|
| |||||||||||||||
LSB Corporation Announces First Quarter 2008 Financial Results and Quarterly Cash Dividend, Earnings Up 18% Over Prior Year NORTH ANDOVER, MA--(MARKET WIRE)--Apr 24, 2008 -- LSB Corporation (NasdaqGM:LSBX - News) (the
"Company") today announced first quarter 2008 net income
of $916,000, or
$0.20 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $764,000,
or $0.17
per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2007. The improved
results in
the first quarter 2008 represent an increase of 20% in net
income and an
increase of 18% in diluted earnings per share over the same
period in 2007.
The largest factors in the improvement of quarterly results for 2008 were the 21% growth in total assets since March 31, 2007, the corresponding increase in net interest income of $115,000, an increase of $140,000 in other non-interest income, and a reduction of non-interest expenses resulting from continuing cost saving measures that have an ongoing impact. The largest contributor to the improvement in other non-interest income in the first quarter of 2008 was the increase in the cash surrender values of the bank-owned life insurance assets purchased in June 2007. These factors offset the effects of the decline in the Company's net interest margin. The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $105,000 in the first quarter of 2008 as compared to $60,000 recorded for the first quarter of 2007. The increase in the provision for loan losses in 2008 is due to the continued, sustained corporate loan growth rather than any meaningful credit quality deterioration. The Company's net interest margin decreased to 2.52% for the first quarter of 2008 from 2.88% for the first quarter of 2007 and 2.58% in the fourth quarter of 2007. The decrease in the net interest margin is caused by assets repricing lower more quickly than liabilities as the general level of interest rates fall. This downward pressure on margins has been offset in part by a shift in the mix of assets as higher yielding loans replace investments. The Company expects that any future cuts in interest rates would likely exert similar pressures on the Company's net interest margin. Total assets increased by $53.9 million from December 31, 2007 to $675.6 million as of March 31, 2008. The 2008 increase reflected both sustained, local loan growth and an increase in the investment portfolio. As of March 31, 2008, loans totaled $372.6 million, an increase of $14.5 million from December 31, 2007. The corporate loan portfolio increased by $7.7 million in the first quarter while the retail loan portfolio increased by $6.8 million over the same time period. As of March 31, 2008, non-performing loans equaled 0.27% of total loans while the allowance for loan losses, as a proportion of total loans, equaled 1.31% as compared to 0.43% and 1.34%, respectively, as of December 31, 2007. Non-performing assets totaled 0.24% and 0.24% of total assets as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. Total deposits increased $8.3 million from December 31, 2007 and totaled $330.4 million as of March 31, 2008. The Bank's focus on attracting and retaining core deposits has produced favorable results in 2008. Money market and savings accounts increased by $4.3 million during the first quarter of 2008 and certificates of deposit increased $4.4 million over the same time period. Brokered certificates of deposit totaled $5.5 million at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007. Total borrowed funds increased during the first quarter of 2008 by $43.7 million or 18.6% and totaled $279.0 million as of March 31, 2008. The increase in total borrowed funds was used to support balance sheet growth. President and CEO, Gerald T. Mulligan, stated, "I am gratified by the continued growth in local deposits and loans during the quarter. Mindful of the current, unusual level of economic uncertainty, the Company has maintained its competitive posture and its tight control on credit quality and expenses. Even more gratifying than balance sheet growth is the Company's low level of non-performing assets. Despite declines in residential sales activity and sales prices within the Bank's market area, we have not seen signs that this softening in the real estate market is affecting the Bank's loan portfolio. Lastly, I am hopeful that a period of stable interest rates will allow asset yields to stabilize while funding costs decline affording some relief of pressure on the net interest margin." The Company also announced today a quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 to be paid on May 22, 2008 to shareholders of record as of May 8, 2008. This dividend represents a 3.6% annualized dividend yield based on the closing stock price of $15.76 on March 31, 2008. Under the previously approved common stock repurchase program, the Company has repurchased 136,976 shares, or approximately 3% of the Company's outstanding common stock at an average cost of $16.15 per share. The timing and amount of future stock repurchases will depend upon market conditions, securities law limitations and other corporate considerations; the Company has not placed any time limit on the repurchase program. Press releases and SEC filings can be viewed on the internet at our website www.RiverBk.com/press-main.html or www.RiverBk.com/stockholder-info.html, respectively. LSB Corporation is a Massachusetts corporation that conducts all of its operations through its sole subsidiary, River Bank (the "Bank"). The Bank offers a range of commercial and consumer loan and deposit products and is headquartered at 30 Massachusetts Avenue, North Andover, Massachusetts, approximately 25 miles north of Boston. River Bank operates 5 full-service banking offices in Massachusetts in Andover, Lawrence, Methuen (2) and North Andover and 1 full-service banking office in Salem, New Hampshire. The Bank is in the process of obtaining regulatory approvals to establish a new branch in Derry, New Hampshire and expects to open in the latter part of 2008. The reader is cautioned that this press release may contain certain statements that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are expressions of management's expectations as of the date of this press release regarding future events or trends and which do not relate to historical matters. Such expectations may or may not be realized, depending on a number of variable factors, including but not limited to, changes in interest rates, changes in real estate valuations, general economic conditions (either nationally or regionally), regulatory considerations and competition. For more information about these factors, please see our recent Annual Report on Form 10-K on file with the SEC, including the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." As a result of such risk factors and uncertainties, the Company's actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to publicly release updates or revisions to any such forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
LSB Corporation
Select Financial Data
(unaudited)
Three months ended
----------------------------------
(For the periods ending) March 31, Dec. 31, March 31,
2008 2007 2007
--------- --------- ---------
Performance ratios (annualized):
Efficiency ratio 64.39% 65.84% 69.23%
Return on average assets 0.57% 0.70% 0.57%
Return on average stockholders equity 6.03% 7.29% 5.35%
Net interest margin 2.52% 2.58% 2.88%
Interest rate spread (int.
bearing only) 2.06% 2.09% 2.30%
Dividends paid per share during
period $ 0.14 $ 0.14 $ 0.14
----------------------------------
(At) March 31, Dec. 31, March 31,
2008 2007 2007
--------- --------- ---------
Capital Ratio:
Stockholders equity to total assets 9.13% 9.70% 10.58%
Leverage ratio 9.30% 9.72% 11.02%
Risk Based Capital Ratio:
Tier one 12.66% 13.45% 15.03%
Total risk based 13.70% 14.53% 16.12%
Asset Quality:
Allowance for loan losses as a percent
of total loans 1.31% 1.34% 1.42%
Non-performing loans as a percent of
total loans 0.27% 0.43% 0.03%
Non-performing assets as a percent of
total assets 0.24% 0.24% 0.02%
Per Share Data:
Book value per share $ 13.79 $ 13.35 $ 12.87
Tangible book value per share
(excludes accumulated other comp.
income or loss) $ 13.30 $ 13.26 $ 13.07
Market value per share $ 15.76 $ 16.00 $ 16.45
LSB CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(In thousands)
(unaudited)
(At) March 31, Dec. 31, March 31,
2008 2007 2007
--------- --------- ---------
Retail loans $ 110,622 $ 103,796 $ 91,291
Corporate loans 261,993 254,317 216,425
--------- --------- ---------
Total loans 372,615 358,113 307,716
--------- --------- ---------
Allowance for loan losses (4,874) (4,810) (4,366)
--------- --------- ---------
Investments available for sale 264,240 230,596 213,942
FHLB stock 11,570 10,185 9,981
--------- --------- ---------
Total investments 275,810 240,781 223,923
Federal funds sold 5,256 56 14,938
Other assets 26,757 27,511 17,486
--------- --------- ---------
Total assets $ 675,564 $ 621,651 $ 559,697
========= ========= =========
Deposits $ 330,364 $ 322,083 $ 307,620
Borrowed funds 279,016 235,351 189,246
Other liabilities 4,513 3,919 3,592
--------- --------- ---------
Total liabilities 613,893 561,353 500,458
--------- --------- ---------
Common stock 447 452 460
Additional paid-in capital 59,670 60,382 61,674
Retained earnings (loss) (646) (934) (1,970)
Accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss) 2,200 398 (925)
--------- --------- ---------
Total stockholders' equity 61,671 60,298 59,239
--------- --------- ---------
Total liabilities and stockholders'
equity $ 675,564 $ 621,651 $ 559,697
========= ========= =========
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
Three months ended
----------------------------------
(For the periods ending) March 31, Dec. 31, March 31,
2008 2007 2007
--------- --------- ---------
Interest income $ 9,282 $ 9,304 $ 8,093
Interest expense 5,393 5,432 4,319
--------- --------- ---------
Net interest income 3,889 3,872 3,774
Provision for loan losses 105 180 60
--------- --------- ---------
Net interest income after provision
for loan losses 3,784 3,692 3,714
Gains on pension plan termination -- 405 --
Other non-interest income 494 566 354
Salary & employee benefits expense 1,640 1,739 1,764
Other non-interest expense 1,182 1,183 1,094
--------- --------- ---------
Total non-interest expense 2,822 2,922 2,858
Net income before income tax expense 1,456 1,741 1,210
Income tax expense 540 651 446
--------- --------- ---------
Net income $ 916 $ 1,090 $ 764
========= ========= =========
Basic earnings per share $ 0.20 $ 0.24 $ 0.17
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.20 $ 0.24 $ 0.17
End of period shares outstanding 4,471,941 4,516,561 4,601,617
Average shares outstanding:
Basic 4,493,523 4,527,750 4,598,128
Diluted 4,518,548 4,553,121 4,628,825Contact: CONTACT:
Gerald T. Mulligan
President & CEO
(978) 725-7555
Source: LSB Corporation
|  | ||||||||||||||
