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Kearny Financial Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 January 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income flat at $0.15 per diluted share: Net income was $9.4 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, against $9.5 million and $0.15 in the prior quarter; pre-tax income was $11.8 million. Source
  • Net interest margin rose to 2.14%: Net interest margin rose four basis points from 2.10% in the prior quarter; management also cited a 32 basis point rise year over year. Source
  • Pre-tax, pre-provision revenue up 3.9%: Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue was $12.3 million, a non-GAAP measure in the release; the efficiency ratio was 71.64%. Source
  • Rate cuts expected to lift earnings: Management said recent federal funds rate reductions are expected to serve as an earnings tailwind, given the liability-sensitive balance sheet. Source
  • Deposits rose 1.4% on demand accounts: Deposits were $5.71 billion, led by non-interest-bearing and interest-bearing demand; $69.8 million moved from a consumer interest-bearing product to non-interest-bearing. Source
  • Non-performing assets fell 20.6%: Non-performing assets were $51.3 million, or 0.67% of total assets, down from $64.6 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Non-interest expense fell 1.5%: Non-interest expense was $31.2 million; salary and benefits, net occupancy and advertising declined, while other expense rose. Source
  • Residential lending team added: A five-person residential lending team was added to grow residential loans held for sale and the fee income they support. Source

“We are pleased to report continued improvement in our core earnings.”

Craig L. Montanaro, President and Chief Executive Officer

What changed from last quarter

  • New: A five-person residential lending team was added this quarter to grow residential loans held-for-sale and fee income. Source
  • New: The Lab Consulting partnership, announced in the prior quarter, commenced this quarter. Source
  • Ended: Branch consolidation expenses recorded in the prior quarter did not recur this quarter. Source

Earnings and net interest margin

  • Net income flat at $0.15 per diluted share: Net income was $9.4 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, against $9.5 million and $0.15 in the prior quarter; pre-tax income was $11.8 million. Source
  • Net interest margin rose to 2.14%: Net interest margin rose four basis points from 2.10% in the prior quarter; management also cited a 32 basis point rise year over year. Source
  • Lower funding costs drove the margin: The margin gain came mainly from lower interest-bearing liability costs and fewer borrowings, partly offset by lower asset yields and balances. Source
  • Net interest income rose $265,000: Net interest income was $38.0 million, including $494,000 of purchase accounting accretion and $544,000 of loan prepayment penalty income. Source
  • Pre-tax, pre-provision revenue up 3.9%: Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue was $12.3 million, a non-GAAP measure in the release; the efficiency ratio was 71.64%. Source
  • Rate cuts expected to lift earnings: Management said recent federal funds rate reductions are expected to serve as an earnings tailwind, given the liability-sensitive balance sheet. Source

Balance sheet, loans and deposits

  • Loans slipped 0.2% on multifamily: Loans receivable were $5.75 billion, down $14.0 million, as multifamily and residential mortgages fell while commercial and home equity loans rose. Source
  • Commercial business loans grew: Commercial business loans rose to $169.9 million from $142.3 million, while multifamily loans fell to $2.62 billion from $2.64 billion. Source
  • Deposits rose 1.4% on demand accounts: Deposits were $5.71 billion, led by non-interest-bearing and interest-bearing demand; $69.8 million moved from a consumer interest-bearing product to non-interest-bearing. Source
  • Borrowings fell 9.2%: Borrowings were $1.10 billion, down $111.5 million, on lower FHLB advances, partly offset by higher overnight borrowings. Source
  • Secured borrowing capacity of $2.70 billion: Secured capacity with the FHLB and the Federal Reserve Discount Window was $2.70 billion, equal to 35.4% of total assets. Source

“Net interest margin expanded, up 32 basis points year-over-year, reflecting the strategic remix of our balance sheet and the repricing of our loan portfolio.”

Craig L. Montanaro, President and Chief Executive Officer

Asset quality and credit costs

  • Non-performing assets fell 20.6%: Non-performing assets were $51.3 million, or 0.67% of total assets, down from $64.6 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Construction loan repaid in full: The decline was primarily driven by full repayment of a previously disclosed non-performing construction loan; the prior quarter held $20.5 million of loans 90 days past due. Source
  • Provision of $567,000 after a reversal: Provision for credit losses was $567,000, against an $82,000 reversal in the prior quarter, reflecting a non-performing C&I loan charged off this quarter. Source
  • Net charge-offs of $669,000: Net charge-offs were $669,000, or 0.05% of average loans annualized, from resolving two loans that were partly reserved in prior periods. Source
  • Allowance held at 0.78% of loans: Allowance for credit losses was $45.0 million, or 0.78% of total loans, $102,000 lower than in the prior quarter. Source

Non-interest income and expenses

  • Non-interest expense fell 1.5%: Non-interest expense was $31.2 million; salary and benefits, net occupancy and advertising declined, while other expense rose. Source
  • Non-interest income fell on prior gain: Non-interest income was $5.6 million, down $276,000; excluding the prior quarter's $749,000 property gain, it rose 9.3%. Source
  • Lab Consulting fees lifted other expense: Other expense rose $378,000 to $3.8 million, including $242,000 of non-recurring professional fees tied to the Lab Consulting partnership, plus higher loan legal costs. Source
  • Salary costs eased on payroll taxes: Salary and benefits fell $372,000 to $18.4 million, mainly on lower payroll taxes, partly offset by higher incentive compensation. Source
  • Effective tax rate of 19.8%: Income tax expense was $2.3 million, an effective tax rate of 19.8% against 20.6% in the prior quarter. Source

“Their expertise supports our efforts to diversify revenue streams and deepen our residential lending franchise.”

Craig L. Montanaro, President and Chief Executive Officer

Strategic initiatives and people

  • Automation partnership announced last September: The company entered a partnership with The Lab Consulting in September 2025 to deploy automation and analytics, aimed at efficiency and client service.
  • Residential lending team added: A five-person residential lending team was added to grow residential loans held for sale and the fee income they support. Source
  • Branches being consolidated to 40: The company was consolidating three branches as part of a real estate footprint optimization, streamlining to 40 locations by October 2025.

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Book value per share rose to $11.70: Book value per share rose $0.07 to $11.70, and tangible book value per share rose $0.07 to $9.93. Source
  • Tangible equity ratio at 8.56%: Tangible equity to tangible assets was 8.56%, up from 8.47%; after-tax unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities were $68.2 million. Source
  • Quarterly dividend unchanged at $0.11: The dividend was unchanged at $0.11 per share; the dividend payout ratio was 73.9% against 73.2% in the prior quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 January 2026

  • Lab Consulting deliverables ahead: Near-term Lab Consulting deliverables are centered on operational efficiency, client experience and sustainable growth. Source
  • Dividend payable February 18, 2026: The $0.11 quarterly dividend is payable February 18, 2026, to holders of record as of February 4, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source2.14%
Net interest income Source$38.0 million
Loans receivable Source$5.75 billion
Deposits Source$5.71 billion
Cost of interest-bearing deposits Source2.60%
Provision for credit losses Source$567,000
Net charge-offs Source$669,000
Nonperforming assets Source$51.3 million, 0.67% of total assets
Efficiency ratio Source71.64%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: A non-performing C&I loan was charged off during the quarter, which added to the provision and to reserves. Source
  • Financial: Lower average asset yields and balances partly offset the margin gain. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release described execution of the branch consolidations as enabling capital reallocation; this release gives no status.
  • Not stated: The prior release cited expected tailwinds from anticipated rate reductions; this release cites recent reductions as expected to serve as a tailwind.

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.