Carolina Financial Corporation Reports Results for First Quarter of 2015

CHARLESTON, S.C., April 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Carolina Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: CARO), today announced that net income for the first quarter of 2015 increased approximately 55% to $3.0 million, or $0.38 per share diluted, as compared to $1.9 million, or $0.25 per share diluted, for the first quarter of 2014.

"We are very excited to report excellent first quarter operating results.  This is our first full quarter of reporting results that include our recent 13 branch acquisition, and we are very pleased with their performance.  In addition, Crescent Mortgage Company, our wholesale mortgage company, reported significantly improved results," stated Jerry Rexroad, Chief Executive Officer.

Financial Highlights

-- The Company reported net income of $3.0 million, or $0.38 per share diluted, for the first quarter of 2015, as compared to net income of $1.9 million, or $0.25 per share diluted, for the first quarter of 2014.  The increase in net income from period to period is attributable to the significant growth in loans and securities, increased checking fees, and improved results from the Company's retail mortgage team as well as Crescent Mortgage Company.

-- The Bank's net income (excluding Crescent Mortgage Company) was $2.5 million for the first quarter of 2015 as compared to net income of $1.7 million for the first quarter of 2014. 

-- Net income for the Bank's wholly-owned subsidiary, Crescent Mortgage Company, was $711,000 for the first quarter of 2015 as compared to net income of $440,000 for the first quarter of 2014.  Loans originated for the first quarters of 2015 and 2014 were $222.6 million and $206.2 million, respectively.  In addition to the increase in loan originations, net gain on sale of loans improved 47.8% as a result of margin expansion during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 when compared to the same period in 2014.

-- The Company reported book value per common share of $12.51 as of March 31, 2015 as compared to $12.02 as of December 31, 2014. 

-- The Bank continues to experience significant growth in core deposits (checking, savings and money market) which increased $17.5 million during the first quarter of 2015.  The number of Bank checking accounts increased at an annualized rate of 10.4% since December 31, 2014.  As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, core deposits comprised approximately 63% of total deposits.

-- Loans receivable (before allowance for loan losses) grew at an annualized rate of 13.8% to $803.9 million at March 31, 2015 compared to $777.2 million at December 31, 2014.

-- The Bank's non-performing assets were 0.46% of total assets at March 31, 2015, compared to 0.47% at December 31, 2014.

-- At March 31, 2015, the Company's regulatory capital ratios exceeded the minimum levels currently required.  Stockholders' equity totaled $97.6 million as of March 31, 2015 compared to $93.7 million at December 31, 2014.  The implementation of Basel III capital framework did not have a material effect on the Company's regulatory capital ratios.

Stocks Splits

-- On January 15, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a two-for-one stock split to stockholders of record dated February 10, 2014, issued on February 28, 2014.

-- On October 15, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a two-for-one stock split to stockholders of record as of October 31, 2014, issued on November 14, 2014.

-- All share, earnings per share, and per share data have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this stock split for all periods presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

About Carolina Financial Corporation

Carolina Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: CARO) is the holding company of CresCom Bank, which also owns and operates Atlanta-based Crescent Mortgage Company.  As of March 31, 2015, Carolina Financial Corporation had approximately $1.3 billion in total assets and Crescent Mortgage Company originated loans in 45 states, and partnered with approximately 2,000 community banks, credit unions and mortgage brokers.  In 2014, Carolina Financial was added to the Nasdaq Community Bank Index (ABAQ) by the American Bankers Association.  It also ranked #6 on American Banker's 2014 list of "Top 200 Community Banks and Thrifts as Ranked by Three-Year Average ROE."  During 2014, CresCom Bank completed two branch acquisitions and grew from 11 to 26 branch locations, in addition to adding loan production offices in Greenville, S.C., and Wilmington, N.C.  To learn more about CresCom Bank, visit www.haveanicebank.com or call 1-855-CRESCOM.  

Addendum to News Release – Use of Certain Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP").  Such statements should be read along with the accompanying tables, which provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures.  This news release and the accompanying tables discuss financial measures, such as core deposits, tangible book value, and net income related to segments of the Company, which are non-GAAP measures.  We believe that such non-GAAP measures are useful because they enhance the ability of investors and management to evaluate and compare the Company's operating results from period to period in a meaningful manner.  Non-GAAP measures should not be considered as an alternative to any measure of performance as promulgated under GAAP.  Investors should consider the Company's performance and financial condition as reported under GAAP and all other relevant information when assessing the performance or financial condition of the company.  Non-GAAP measures have limitations as analytical tools, and investors should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the company's results or financial condition as reported under GAAP.

Please refer to the Non-GAAP reconciliation table later in this release for additional information.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to future plans and expectations, and are thus prospective.  Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements with respect to our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts, and other statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," and "projects," as well as similar expressions.  Such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate.  Therefore, we can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized.  The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by the Company or any person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: (1) competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions may increase significantly and have an effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; (2) the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations may be different than expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in the credit quality or a reduced demand for credit, including the resultant effect on the company's loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses; (3) the rate of delinquencies and amounts of charge-offs, the level of allowance for loan loss, the rates of loan growth, or adverse changes in asset quality in our loan portfolio, which may result in increased credit risk-related losses and expenses; (4) the risk that the preliminary financial information reported herein and our current preliminary analysis will be different when our review is finalized; (5) changes in the U.S. legal and regulatory framework including, but not limited to, the Dodd-Frank Act and regulations adopted thereunder; and (6) adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets (including changes in interest rate conditions) could have a negative impact on the Company.  Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our reports (such as our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).  All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the company or any person acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements above.  We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

SOURCE Carolina Financial Corporation

Related Links

http://www.haveanicebank.com

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