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Merchants Bancorp: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 October 2025: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rebounded from second quarter: Net income was $54.7 million, or $0.97 diluted EPS, up 44% from the second quarter's $38.0 million. The improvement was mainly from lower provision expense. Source
  • Provision expense fell sharply: Total provision for credit losses was $29.2 million, down 45% from the second quarter. The provision on loans was $31.0 million, down 43% from $54.5 million. Source
  • Nonperforming loans rose on one relationship: Nonperforming loans were $298.3 million, or 2.81% of loans receivable, up from 2.39% at June 30. Delinquent loans rose to $336.2 million. Source
  • Net interest margin declined on business mix: Net interest margin was 2.82%, down 17 basis points from 2.99%. Average balances of lower-margin warehouse loans held for sale grew while higher-margin loans contracted. Source
  • Gain on sale rose on multi-family sales: Gain on sale of loans was $24.7 million, up 47% from a year earlier and 6% from the second quarter. Higher multi-family secondary sales included a Freddie Mac Q-Series deal. Source
  • Core deposits reached $12.8 billion: Core deposits were 92% of total deposits, the highest level since March 2022, driven by warehouse custodial deposits and expanded-market liquidity solutions. Source
  • Common equity Tier 1 ratio rose: The estimated common equity Tier 1 ratio was 9.8%, up from 9.5% at June 30 and 8.9% a year earlier, on regulatory definitions. Source

“We also continued our successful track record of implementing credit risk transfers, including a $557 million healthcare loan pool, which enhances capital efficiency and reduces risk exposure.”

Michael F. Petrie, Chairman and CEO of Merchants

What changed from last quarter

  • New: On September 17, 2025 the company executed a credit default swap covering a $557.1 million healthcare mortgage loan pool, to provide credit protection and reduce risk-based capital requirements. Source

Earnings and segment results

  • Net income rebounded from second quarter: Net income was $54.7 million, or $0.97 diluted EPS, up 44% from the second quarter's $38.0 million. The improvement was mainly from lower provision expense. Source
  • Net income down from year earlier: Net income fell $6.6 million, or 11%, from the third quarter of 2024. Diluted EPS was $0.97 against $1.17 a year earlier, a 17% decline. Source
  • Multi-family segment net income rose: Multi-family Mortgage Banking segment net income was $12.1 million, against $9.3 million in the second quarter and $8.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Warehousing and Banking segment results: Mortgage Warehousing net income was $23.6 million, up from $23.0 million in the second quarter. Banking was $29.6 million, up from $14.6 million. Source

Credit quality and provisions

  • Provision expense fell sharply: Total provision for credit losses was $29.2 million, down 45% from the second quarter. The provision on loans was $31.0 million, down 43% from $54.5 million. Source
  • Charge-offs fell to $29.5 million: Charge-offs for nine relationships, mainly multi-family, totaled $29.5 million. That compares with $46.1 million in the second quarter and $2.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Nonperforming loans rose on one relationship: Nonperforming loans were $298.3 million, or 2.81% of loans receivable, up from 2.39% at June 30. Delinquent loans rose to $336.2 million. Source
  • Special mention and criticized loans declined: Special mention loans fell 9% to $155.7 million. Total criticized loans were $582.2 million, down 1%, and substandard loans carry $31.1 million of specific reserves. Source

“Asset quality trends improved, with lower provision expenses and reduced criticized assets during the quarter.”

Michael J. Dunlap, President and Chief Operating Officer of Merchants

Net interest margin and yields

  • Net interest margin declined on business mix: Net interest margin was 2.82%, down 17 basis points from 2.99%. Average balances of lower-margin warehouse loans held for sale grew while higher-margin loans contracted. Source
  • Net interest income nearly unchanged: Net interest income was $128.1 million, down 4% from $132.8 million a year earlier and essentially unchanged from the second quarter. Source
  • Loan yields fell on warehouse portfolios: Average yield on loans and loans held for sale was 6.88%, down 103 basis points from 7.91%. Source
  • Certificate deposit costs fell: The certificate of deposit rate averaged 4.57%, down 90 basis points. Average certificate balances fell 56%, while interest-bearing checking balances rose 41%. Source

Noninterest income and gain on sale

  • Noninterest income rose 157%: Noninterest income was $43.0 million, up $26.3 million from $16.7 million a year earlier and down 15% from the second quarter. Source
  • Gain on sale rose on multi-family sales: Gain on sale of loans was $24.7 million, up 47% from a year earlier and 6% from the second quarter. Higher multi-family secondary sales included a Freddie Mac Q-Series deal. Source
  • Servicing rights fair value turned positive: Loan servicing fees included a $2.1 million positive fair market value adjustment to servicing rights, compared with a $6.7 million negative adjustment a year earlier. Source
  • Floor derivative loss narrowed: Other income included a $770,000 negative fair market value adjustment to floor derivatives, compared with a $7.7 million negative adjustment in the prior-year quarter. Source

“These actions reinforce our commitment to long-term stability and shareholder value.”

Michael J. Dunlap, President and Chief Operating Officer of Merchants

Operating expenses

  • Noninterest expense up 26%: Noninterest expense was $77.3 million, up 26% from a year earlier and essentially unchanged from the second quarter. Salaries and benefits rose $8.9 million, or 25%. Source
  • Salary increase tied to commissions: Management linked the higher salaries mainly to commissions on higher production volume and noninterest income. Source
  • Other expense rose on collateral costs: Other expense rose $3.6 million, mainly on taxes, insurance, property and legal costs for collateral preservation of nonperforming loans. Source
  • Deposit insurance expense increased: Deposit insurance expense was $9.4 million, up from $7.2 million in the second quarter, reflecting elevated criticized and underperforming assets. Source

Deposits and liquidity

  • Core deposits reached $12.8 billion: Core deposits were 92% of total deposits, the highest level since March 2022, driven by warehouse custodial deposits and expanded-market liquidity solutions. Source
  • Brokered deposits fell to $1.1 billion: Brokered deposits were $1.1 billion, down $110.4 million from June 30 and 55% from December 31, 2024. Brokered certificates had a weighted average remaining duration of 49 days. Source
  • Total deposits reached $13.9 billion: Total deposits rose $1.2 billion from June 30 and $2.0 billion from December 31, mainly from core demand deposits. Source
  • Liquidity and borrowing capacity totaled $12.6 billion: Unused borrowing capacity was $5.9 billion. Liquid assets plus that capacity totaled $12.6 billion, or 65% of total assets. Source

Loans and total assets

  • Total assets reached $19.4 billion: Total assets rose to $19.4 billion, the highest level reported, up $213.4 million from June 30 and $548.9 million from December 31, mainly on warehouse portfolios. Source
  • Loans receivable rose $83.1 million: Loans receivable, net, reached $10.5 billion, up $83.1 million from June 30 and $161.2 million from December 31. Source
  • Loans held for sale and warehouses: Loans held for sale were $4.1 billion. The warehouse portfolio is made up exclusively of loans to residential and multi-family mortgage bankers. Source

Capital and credit risk transfers

  • Credit default swap premiums climbed: Credit risk transfer premium expense rose $2.1 million from a year earlier to $4.2 million, tied to credit default swaps. Source
  • Credit protection covers $2.4 billion loans: Loans subject to credit protection arrangements were $2.4 billion at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Common equity Tier 1 ratio rose: The estimated common equity Tier 1 ratio was 9.8%, up from 9.5% at June 30 and 8.9% a year earlier, on regulatory definitions. Source
  • Tangible book value per share at record: Tangible book value per common share was $36.31, up 3% from $35.42 at June 30 and 12% from $32.38 a year earlier. Source
  • Preferred dividends and common income: Net income available to common shareholders was $44.4 million after $10.3 million of preferred stock dividends. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 October 2025

  • Production staff expected to lift costs: Management expects the added production staff to keep raising production, gain on sale and expenses in future quarters. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source2.82%
Net interest income Source$128.1 million
Loans Source$10.5 billion, net
Deposits Source$13.9 billion
Provision for credit losses Source$29.2 million
Net charge-offs Source$29.5 million charge-offs less $23,000 recoveries
Nonperforming assets Source1.56% of total assets
CET1 ratio Source9.8% (estimate)
Efficiency ratio Source45.16%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management pointed to declining multi-family property values and an ongoing investigation of borrowers in mortgage fraud or suspected fraud as drivers of provision and charge-offs. Source
  • External: The value of servicing rights moves inversely with falling and rising 10-year interest rates, through expected prepayments and escrow earning rates. Source

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.