Greetings, and welcome to the S&T Bancorp Fourth Quarter 2018 Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A brief question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded.

It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Mark Kochvar, Chief Financial Officer. Thank you, sir. You may begin..

Thank you very much. Good afternoon, everyone and thank you for participating in today's conference call. Before beginning the presentation, I want to take time to refer you to our statement about forward-looking statements and risk factors, which is on the screen in front of you.

This statement provides cautionary language required by the Securities and Exchange Commission for forward-looking statements that may be included in this presentation.

A copy of the fourth quarter and full year 2018 earnings release can be obtained by clicking on the press release link on your screen or by visiting our Investor Relations website at www.stbancorp.com. I would now like to introduce Todd Brice, S&T's Chief Executive Officer, who will provide an overview of S&T's results..

Well thank you, Mark, and good afternoon everyone. We're pleased to once again announce very solid quarter and full year results.

For the quarter ending 12/31/2018, we're reporting net income of $26.9 million or $0.77 per share versus $9.3 million or $0.27 per share in the fourth quarter 2017 and $30.9 million or $0.88 per share in the third quarter of 2018.

Remember, 2017 results were negatively impacted by a $13.4 million or 38% share adjustment as a result of the deferred tax remeasurement related to the Tax and Jobs Act. In addition, Q3 results were positively impacted by a onetime tax reduction of $2.9 million or $0.08 per share attributed to our pension contribution.

Operating metrics for the quarter were again, very, very strong with the return on asset of 1.5%. Return on equity of 11.5% and return on tangible equity of 16.82% and the efficiency ratio also improved to 50.64% versus 51.33% in Q3. For the full year, net income was a record $105.3 million or $3.01 per share, versus $73 million or $2.09 per share.

When you back out the effect of the deferred tax remeasurement last year, non-GAAP earnings were -- in 2017 were at $86.4 million or $2.47 per share. And again, for the full year, the operating metrics were very, very strong with a return on asset of 1.5%, return on equity of 11.6% and return on tangible common equity of 17.14%.

One of the highlights for the quarter was strong balance sheet growth in both loans and deposits. On a linked quarter basis, portfolio loans increased $139 million or 9.5% annualized. And the growth was spread out across all of our markets and segments of our portfolios.

Deposits again were another bright spot increasing $206 million, or 15% annualized and most of the growth was in the money market and CD categories, which increased $114.9 million and $102.6 million, respectively.

With the volatility of financial stocks in December, we did make the decision to repurchase shares under a previously authorized share buyback program. For the quarter, we repurchased 321,731 shares or slightly less than 1% of our total shares outstanding at an average price of $38.10 was total $12.3 million.

Tangible common equity at the end of the quarter was essentially flat at 9.28% versus 9.25% on a linked quarter basis and looking forward, we may repurchase additional shares at opportunistic times when market conditions dictate. Our target range for TCE is in the 8% to 9% range.

From a credit metric standpoint, the provision expense for the quarter was in line with previous guidance. Net charges for the year were 18 basis points and in line with our expectations. Non-performing assets did increase by $25.3 million and is attributed to three commercial credits that have experienced deteriorating financial trends.

Consistent with our past conservative practices we have obtained current asset valuations and have recognized the appropriate charges and reserves in Q4. Finally, our Board of Directors approved a $0.27 per share dividend payable on February 28, which is an increase of $0.05 or 22.7% over the same period last year.

I'm now going to turn the program over to David Antolik, our Chief Lending Officer and newly named President.

Dave and I have had the pleasure of working together for 29 years and in his capacity as our Chief Lending Officer for the past 15 years, he has been instrumental in leading our lending activities which had been a big contributor to our overall success. Dave will continue in his current capacity as Chief Lending Officer.

In his new role he is going to coordinate our new market-based approach by providing leadership to our newly appointed market presidents in our five markets. This is a significant shift from how we managed the company in the past. However, it's going to enhance the already great job that we do in building longstanding relationships.

Moving forward, our market presence will continue to promote the S&T brand in their respective markets to broaden our customer engagement. So, I'm excited about this new initiative and look forward to working with Dave for many years. I'm confident under Dave's leadership that it will only enhance the returns that we will deliver for shareholders.

And now I'd like to turn the program over to our new S&T Bank President Dave Antolik..

We added five mortgage loan originators during 2018 and we enter 2019 with an expanded pipeline versus the same period last year. A $95 million in commercial real estate growth, that was partially offset by a $27 million decline in commercial construction balances.

We did see a $28 million increase in unfunded commercial construction commitments during the quarter. C&I growth of $42 million. That is the result of solid customer acquisition activity. This is reflected in expansion of total commitments during the quarter. We also saw utilization rates increase from 40% to 41% quarter-over-quarter.

Our business banking division had its strongest quarter in recent history with approximately half of its net loan growth for the year coming in the fourth quarter. Additionally, payouts were approximately $45 million lower than levels experienced in the prior three quarters.

We continue to reinvest in order to grow the bank and during the quarter booked our first deals in Berks County, Pennsylvania, which is an extension of our Central Pennsylvania market.

We also look forward to relocating our Columbus LPO to a full-service office in late February and the opening of an additional branch location to serve the Akron market this spring.

Based on current and planned activity levels we anticipate mid-single digit loan growth for 2019 with seasonality and balanced growth favoring the second half of the year. And now Mark will provide some additional details on our financial results..

Right. Thanks, Dave. Net interest income improved by about $600,000 due to strong average balance sheet growth. The net interest margin rate declined by 2 basis points compared to the third quarter due to competitive pricing environment and also due to the strong growth which came in at a lower incremental spread compared to the NIM rate.

The increase in interest bearing liability rate at 18 basis points outpaced earning asset rate improvement of 10 basis points. We are now expecting a net interest margin compression of 1 to 2 basis points in the first quarter as deposit betas accelerate and balance sheet growth returns.

We are actively managing specials and exceptional pricing to find the right balance between growth and revenue. With a Fed pause and further balance sheet growth, we would expect similar NIM compression to continue into the second quarter followed by stabilization as we work through the deposit beta lags.

Both fees and expenses this quarter were impacted in the fourth quarter by the stock market decline. We have a deferred compensation plan that is accounted for as an offsetting asset and liability on the balance sheet, quarterly market value changes result in offsetting fees and expenses.

This is P&L neutral and typically is not large enough to show up in our results. However, due to significant market declines in the fourth quarter, we experienced an 856,000 decrease in both fees and expenses. Also, in fees, we had a $500,000 decline in the value of our equity holdings that are marked through the income statement.

On the expenses side overall levels remain well controlled with no other large notable variances. Going forward into 2019 we expect fee income to range between $11.5 million and $12.5 million per quarter and expenses to range between $37.5 million and $38.5 million per quarter. We expect our tax rate to settle in the 16.5% to 17% range in 2019.

Our risk-based capital ratios declined slightly in the fourth quarter as loan growth was strong and we did do some share repurchases. Thanks very much at this time I’d like to turn it over to the operator to provide instructions for asking questions..

Thank you. We will now be conducting a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] Thank you. Our first question comes from the line of Collyn Gilbert with KBW. Please proceed with your question..

Thanks. Good afternoon, guys. Just wanted to kind of talk about the loan growth. Obviously came in really strong in this quarter and David, it sounds like your outlook is pretty favorable going forward.

Can you just talk a little bit more about that? I mean again I know you gave some color, but I guess just in the wake of maybe a slowing economic environment, you seem to still feel optimistic about your ability to grow loans and just wanted to hear a little bit more about that?.

Yeah, I mean it was combination of factors that I mentioned. So we did see a utilization rate increase. And commitments in the C&I book increase as well. So good C&I activity particularly coming out of North Shore Group [ph]. And then from a geographic perspective, we saw growth in all of our markets.

Some of the additions to staff in all of our segments, the B2B space we added a few bankers and saw really, really strong results in that segment as well. And then with regard to consumer loans the hires that we made in the MLO space have paid off as well. It's pretty good growth across the Board and in all of our markets..

Okay, do you think -- I mean what would be your outlook as to what you guys could potentially deliver in terms of loan growth in 2019?.

Yeah, I think mid-single digit loan growth is doable. We did see it accelerate in the fourth quarter because payouts were down by about $45 million relative to the first three quarters. So we did have that wind at our back..

Okay. And then just in terms of the pricing that you’re seeing on these new originations and maybe on the pipeline, I know Mark you had indicated the spreads was coming on lesser than your current NIM rate.

But thinking that’s more deposit based driven than it is asset yield driven, so just curious as to what you’re seeing on kind of new loan origination yields..

Yes, so overall new loan in the fourth quarter on the commercial side was about 5.16%, which is up about 20 basis points from the prior couple quarters. So, we have seen some decent loan pricing..

Okay, that’s helpful. And then just your new, for the new incremental deposits that are coming in the door, Mark what are you having to pay on the range on….

I'm sorry, on CD side, the new ones are coming at around 2.5 on average. We did see some growth in our money market account, that is indexed to the Fed funds rates, at that 188 rate, but we’re also seeing some repricing within the book as some of the lower prices deposits come in for a better deal basically..

Yes. Okay, okay.

And then just lastly, can you just give a little bit of color as to kind of the history there on the three credits that that went in to the nonperforming book this quarter, and when they were originated, and then also kind of what you think the resolution timeline and costs might be to those?.

So, they're all three kind of one offs. So one's a CRE, one was a construction and one's C&I credit.

As far as the -- I mean they -- we've had them on the books for probably three plus years Collyn, and then the resolution, probably late second quarter, somewhere near maybe might bleed in over into third at some, but you know in the past, we tried and worked through them as quickly as we can and come to a favorable resolution, like again, we have taken the -- we had current valuations done in Q4.

And consistent with our past practices we've taken the marks off the levels that we were carrying them at..

Yeah, just in support [ph] and understand. So these were three really distinct and different situations in different pieces of our portfolio. So, there's nothing pointing here to anything that is inherent in any certain portion of our portfolio right now..

Okay. Okay. That's helpful. Okay, I'll leave it there. Thanks, guys..

Thanks, Collyn..

Our next question comes from the line of Matthew Breese with Piper Jaffray. Please proceed with your question..

Good afternoon..

Hi, Matt..

Maybe just following up on the margin question. You did note that the incremental spread was coming in.

And so I was just curious to what extent it is the first quarter spread shaking out relative to 4Q? What's that compression look like?.

My best estimate right now is one to two basis points. That's assuming that the curve stays about where it is, we've had some additional flattening here in last couple days. So the last model runs were before that. Doesn't have a huge impact on us, but we're not factoring in any additional Fed changes really for the rest of the year.

So absent all that and with the growth that we have that we anticipate I expect couple of basis points..

Understood. Okay. Okay. And then and then maybe turning to loan growth, I know you mentioned that prepaid slowed down a bit. Is your expectation that they pick up again to get you down to a lower annual page for 2019? Or was there some sort of rush towards the end of the year to close deals until... .

There wasn't at the end of 2017. So relative to the prior year we saw a significant rush. 2018, they slowed but I would not anticipate the same low level that we saw in the fourth quarter as we moved in to 2019.

I think there's still some sense among the customer base that they need to react particularly in the CRA -- E space to move to a permanent long-term fix rate deal. Although we did see nice activity from a swap perspective that drove -- help drive better fee income in Q4, where we were able to retain some clients and provide them with fixed rates..

Got it. Okay. And then just on the compensation front.

I'm assuming that we should add-back that nearly a $1 million or $800,000 to salaries and benefits for a good run rate in first quarter?.

Yes. That's correct..

Okay. Okay.

And then lastly just on the three credits, were those being those syndicated loans or just yours?.

They were ours..

Okay.

And then geographically, how are they spread out?.

They are across our - two in one market and one's in - two in one specific market and ones in our FPA [ph] market..

Okay.

And are there personal guarantees or what are the sources of repayment?.

Yes.

So, when you have real estate and so you have some leases and -- Pat you want to provide more color?.

So obviously the one structure you're going to have some real estate. There's guarantees on those to a certain extent and more C&I related credit obviously we have assets that we're looking at that are [ph] ongoing concern. And on the real estate one obviously there's value in leases and any new lease up activity..

Understood. And how are they performing post quarter end.

Is there -- got better or worse or the same?.

Yeah, I don't think any better or any worse..

Understood. Okay. Okay.

I guess the last one is just in regard to M&A chatter activity interest, all the above?.

Yeah. We like where the valuations of the stock are. So it makes our currency strong, but it's been kind of quiet. I mean, to be honest with you, there haven't been not been a lot of books that we've seen last year. There was one that was a smaller one that we just weren't interested in.

But we're still having conversations with potential targets and folks that we would have an interest in. It's just, I think, overall earnings are good right now for financials and you'll see a lot of movement on people willing to -- rushing to sell their companies..

Okay. All right. Understood. That's all I had. Thanks for taking my questions..

Thanks, Matt..

Our next question comes from line of Russell Gunther with the D.A. Davidson. Please proceed with your question..

Good afternoon guys..

Hey Russell..

Hey, I appreciate your comments on the loan growth strength this quarter being broad based, both within the verticals and geographically.

Could you maybe share what's your outlook for 2019 at the mid-single digits? How would you expect that mix to shake out from a loan vertical perspective, as well as any particular geographies that are a more of a source of strength for you right now?.

Yeah, I mean, in terms of geographies, Central Pennsylvania, and central Ohio certainly drive a lot of the incremental growth. They're newer markets, relatively speaking, but they are markets that we have been in for three or five years and we have very strong teams and we're adding to our banker base.

So as I mentioned in Central Pennsylvania, we booked our first deals in Berks County which is a new market for us. And I anticipate good activity as we move eastward. And central Ohio has just been a strong platform for us. And Central Ohio and Central PA, we've gotten a pretty good mix of CRE and C&I.

And with the direction of our new C&I manager, Brian Dobis, I anticipate that we'll continue to see pretty decent growth in the C&I space. So yeah, we anticipate 60-40, kind of split between CRE, and C&I as we move forward.

The other bright spot as I mentioned was our business banking segments with where we've seen, good solid growth and continue to see good opportunities as well..

Great. Thanks for the color there, very helpful. And then last one for me. Circling back to Matt's question on the M&A front, you mentioned it had been quiet talking to folks who are interested in.

Could you just give us a reminder as to sort of an ideal partner for you right now?.

Yeah, so probably, company in the $500 million to $700 million range on the low end and maybe up to a couple billion dollars on the upper end and in assets. As you know, Ohio certainly would have some appeal with the options that we have out there. Certainly, some certainly some candidates in Western Pennsylvania would have a lot of appeal.

And maybe some fill-in opportunities out in Central Pennsylvania, are kind of that geographic areas we would look at..

Great. Thanks, guys, for taking my questions. That's it for me..

Okay. Russell..

Our next question comes from a line of Daniel Cardenas with Raymond James. Please proceed with your question..

Hey. Good afternoon guys..

Hi, Dan. .

Not too bad. I think it's going to warm up to zero by the end of the day. Maybe a little bit of color on deposit growth, kind of how you see that shaping up throughout 2019.

Do you think it is a goal to kind of keep up with loan growth expected during the year or is that going to lag a little bit?.

Our goal is probably that deposits will be a little bit behind the loan side but not too far. We continue to probably see most of the net growth in money markets and CDs, but also on the -- especially on the consumer side some DA grows from some program or targeted programs that we've been running..

And do you see any benefit from the shale deposits? Is that helping out any?.

Not to any great degree for us..

Okay, fair enough. And then how should I be thinking about charge-off levels for you guys for 2019.

I mean you've been -- they've been fairly well behaved, I think overall for the last couple of years but are you beginning to see kind of any cracks in the foundation or anything that's giving you pause for concern right now as it applies to credit quality..

This is Pat. No, we're not seeing any or feeling any cracks as you asked. And you know I guess the guidance would be looking forward we're looking at about the same basis point level that we've experienced over the last couple of years..

So kind of in that 20 basis points, little bit less than that range..

18, 20 range..

Great. And then I think on the three credits that popped up, the construction credit was that kind of single family home related or was that multifamily.

What kind of construction lending was that?.

Yes. No, it did not have anything to do with any type of residential, it was commercial..

Commercial. Okay. And collateral levels you feel comfortable minimal loss expectations on these three credits.

Is that your assumption?.

Yeah, again on these three credits we went through our full impairment analysis and we put the appropriate charges and also with the reserves on them as well. So as of today we're real comfortable, where we are..

Okay, great. All my questions have been asked and answered. Thanks guys..

All right, Dan..

Thank you..

Thank you. We have no further questions at this time, I would now like to turn the floor back over to management for closing comments..

I just want to thank everybody for participating in today's conference call and Mark and Dave and I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this quarter's results and look forward to hearing from you at our next conference call. Have a great day..

Ladies and gentlemen, this does conclude today's teleconference. You may disconnect your lines at this time. Thank you for your participation and have a wonderful day..