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Hope Bancorp Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 April 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income up year-over-year, down sequentially: Net income was $29.5 million, or $0.23 diluted EPS, up 40% from a year earlier and down 14% from the fourth quarter. Excluding notable items, EPS was $0.23 against $0.19 a year earlier. Source
  • Pre-provision revenue up sharply year-over-year: PPNR was $46.6 million, up 43% from $32.6 million a year earlier and up 1% from $46.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Net interest margin flat sequentially, up annually: Net interest margin held at 2.90%, up 36 basis points from 2.54% a year earlier. Net interest income of $124.1 million fell 3% sequentially, reflecting a lower day count. Source
  • Deposit costs fell on funding repricing: Cost of interest-bearing deposits fell 77 basis points year-over-year to 3.37%, from 3.52% in the fourth quarter. Management attributed the year-over-year margin gain mainly to funding cost improvements. Source
  • Criticized loans down again: Criticized loans fell $26.0 million, or 7%, to $325.1 million. Special mention loans dropped 23% and classified loans 2%. The criticized loan ratio was 2.22% of total loans. Source
  • Net charge-offs rose to $10.7 million: Net charge-offs were $10.7 million, or 0.29% annualized of average loans, up from $3.6 million or 0.10% in the fourth quarter. C&I loans accounted for $9.9 million of the total. Source
  • Agreed to buy MANUBANK commercial unit: Announced March 31, 2026, the agreement covers the Commercial Banking Unit of SMBC MANUBANK. Management said it aligns with commercial banking, middle market and multinational client, and core deposit priorities. Source

“This is an exciting time for Hope, as we continue to execute on our strategic priorities and build on the momentum generated over the past several quarters”

Kevin S. Kim, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Announced an agreement to acquire the Commercial Banking Unit of SMBC MANUBANK on March 31, 2026. The fourth-quarter release did not mention this transaction. Source

Results and earnings drivers

  • Net income up year-over-year, down sequentially: Net income was $29.5 million, or $0.23 diluted EPS, up 40% from a year earlier and down 14% from the fourth quarter. Excluding notable items, EPS was $0.23 against $0.19 a year earlier. Source
  • Pre-provision revenue up sharply year-over-year: PPNR was $46.6 million, up 43% from $32.6 million a year earlier and up 1% from $46.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Notable items were small this quarter: Notable items were small: merger and restructuring costs of $234 thousand and an FDIC special assessment reversal of $58 thousand, totaling $126 thousand net of tax. Source

Net interest income and funding costs

  • Net interest margin flat sequentially, up annually: Net interest margin held at 2.90%, up 36 basis points from 2.54% a year earlier. Net interest income of $124.1 million fell 3% sequentially, reflecting a lower day count. Source
  • Deposit costs fell on funding repricing: Cost of interest-bearing deposits fell 77 basis points year-over-year to 3.37%, from 3.52% in the fourth quarter. Management attributed the year-over-year margin gain mainly to funding cost improvements. Source
  • Average earning assets slipped slightly: Average earning assets fell 0.4% sequentially, as average loans rose while other earning assets declined. The year-over-year increase reflected the Territorial Bancorp acquisition. Source

“The pending acquisition is projected to strengthen our core earnings power and efficiently deploy capital”

Kevin S. Kim, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Fee income, expenses and tax

  • Noninterest income down sequentially on securities gains: Noninterest income was $17.0 million, down 8% from $18.4 million in the fourth quarter and up 8% from $15.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • SBA loan sales gained slightly more: The company sold $53.0 million of SBA loans for a net gain of $3.3 million, compared with $46.0 million sold for a $2.6 million gain in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Noninterest expense fell on compensation: Noninterest expense was $94.5 million, down 5% from $99.4 million in the fourth quarter and up 13% from $83.9 million a year earlier. The annual increase reflected Territorial operating expenses. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose from fourth quarter: Income tax provision was $8.4 million, a 22.1% effective rate, against $4.7 million and 11.9% in the fourth quarter, which included deferred tax remeasurement true-ups. Source

Loans and deposits

  • Loan balances essentially stable sequentially: Gross loans were $14.74 billion, essentially stable against $14.79 billion at December 31, 2025. Year-over-year growth reflected residential mortgage growth and the Territorial acquisition. Source
  • Deposits up year-over-year, time deposits trimmed: Deposits were $15.73 billion, up 1% sequentially and 9% year-over-year. Interest-bearing deposits excluding time deposits rose 3%, while higher-cost time deposits were intentionally reduced. Source
  • Loan-to-deposit ratio eased sequentially: The gross loan-to-deposit ratio was 93.7%, down from 94.8% at December 31, 2025 and up from 92.0% a year earlier. Source

Credit quality and provisions

  • Criticized loans down again: Criticized loans fell $26.0 million, or 7%, to $325.1 million. Special mention loans dropped 23% and classified loans 2%. The criticized loan ratio was 2.22% of total loans. Source
  • Nonperforming assets lower, 90-day loans higher: Nonperforming assets were $120.5 million, or 0.65% of total assets, down from $136.1 million. Accruing loans 90 or more days past due rose to $10.6 million from $3.9 million. Source
  • Net charge-offs rose to $10.7 million: Net charge-offs were $10.7 million, or 0.29% annualized of average loans, up from $3.6 million or 0.10% in the fourth quarter. C&I loans accounted for $9.9 million of the total. Source
  • Provision rose with higher charge-offs: Provision for credit losses was $8.7 million, up from $7.2 million in the fourth quarter. The allowance was $155.1 million, or 1.06% of loans receivable, down from 1.07%. Source

Capital and share repurchases

  • Capital ratios above well-capitalized minimums: The CET1 ratio rose to 12.35% from 12.27% in the fourth quarter, and the total capital ratio was 14.07%. All ratios exceeded the well-capitalized minimums. Source
  • Buybacks of $6.7 million in quarter: The company repurchased 604,161 shares, or 0.5% of outstanding common stock, at an average price of $11.10, for $6.7 million under a $35.3 million authorization. Source
  • Book value and TCE per share edged up: Book value per share was $17.86, up from $17.81. Tangible common equity per share was $13.73, up from $13.71. Total stockholders’ equity was $2.28 billion, unchanged. Source
  • Common shares outstanding declined: Common shares outstanding fell to 127.8 million from 128.2 million at year-end, while treasury shares rose to 17.99 million. Source

MANUBANK acquisition and footprint

  • Agreed to buy MANUBANK commercial unit: Announced March 31, 2026, the agreement covers the Commercial Banking Unit of SMBC MANUBANK. Management said it aligns with commercial banking, middle market and multinational client, and core deposit priorities. Source
  • Deal aligned with commercial banking priorities: Management said the acquisition aligns with its priorities of building commercial banking capabilities, reaching middle market and multinational clients, and growing its core deposit franchise. Source
  • Hawaii branch count fell by one: Territorial Savings operates 28 branches in Hawaii, down from 29 in the fourth quarter release. Bank of Hope operates 45 full-service branches on the mainland. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 April 2026

  • MANUBANK closing expected second half 2026: Management expects to close the MANUBANK acquisition in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source2.90%
Net interest income Source$124.1 million
Gross loans Source$14.74 billion
Total deposits Source$15.73 billion
Cost of interest-bearing deposits Source3.37%
Provision for credit losses Source$8.7 million
Net charge-offs Source$10.7 million, 0.29% annualized
Nonperforming assets Source$120.5 million, 0.65% of total assets
CET1 ratio Source12.35%
Efficiency ratio Source67.0%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Swap fee income fell because customers transacted less during the quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: Closing of the MANUBANK acquisition depends on regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The January release said the company was well positioned to build on momentum in 2026. The first-quarter release refers again to building on momentum from prior quarters.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.