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Merchants Bancorp: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 January 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter net income rose sequentially: Fourth-quarter net income was $67.8 million and diluted EPS was $1.28, up 24% and 32% from the third quarter. Source
  • Criticized loans and delinquencies fell: Criticized loans fell 13% from September 30 to $508.2 million, and total delinquent loans fell 38% to $206.8 million. Source
  • Multi-family charge-offs totaled $38.0 million: Charge-offs covered 12 relationships, mostly multi-family. About 75% of the charge-offs related to three relationships. Source
  • Lower property values drove provisions: Third- and fourth-quarter charge-offs and provision increases were largely tied to lower multi-family values after new appraisals. Source
  • Net interest margin rose 7 basis points: Net interest margin was 2.89%, up from 2.82%, as funding costs fell faster than asset yields and nonaccrual interest reversals declined. Source
  • Expenses rose 8% from third quarter: Noninterest expense was $83.6 million, up $6.4 million, mainly on higher other expense and credit risk transfer premiums. Source
  • Total deposits fell 6% in quarter: Total deposits were $13.0 billion, down $893.5 million from September 30 on seasonal core deposit movement, and up 9% from a year earlier. Source
  • Tangible book value reached new high: Tangible book value per common share was $37.51, up 3% from $36.31 in the third quarter and 10% from a year earlier. Source

“Asset quality improved meaningfully, with criticized loans down 13% and nonperforming loans reduced by nearly one-third during the quarter.”

Michael F. Petrie, Chairman and CEO

What changed from last quarter

  • Ended: The credit-linked note was repaid in full during the quarter. Credit default swap coverage remained on $2.8 billion of loans. Source
  • New: IRS rules finalized in November 2025 exempted the Series B preferred redemption from excise tax, so the $1.2 million expected for 2026 was reversed in the fourth quarter. Source

Quarterly results and full-year totals

  • Fourth-quarter net income rose sequentially: Fourth-quarter net income was $67.8 million and diluted EPS was $1.28, up 24% and 32% from the third quarter. Source
  • Full-year earnings declined: Full-year diluted EPS was $3.78, down 40% from 2024; full-year net income was $218.8 million, down 32%. Source
  • Lower provision drove sequential gain: Net interest income after provision rose $11.5 million, or 12%, from the third quarter, with lower provision expense tied to asset quality. Source
  • Year-over-year quarterly profit fell: Against fourth quarter 2024, net income fell $27.8 million, or 29%, mainly from higher provision expense, which cut net interest income after provision by $21.6 million. Source

Asset quality and credit

  • Criticized loans and delinquencies fell: Criticized loans fell 13% from September 30 to $508.2 million, and total delinquent loans fell 38% to $206.8 million. Source
  • Multi-family charge-offs totaled $38.0 million: Charge-offs covered 12 relationships, mostly multi-family. About 75% of the charge-offs related to three relationships. Source
  • Lower property values drove provisions: Third- and fourth-quarter charge-offs and provision increases were largely tied to lower multi-family values after new appraisals. Source
  • Nonperforming loans down 34%: Nonperforming loans fell to $197.8 million, or 1.79% of loans receivable, after one multi-family relationship moved to other real estate owned. Source

“the real story is the progress we’ve made in strengthening credit quality and positioning the company for growth in 2026”

Michael F. Petrie, Chairman and CEO

Net interest margin and yields

  • Net interest margin rose 7 basis points: Net interest margin was 2.89%, up from 2.82%, as funding costs fell faster than asset yields and nonaccrual interest reversals declined. Source
  • Margin below year-earlier level: Against fourth quarter 2024, margin fell 10 basis points from 2.99%, mainly on lower asset yields and mix, with loan growth funded by capital and liquidity. Source
  • Note discount weighed on margin: Unamortized discount on the credit-linked notes further reduced the margin this quarter. Source
  • Loan yields fell 22 basis points: Average yield on loans and loans held for sale was 6.66%, down from 6.88% in the third quarter. Source
  • Certificate rates eased: Average certificate of deposit rate was 4.13%, down 89 basis points from a year earlier. Source

Noninterest income and fees

  • Noninterest income rose from third quarter: Noninterest income was $47.2 million, up $4.2 million from the third quarter, mainly on higher derivative fair value adjustments. Source
  • Gain on sale hit a company high: Multi-family gain on sale was $24.8 million in the quarter. Full-year gain on sale of loans was $85.4 million, up 37%. Source
  • Servicing fees fell 72%: Loan servicing fees fell 72% from a year earlier to $4.2 million, with a $179,000 negative servicing rights fair value adjustment. Source
  • Joint venture impairment recorded: A $4.1 million impairment on a joint venture investment was recorded in other income, against a $4.2 million positive derivative adjustment. Source

“The improvement in credit quality, combined with strong liquidity and operational performance, reinforces our confidence in the year ahead.”

Michael J. Dunlap, President and Chief Operating Officer

Noninterest expense and cost drivers

  • Expenses rose 8% from third quarter: Noninterest expense was $83.6 million, up $6.4 million, mainly on higher other expense and credit risk transfer premiums. Source
  • Expenses up 32% year over year: Against fourth quarter 2024, noninterest expense rose $20.4 million, or 32%, with higher salaries and collateral preservation costs among the drivers. Source
  • Salaries rose to support growth: Salaries and employee benefits rose $4.8 million, or 13%, from a year earlier, to support business growth. Source
  • Collateral preservation costs on nonperforming assets: Collateral preservation costs of $3.8 million covered taxes, insurance, property expenses and legal fees on nonperforming assets. Source

Deposits and funding mix

  • Total deposits fell 6% in quarter: Total deposits were $13.0 billion, down $893.5 million from September 30 on seasonal core deposit movement, and up 9% from a year earlier. Source
  • Core deposit share fell to 87%: Core deposits were $11.3 billion, or 87% of total deposits, down from 92% at the end of the third quarter. Source
  • Brokered deposits rose in quarter: Brokered deposits rose 54% to $1.8 billion in the quarter, but are down 31% from a year earlier. Source
  • Brokered certificates have short duration: Brokered certificates of deposit had a weighted average remaining duration of 59 days at year-end. Source
  • Interest-bearing checking balances grew: Average interest-bearing checking balances were $7.6 billion, up 37% from a year earlier. Source

Segment results and asset mix

  • Warehousing net income rose: Mortgage Warehousing net income was $35.0 million in the quarter, up from $23.6 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Multi-family net income up on quarter: Multi-family Mortgage Banking net income was $15.4 million, up from $12.1 million; full-year net income was $40.2 million, down from $55.9 million. Source
  • Banking earnings lower for year: Banking net income was $30.8 million in the quarter. Full-year Banking net income of $122.0 million compares with $210.1 million in 2024. Source
  • Warehousing share of assets grew: Mortgage Warehousing was 37% of total assets at year-end, up from 36% at September 30. Banking was 58%. Source

Capital, liquidity and book value

  • Tangible book value reached new high: Tangible book value per common share was $37.51, up 3% from $36.31 in the third quarter and 10% from a year earlier. Source
  • CET1 ratio at 9.9%: Common equity tier 1 ratio was 9.9% at December 31, shown as an estimate, versus 9.8% at September 30. Total capital ratio was 13.6%. Source
  • Unused borrowing capacity was $5.3 billion: Unused FHLB and Discount Window capacity was $5.3 billion, or 27% of total assets, down from $5.9 billion at September 30. Source
  • Liquid assets 60% of total assets: Liquid assets plus unused borrowing capacity totaled $11.6 billion, or 60% of total assets, down from 65% at September 30. Source
  • Lower tax provision from tax credits: The income tax provision was $6.0 million, down $3.8 million from the third quarter, mainly from using tax credits. Source

Loans and total assets

  • Loans grew 4% in quarter: Loans receivable reached $11.0 billion, net of allowance, up $436.2 million or 4% from September 30 and up 6% from year-end 2024. Source
  • Total assets reached $19.4 billion: Total assets were $19.4 billion, up $94.3 million from September 30 and up 3% from year-end 2024, on multi-family and warehouse balances. Source
  • Residential balances declined: Residential loan balances were lower than a year earlier, partly offsetting growth in multi-family and warehouse balances. Source
  • Held-to-maturity yields fell: Average yield on held-to-maturity securities was 5.65%, down 82 basis points from a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 January 2026

  • Growth focus into 2026: Dunlap said management remains focused on sustainable growth and long-term value for shareholders and communities. Source
  • Liquidity to support interest expense management: Management said the liquidity position enhances its ability to manage interest expense and asset levels in the future. Source
  • Criticized migration expected to subside: Management said the decline reinforces its view that the frequency of migration to criticized status would subside. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source2.89%, up from 2.82% in the third quarter
Net interest income Source$138.1 million
Loans and loan growth Source$11.0 billion loans receivable, up $436.2 million (4%) from September 30, 2025
Deposits and deposit costs Source$13.0 billion total deposits; certificate of deposit rate 4.13%
Provision for credit losses Source$27.8 million
Net charge-offs Source$38.0 million charge-offs; $76,000 recoveries
Nonperforming assets Source$258.0 million, 1.33% of total assets
CET1 ratio Source9.9% (estimate)
Efficiency ratio Source45.14%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Credit default swap premium expense rose $6.3 million year over year, adding to noninterest expense. Source
  • Operational: Charge-offs and provisions were also associated with an ongoing investigation of borrowers involved in suspected mortgage fraud. Source
  • Financial: Underperforming subordinated loans were identified, with losses either reserved in the allowance or charged off. Source
  • Financial: Credit protection on certain loans does not remove the requirement to carry an allowance for loans held for investment. Source
  • External: Servicing rights value moves with interest rates, rising in rising-rate periods and falling in falling-rate periods. 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.