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Hilltop Holdings Stock Dips Despite Q3 Earnings Beat on High Fee Income

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Hilltop Holdings Inc.’s (HTH - Free Report) third-quarter 2024 earnings of 46 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 39 cents. However, the bottom line declined 19.3% from the prior-year quarter.

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Results benefited from higher non-interest income and a reversal of provisions. Higher deposits and an improvement in capital ratios were other positives. However, a decline in net interest income (NII), lower loans and a rise in expenses were spoilsports. In light of these negatives, shares of Hilltop Holdings declined 3% in the after-market trading hours.

Net income attributable to common stockholders was $29.7 million, down 19.8% year over year. Our estimate for the metric was $24.2 million.

Hilltop Holdings’ Revenues Decline, Expenses Rise

Net revenues were $305.5 million, which declined 2.2% year over year. However, the top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $302.3 million.

NII declined 9.2% year over year to $105 million. Our estimate for the metric was $106.6 million.

The net interest margin (NIM) (taxable-equivalent basis) was 2.85%, down 19 basis points (bps) year over year. We had expected NIM to be 2.90%.

Non-interest income was $200.4 million, up 1.8% year over year. The increase was driven by a rise in all the components except mortgage loan origination fees. We had projected the metric to be $192.5 million.

Non-interest expenses rose 1.7% from the prior-year quarter to $264.3 million. We projected total non-interest expenses of $259.9 million.

As of Sept. 30, 2024, net loans held for investment were $7.9 billion, down 2.4% sequentially. Total deposits were $10.8 billion, up 4% from the end of the previous quarter. Our estimates for net loans held for investment and total deposits were $8.1 billion and $11 billion, respectively.

Hilltop Holdings’ Credit Quality: Mixed Bag

In the third quarter of 2024, Hilltop Holdings recorded a reversal of provision for credit losses of $1.3 million, compared with a reversal of $40,000 from the prior-year quarter.

As of Sept. 30, 2024, non-performing assets, as a percentage of total assets, were 0.59%, which increased 37 bps from the year-ago quarter.

HTH’s Profitability Ratios Decline, Capital Ratios Improve

Return on average assets at the end of the reported quarter was 0.84%, down from the prior-year quarter’s 0.94%. The return on average stockholders’ equity was 5.51%, which declined from 7.11%.

The common equity tier 1 capital ratio was 20.48% as of Sept. 30, 2024, up from 18.60% in the corresponding period of 2023. The total capital ratio was 23.68%, up from the year-ago period’s 21.54%.

Our Take on Hilltop Holdings

Hilltop Holdings’ solid balance sheet, business restructuring efforts and improving fee income alongside high rates and decent loan demand will aid the top line. A solid liquidity position is another positive.

Hilltop Holdings Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Hilltop Holdings Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Hilltop Holdings Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Hilltop Holdings Inc. Quote

Hilltop Holdings currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Performances of Other Banks

Prosperity Bancshares Inc.’s (PB - Free Report) third-quarter 2024 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.34 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.30. Moreover, the bottom line compared favorably with adjusted earnings of $1.21 in the prior-year quarter.

PB’s results benefited from an increase in NII. Further, a rise in deposits and loans was another positive. Nevertheless, a fall in adjusted non-interest income and rising expenses were major headwinds. During the quarter, provisions remained stable.

East West Bancorp, Inc.’s (EWBC - Free Report) third-quarter 2024 adjusted EPS of $2.09 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.05. Further, the bottom line increased by 3.5% from the prior-year quarter.

EWBC’s results were aided by an increase in NII and non-interest income alongside lower non-interest expenses. Also, deposit and loan balances increased sequentially in the quarter. Provisions remained stable during the same time frame.


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