and commercial and industrial loans, was $779.9 million, an increase of $10.0 million, or 1.3%, compared to the business lending portfolio of $769.9 million at December 31, 2020, and an increase of $95.8 million, or 14.0%, compared to the business lending portfolio of $684.1 million at March 31, 2020. The increase in the business lending portfolio compared to December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020 is due to the growth in the owner-occupied commercial real estate portfolio and the origination of PPP loans, which are included in commercial and industrial loans.

Consumer loans totaled $18.5 million at March 31, 2021, a decrease of $2.1 million, or 10.3%, compared to $20.6 million at December 31, 2020, and a decrease of $9.7 million, or 34.4%, compared to $28.2 million at March 31, 2020. The decrease in consumer loans is mainly attributable to the scheduled paydowns of the indirect auto lending portfolio and is consistent with our business strategy.

Our loan portfolio includes loans to businesses in certain industries that may be more significantly affected by the pandemic than others. These loans, including loans related to oil and gas, food services, hospitality, and entertainment, represent approximately 6.8% of our total portfolio, or 5.7% excluding PPP loans, at March 31, 2021, compared to 6.6% of our total portfolio, or 5.7% excluding PPP loans, at December 31, 2020, as shown in the table below.

Credit Quality

Nonperforming loans were $14.9 million, or 0.81% of total loans, at March 31, 2021, an increase of $1.1 million compared to $13.8 million, or 0.74% of total loans, at December 31, 2020, and an increase of $7.3 million compared to $7.6 million, or 0.44% of total loans, at March 31, 2020. The increase in nonperforming loans compared to March 31, 2020 is mainly attributable to one commercial and industrial oil and gas loan relationship totaling $4.8 million and one nonowner-occupied commercial real estate loan relationship totaling $1.4 million at March 31, 2021. Included in nonperforming loans are acquired loans with a balance of $5.3 million at March 31, 2021, or 35% of nonperforming loans.

The allowance for loan losses was $20.4 million, or 137.3% and 1.11% of nonperforming and total loans, respectively, at March 31, 2021, compared to $20.4 million, or 147.3% and 1.09%, respectively, at December 31, 2020, and $14.2 million, or 188.4% and 0.82%, respectively, at March 31, 2020.

The provision for loan losses was $0.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 compared to $2.4 million and $3.8 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020, respectively. Additional provision for loan losses was recorded in 2020 primarily as a result of the deterioration of market conditions which have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bank continues to assess the impact the pandemic may have on its loan portfolio to determine the need for additional reserves.

Deposits

Total deposits at March 31, 2021 were $2.01 billion, an increase of $122.1 million, or 6.5%, compared to $1.89 billion at December 31, 2020, and an increase of $281.1 million, or 16.3%, compared to $1.73 billion at March 31, 2020. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant amount of excess liquidity in the market, and, as a result, we experienced large increases in both noninterest and interest-bearing demand deposits, and savings accounts compared to March 31, 2020. The Bank utilized $80.0 million in brokered deposits in the first quarter of 2021 and the fourth quarter of 2020, which are used to satisfy the required borrowings under its interest rate swap agreements, due to more favorable pricing. The remaining increase of approximately $400.4 million, excluding the $199.4 million decrease in time deposits, compared to March 31, 2020 is due to organic growth. Our deposit mix has improved and reflects our consistent focus on relationship banking and growing our commercial relationships, as well as the effects of the pandemic on consumer and business spending.

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

Noninterest-bearing and interest-bearing demand deposits experienced the largest increases compared to December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020. These increases were primarily driven by government stimulus payments, reduced spending by consumer and business customers related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and increases in PPP borrowers’ deposit accounts. We believe these factors may be temporary depending on the future economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Management made a strategic decision to either reprice or run-off higher yielding time deposits and other interest-bearing deposit products during 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, which contributed to our decreasing cost of deposits compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the first quarter of 2021 totaled $19.6 million, an increase of $0.5 million, or 2.5%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, and an increase of $2.3 million, or 13.3%, compared to the first quarter of 2020. Included in net interest income for the quarters ended March 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020 is $0.1 million, $0.2 million, and $0.3 million of interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans. Also included in net interest income for the quarters ended March 31, 2021, December 31, 2020, and March 31, 2020 are interest recoveries of $17,000, $10,000, and $5,000, respectively, on acquired loans.

Investar’s net interest margin was 3.64% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 3.55% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 and 3.46% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The increase in net interest margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2020 was driven by a 12 basis point decrease in cost of funds. The increase in net interest margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2020 was driven by a 79 basis point decrease in the cost of funds partially offset by a 45 basis point decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets.

The yield on interest-earning assets was 4.26% for the quarters ended March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 compared to 4.71% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2020 was driven by a large decrease in the yield earned on investment securities as well as lower loan yields. In response to the pandemic, during March 2020, the Federal Reserve reduced the federal funds rate 150 basis points to 0 to 0.25 percent, which has affected the yields that we earn on our interest-earning assets. In addition, the PPP loans originated have a contractual interest rate of 1% and origination fees based on the loan amount, which impacts the yield on our loan portfolio.

Exclusive of PPP loans, which had an average balance of $97.3 million and related interest and fee income of $1.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 and an average balance of $106.6 million and related interest and fee income of $1.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, adjusted net interest margin was 3.54% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to an adjusted net interest margin of 3.53% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. Included in PPP interest and fee income for the quarters ended March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is $0.7 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of accelerated fee income recognized due to the forgiveness or pay-off of PPP loans. Refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures table for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics.

Exclusive of the interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans, interest recoveries, and accelerated fee income recognized due to the forgiveness or pay-off of PPP loans, all discussed above, adjusted net interest margin increased to 3.49% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 3.45% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, and 3.41% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The adjusted yield on interest-earning assets was 4.10% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 compared to 4.16% and 4.66% for the quarters ended December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020, respectively. Refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures table for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics.

The cost of deposits decreased 13 basis points to 0.63% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 compared to 0.76% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 and decreased 84 basis points compared to 1.47% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The decrease in the cost of deposits compared to the quarters ended December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020 reflects the decrease in rates paid for all categories of interest-bearing deposits.

The overall costs of funds for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 decreased 12 basis points to 0.83% compared to 0.95% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 and decreased 79 basis points compared to 1.62% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The decrease in the cost of funds for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 compared to the quarters ended December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020 resulted from both lower cost of deposits and lower amount and cost of short-term borrowings, the costs of which are driven by the Federal Reserve’s federal funds rates.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2021 totaled $2.4 million, a decrease of $1.3 million, or 35.7%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2020 and an increase of $1.3 million, or 117.2%, compared to the first quarter of 2020. The decrease in noninterest income compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2020 was mainly driven by a $0.9 million decrease in derivative fee income, included in other operating income. The increase in noninterest income compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2020 is mainly attributable to a $0.1 million increase in the fair value of equity securities during the quarter ended March 31, 2021 compared to a loss in the fair value of equity securities of $0.8 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2020. There was also a $0.4 million increase in the gain on sale of investment securities compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2021 totaled $14.8 million, an increase of $0.1 million, or 0.8%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, and an increase of $0.9 million, or 6.5%, compared to the first quarter of 2020. The increase in noninterest expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2020 was driven by a $0.4 million increase in acquisition expense and partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in other operating expenses. 

The increase in noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020 is primarily attributable to the $0.7 million and $0.2 million increases in salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses, respectively. The increase in salaries and employee benefits is driven by an increase in unfavorable health insurance claims, annual employee salary increases, effective June 1, 2020 and deferred compensation costs. The increase in other operating expenses is driven by the addition of two de novo branches opened in the second and third quarters of 2020. Other operating expenses include, among other things, software expense, FDIC assessments, bank security, repairs and maintenance, and telephone expense.

Taxes

Investar recorded income tax expense of $1.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, which equates to an effective tax rate of 21.1%, an increase from the effective tax rates of 20.9% and 19.7% for the quarters ended December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020, respectively.

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

Investar reported basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.51 for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $0.09 compared to basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.42 for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, and an increase of $0.46 compared to basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.05 for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

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 35 branch locations serving Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. At March 31, 2021, the Bank had 319 full-time equivalent employees and total assets of $2.4 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.” 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. In addition, any of the following matters related to the pandemic may impact our financial results in future periods, and such impacts may be material depending on the length and severity of the pandemic and government and societal responses to it:

• borrowers may default on loans and economic conditions could deteriorate requiring further increases to the allowance for loan losses;
• demand for our loans and other banking services, and related income and fees, may be reduced;
• the value of collateral securing our loans may deteriorate; and
• lower market interest rates will have an adverse impact on our variable rate loans and reduce our income.

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:

• the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic conditions in general and on the Bank’s markets in particular, and on the Bank’s operations and financial results;
• ongoing disruptions in the oil and gas industry due to fluctuations in the price of oil;
• business and economic conditions generally and in the financial services industry in particular, whether nationally, regionally or in the markets in which we operate;
• increased cyber and payment fraud risk, as cybercriminals attempt to profit from the disruption, given increased online and remote activity;
• our ability to achieve organic loan and deposit growth, and the composition of that growth;
• our ability to identify and enter into agreements to combine with attractive acquisition candidates, finance acquisitions, complete acquisitions after definitive agreements are entered into, and successfully integrate acquired operations;
• changes (or the lack of changes) in interest rates, yield curves and interest rate spread relationships that affect our loan and deposit pricing;
• possible cessation or market replacement of LIBOR and the related effect on our LIBOR-based financial products and contracts, including, but not limited to, hedging products, debt obligations, investments and loans;
• the extent of continuing client demand for the high level of personalized service that is a key element of our banking approach as well as our ability to execute our strategy generally;
• our dependence on our management team, and our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;
• changes in the quality or composition of our loan or investment portfolios, including adverse developments in borrower industries or in the repayment ability of individual borrowers;
• inaccuracy of the assumptions and estimates we make in establishing reserves for probable loan losses and other estimates;
• the concentration of our business within our geographic areas of operation in Louisiana, Texas and Alabama; and
• concentration of credit exposure.

These factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Additional information on these and other risk factors can be found in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and in the “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in 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, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

For further information contact:

Investar Holding Corporation   
Chris Hufft
Chief Financial Officer
(225) 227-2215
Chris.Hufft@investarbank.com