Big name German auto builders, Volkswagen AG and Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz, have reported drops in recent local market sales and focus on the Chinese market to regain composure.
The companies reported to have sold significantly larger numbers in China this year compared to 2009. Audi reported to have sold 53 percent more cars in July whilst Mercedes-Benz reported up to 300 percent more export sales this year compared to last. BMW also increased its exports to China by 82 percent.
This is all on the contrary to the manufacturers reporting drops in sales in their home country. According to Automotive News, Audi and Mercedes-Benz sold fewer cars in Germany the past month compared to the same period last year. Although, BMW has reported a slight increase in local sales by 4 percent.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
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Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Kearny Financial Corp. Reports Second Quarter 2010 Operating Results
Kearny Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: KRNY) (the "Company"), the holding company of Kearny Federal Savings Bank (the "Bank"), today reported net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 of $1,841,000, or $0.03 per diluted share. The results represent an increase of $746,000 compared to net income of $1,095,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and a decrease of $397,000 compared to net income of $2,238,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2008.
The Company attributes the increase in net income between linked quarters to two primary factors, specifically an increase in net interest income and, to a lesser extent, a decrease in the provision for loan loss. Partially offsetting these factors was an increase in noninterest expense. In total, these factors resulted in an overall increase in pre-tax income and the provision for income taxes.
The decrease in net income between the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 resulted primarily from increases in the provision for loan loss and noninterest expense which were exacerbated by a decrease in noninterest income. Partially offsetting these factors was an increase in net interest income. In total, these factors resulted in an overall decrease in pre-tax income and the provision for income taxes.
The Company reported net income of $2,936,000 or $0.04 per diluted share for the six months ended December 31, 2009 representing a decrease of $1,038,000 compared to net income of $3,974,000 or $0.06 per diluted share for the six months ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in net income for the six-month period was attributable to the same factors as the year-over-year decline in quarterly net income.
Kearny Federal Savings Bank operates from its administrative headquarters in Fairfield, New Jersey, and 27 retail branch offices located in Bergen, Hudson, Passaic, Morris, Middlesex, Essex, Union and Ocean Counties, New Jersey. At December 31, 2009, Kearny Financial Corp. had total assets of $2.20 billion which included net loans receivable of $1.02 billion and total investment securities, including mortgage-backed and non-mortgage-backed securities, of $815.9 million. As of that same date, deposits and borrowings totaled $1.50 billion and $210.0 million, respectively, while stockholders' equity totaled $480.5 million or 21.8% of total assets.
The following is an overview of the Company's financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2009:
Net Interest Income
Net interest income during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 was $14.4 million, an increase of $1.1 million compared to net interest income of $13.3 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and an increase of $723,000 compared to net interest income of $13.7 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The Company's net interest margin increased by 17 basis points to 2.91% for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 from 2.74% during the prior linked quarter ended September 30, 2009. The net interest margin was unchanged from 2.91% for the same quarter one year earlier ended December 31, 2008.
The increase in net interest income and net interest margin between linked quarters resulted from an increase in interest income augmented by a concurrent decrease in interest expense. The increase in interest income was primarily attributable to an increase in the average balance of investment securities offset by a reduction in the average balance of comparatively lower yielding other interest-earning assets. This change was primarily attributable to the Company reinvesting a portion of its excess liquidity into investment securities near the end of the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009. The lower interest expense during the current quarter reflected a continued decline in the cost of deposits resulting primarily from the continued downward repricing of certificates of deposit.
The increase in net interest income for the year-over-year comparative quarters ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 resulted from a decrease in interest expense that outpaced a concurrent decrease in interest income. The decrease in interest expense was generally attributable to the same factors noted in the linked period comparison. However, the impact of the downward repricing of certificates was partially offset by growth in the average balance of all interest-bearing deposit types. The decrease in interest income was largely attributable to declines in the overall yield on most interest-earning asset types. That decline was particularly highlighted in the reduction in the yield on other interest-earning assets which reflected the sharp decline in short term, market interest rates to historical lows. The impact of the reduction in the yield on the Company's interest-earning assets was partially offset by the overall growth in their average balances.
More specifically, total interest income increased $499,000 to $23.7 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to $23.2 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009. However, total interest income decreased $1.2 million compared to $24.9 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. Total interest expense decreased $640,000 to $9.3 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to $9.9 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and decreased $1.9 million compared to $11.2 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008.
Interest income from loans decreased $140,000 to $14.7 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to $14.9 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009. By comparison, interest income on loans decreased $706,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to $15.4 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in interest income on loans between both comparative periods resulted from decreases in both the average balance and average yield of the related assets. During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, average loans receivable were $1.04 billion with an average yield of 5.65%. By comparison, during the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, average loans receivable were $1.05 billion and $1.09 billion, respectively; with average yields of 5.67% and 5.69%, respectively.
The Bank continued to experience a reduction in the aggregate outstanding balance of residential first mortgages, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, whose combined average outstanding balances declined $12.3 million to $802.4 million between the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2009 due primarily to continuing depressed residential loan demand. By contrast, average commercial loans, including non-residential mortgages, multi-family mortgages and commercial business loans increased $3.6 million in aggregate to $221.1 million over the same period reflecting the Company's long-term expanded strategic emphasis in commercial lending coupled with a continuing favorable pricing environment for these loans.
Interest income from mortgage-backed securities increased $260,000 to $8.1 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 from $7.8 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009. However, interest income from mortgage-backed securities decreased $809,000 compared to $8.9 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The increase in interest income between linked periods was primarily attributable to an increase in the average balance of mortgage-backed securities that was partially offset by a decline in their average yield. By contrast, the decline in interest income between the year-over-year comparative quarters resulted from a decrease in the average yield of mortgage-backed securities that was only partially offset by a smaller comparative increase in their average balance. During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, average mortgage-backed securities, excluding net unrealized gains, were $706.1 million with an average yield of 4.58%. By comparison, during the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the average balance of mortgage-backed securities was $655.8 million and $697.9 million, respectively; with average yields of 4.78% and 5.10%, respectively. The average yield has been decreasing due to the repayment of higher coupon mortgage loans underlying the securities coupled with the effect of the Company reinvesting incoming cash flows into securities whose comparatively lower yields reflect the overall decline in market interest rates.
Interest income from non-mortgage-backed securities increased $394,000 to $612,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to $218,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and increased $324,000 from $288,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The increase in interest income between the linked periods resulted from increases in both the average balance and average yield of non-mortgage-backed securities. By comparison, the increase in interest income between the year-over-year comparative quarters resulted from an increase in the average balance of non-mortgage-backed securities that was partially offset by a decrease in their average yields. During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, average non-mortgage-backed securities totaled $71.6 million with an average yield of 3.42%. By comparison, during the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the average balance of non-mortgage-backed securities totaled $32.2 million and $32.1 million, respectively, with average yields of 2.71% and 3.58%, respectively.
Interest income from other interest-earning assets, comprised primarily of interest-earning cash and cash equivalents, decreased $15,000 to $215,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to $230,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and decreased $71,000 from $286,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in interest income between the linked periods resulted from a decrease in the average balance of other interest-earning assets that was partially offset by an increase in their average yield. By comparison, the decrease in interest income between the year-over-year comparative quarters resulted from a decline in the average yield on other interest-earning assets that was partially offset by an increase in their average balance. During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, the average balance of other interest-earning assets totaled $159.8 million with an average yield of 0.54%. By comparison, during the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the average balance of other interest-earning assets totaled $196.9 million and $66.0 million, respectively, with average yields of 0.47% and 1.73%, respectively.
Interest expense attributed to deposits decreased $640,000 to $7.2 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 from $7.8 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and decreased $1.9 million compared to $9.1 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The decline in interest expense between both sets of comparative quarters resulted from decreases in the average cost of interest-bearing deposits, partially offset by comparative increases in their average balances. Management continued to adhere to a disciplined deposit pricing policy during the reporting period. Nevertheless, the Bank continued to experience deposit inflows between the linked quarters. During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, average interest-bearing deposits were $1.42 billion with an average cost of 2.02%. By comparison, during the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, average interest-bearing deposits were $1.39 billion and $1.29 billion, respectively, with average costs of 2.25% and 2.81%, respectively. The decrease in the cost of deposits over the comparative quarters was attributed primarily to decreases in the average cost of certificates of deposit, which decreased to 2.53% during the current quarter compared to 2.86% during the linked quarter and 3.65% during the same quarter one year earlier.
Finally, interest expense attributed to Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") advances was unchanged at $2.1 million during the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and September 30, 2009 and decreased $101,000 compared to $2.2 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. During both quarters ended December 31, 2009 and September 30, 2009, the average balance of FHLB advances were $210.0 million with an average cost of 3.95%. By comparison, during the quarter ended December 31, 2008, average advances were $217.7 million with average cost of 4.00%.
Provision for Loan Losses
The provision for loan losses totaled $605,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to provisions of $858,000 for the linked quarter ended September 30, 2009 and $109,000 for the prior year quarter ended December 31, 2008. The provision in the current period continued to reflect required net increases to the allowance for additional estimated specific losses on several impaired mortgage loans on residential properties located in New Jersey. All such loans were originated by Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. ("Countrywide") and purchased by the Bank during prior years. The provision also reflected changes to balances of general valuation allowances attributable to the application of historical and environmental loss factors to the remaining non-impaired portion of the loan portfolio in accordance with the Company's allowance for loan loss calculation methodology. Further discussion of the allowance for loan losses is presented in the Loans and Credit Quality section below.
Noninterest Income
Noninterest income attributed to fees, service charges and miscellaneous income, including REO operations, decreased $48,000 to $570,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 from $618,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 while decreasing $166,000 from $736,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in noninterest income between the linked periods was attributable, in part, to a decline in deposit and branch-related fees and charges coupled with net REO expenses recorded during the current quarter with no such expenses recognized during the earlier comparative quarter. The decline in noninterest income between the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was partly attributable to those same factors. However, the year-over-year reductions in those same categories were exacerbated by comparative declines in income from the Bank's official check clearing agent. The clearing agent is no longer able to compensate its clients at a meaningful level for use of the float on official checks due to significant losses and reduced yields in its investment securities portfolio. Additionally, miscellaneous income during the earlier comparative quarter ended December 31, 2008 included the recognition of a $132,000 gain on sale of deposits with no such income recognized during the current quarter.
Net losses on investment securities recorded against noninterest income during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 totaled $55,000 and were attributable to a non-cash, pre-tax charge to earnings resulting from additional other-than-temporary impairment in the value of certain non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations in the Bank's held to maturity securities portfolio. These securities were originally acquired upon the in-kind redemption of the Bank's interest in the AMF Ultra Short Mortgage Fund ("AMF Fund") during the quarter ended September 30, 2008. During the prior linked quarter ended September 30, 2009, the Company recorded net losses attributable to additional other-than-temporary impairments of value totaling $98,000 attributable to these same securities. No other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities were recorded during the quarter ended December 31, 2008.
Noninterest Expense
Noninterest expense increased $154,000 to $11.2 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 from $11.0 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and increased $618,000 compared to $10.6 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The increase in noninterest expense between linked quarters was largely attributable to an increase in federal deposit insurance premium expense with lesser increases and decreases in other noninterest expense categories combining to partially offset the increase in deposit insurance expense.
Increases in federal deposit insurance premium expense also contributed to the increase in noninterest expense between the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 which also reflected increases in compensation expense. As above, lesser increases and decreases in other noninterest expense categories combined to partially offset the year-over-year increases in deposit insurance and compensation expenses.
More specifically, federal deposit insurance premium expense increased $236,000 to $393,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 from $157,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2009. The increase in deposit insurance expense was attributable, in part, to an increase in the assessment rate charged by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("the FDIC") on the balance of insurable deposits held by the Bank. However, the comparative increase in FDIC insurance premium expense between the linked periods also reflects the absence in the current period of certain adjustments to the related expense accrual that had reduced the expense during the earlier comparative period to reflect the revised premium assessment calculation methodology.
Federal deposit insurance premium expense increased by approximately $281,000 between the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008. As noted above, the increase was attributable to the comparative increase in the regular quarterly assessment rate coupled with the effect of the year-over-year growth in the balance of insurable deposits held by the Bank.
Employee compensation-related expenses increased by approximately $452,000 between the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and 2008. Such increases reflected additional costs associated with staff augmentation attributable, in part, to branch expansion. More generally, however, the increase in expense also reflects the increase in compensation-related costs attributable to annual increases in wages and salaries of existing staff and overall increases to benefits costs including employee health care benefits. The increase in year-over-year compensation expense also reflects an actuarial adjustment that reduced pension expense in the earlier comparative period for which a lesser reduction in expense was recorded during the current period.
Provision for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 was $1.3 million compared to $803,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and $1.5 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The change in income taxes between both sets of comparative quarters was primarily attributable to the comparative increase or decrease in pre-tax income. The Company's effective tax rates during the quarters ended December 31, 2009, September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were 41.2%, 42.3% and 40.2%, respectively.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, which consist primarily of interest-earning deposits in other banks, increased $80.9 million to $202.5 million at December 31, 2009 from $121.6 million at September 30, 2009. Several factors contributed to the reported increase in short term, liquid assets including continued net deposit growth, despite the continuation of the Bank's disciplined approach to deposit pricing during the quarter. Cash inflows from deposit growth were augmented by net reductions in the loan and mortgage-backed securities portfolio as asset repayments outpaced new originations and purchases. Notwithstanding its improvement during the current quarter, the Company's net interest margin has generally come under pressure during recent quarters as the growing balance of interest-earning deposits reflects the decline in short term market interest rates to historical lows of 0.00% to 0.25%.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the balance of the Company's cash and cash equivalents has decreased approximately $9.0 million from $211.5 million at the end of the prior year ended June 30, 2009.
Loans and Credit Quality
Loans receivable, excluding deferred fees and costs and the allowance for loan losses, decreased $30.5 million to $1.03 billion at December 31, 2009 from $1.06 billion at September 30, 2009. The reductions in the loan portfolio continue to reflect diminished loan demand by qualified borrowers coupled with aggressive pricing in the marketplace for certain loan products. These factors impacted the Company's one-to-four family mortgage loan portfolio, in particular, which declined $31.4 million to $785.2 million at December 31, 2009 from $816.6 million at September 30, 2009. Aggregate growth in the remaining loan categories, including commercial real estate, construction, business and consumer loans, totaled $811,000. Loan originations for the three months ended December 31, 2009 decreased $27.9 million to $31.3 million from $59.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 while purchases of loans from other originators declined from $20.7 million to zero for the same comparative periods.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the balance of the Company's loans receivable, excluding deferred fees and costs and the allowance for loan losses, has decreased approximately $16.3 million from $1.04 billion at the end of the prior year ended June 30, 2009.
At December 31, 2009, non-performing assets totaled $19.8 million or 0.90% of total assets and comprised 51 nonperforming loans totaling $19.4 million, or 1.88% of total loans, plus three real estate owned ("REO") properties totaling $390,000. By comparison, at September 30, 2009 non-performing assets totaled $20.5 million or 0.95% of total assets and comprised 56 nonperforming loans totaling $19.9 million, or 1.87% of total loans, plus four REO properties totaling $652,000.
Loans reported as nonperforming loans at December 31, 2009 include 25 mortgage loans totaling $11.4 million on residential properties located in New Jersey originally acquired from Countrywide. At December 31, 2009, the Bank owned a total of 192 residential mortgage loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of $97.4 million that were originally acquired from Countrywide and continue to be serviced by their acquirer, Bank of America through its subsidiary, BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP. Of these loans, an additional 11 loans totaling $4.4 million are 30-89 days past due and are in various stages of collection.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the balance of the Company's nonperforming assets has increased approximately $6.5 million from $13.3 million or 0.62% of total assets at the end of the prior year ended June 30, 2009.
Charge offs, net of recoveries, against the allowance for loan loss during the current quarter ended December 31, 2009 totaled $41,000 and related to writing down the value of one loan to the fair value of its associated real estate collateral at foreclosure. By comparison, charge-offs against the allowance for loan loss during the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009 totaled $482,000 including $384,000 in charge offs to write down the value of two loans at foreclosure and $98,000 in charge offs associated with two troubled debt restructurings. Recoveries of prior charge offs were negligible during the two linked quarters. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans outstanding was 0.72% at December 31, 2009 compared with 0.64% at September 30, 2009 reflecting total allowances of $7.4 million and $6.8 million, respectively, at the close of each quarter.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the balance of the Company's allowance for loan losses has increased by $940,000 from $6.4 million or 0.62% of total loans at June 30, 2009.
Securities and Mortgage-backed Securities
Mortgage-backed securities available for sale, all of which are government agency pass-through certificates, decreased $31.5 million to $717.7 million at December 31, 2009 from $749.2 million at September 30, 2009. The net decrease primarily resulted from continued principal repayments totaling approximately $36.7 million coupled with reductions in the unrealized gain within the portfolio of $3.4 million to $20.9 million at December 31, 2009. Partially offsetting these decreases in the portfolio were purchases of mortgage-backed securities totaling $8.6 million all of which represent issues eligible to meet the Community Reinvestment Act investment test. Based on its evaluation, management concluded that no other-than-temporary impairment was present within this segment of the investment portfolio at December 31, 2009.
Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity decreased $134,000 to $3.7 million at December 31, 2009 from $3.8 million at September 30, 2009. The reduction was primarily attributable to principal repayments net of adjustments for other-than-temporary impairments in the value of certain non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations in the portfolio. Such adjustments reflect additions to valuations for newly identified other-than-temporary impairments offset by the accretion of previously recognized impairments. At December 31, 2009, an analysis of the non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations resulted in the conclusion that securities having an aggregate amortized cost, adjusted for prior impairment charges, of $579,000 were other-than-temporarily impaired by an additional $65,000. Of this impairment, $55,000 was determined to be credit-related, and therefore recognized through earnings, while $10,000 was determined to be noncredit-related and therefore recognized through other comprehensive income. At December 31, 2009, the Company's non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations have a total book value, net of other-than-temporary impairment charges, of $2.0 million and a total fair value of $1.8 million with the difference attributed to temporary impairments of value. The remainder of the held to maturity mortgage-backed securities portfolio is comprised of government agency mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations that were not other-than-temporarily impaired based upon management's evaluation at December 31, 2009.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the combined balances of the Company's mortgage-backed securities portfolios totaling $721.3 million at December 31, 2009 have increased approximately $33.2 million from $688.1 million at the end of the prior year ended June 30, 2009.
Non-mortgage-backed securities classified as available for sale decreased by $92,000 to $29.5 million at December 31, 2009 from $29.6 million at September 30, 2009. The decrease in the portfolio was primarily attributable to principal repayments partially offset by an increase in the fair value of the portfolio. The net unrealized loss for this portfolio was reduced to $1.7 million at December 31, 2009 from $1.9 million as of September 30, 2009. Non-mortgage-backed securities classified as held to maturity increased by $15.0 million to $65.0 million at December 31, 2009 from $50.0 million at September 30, 2009. The increase in the portfolio was fully attributable to the purchase of agency debentures during the quarter. Based on its evaluation, management has concluded that no other-than-temporary impairment is present within either segment of the non-mortgage backed securities portfolio at December 31, 2009.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the combined balances of the Company's non-mortgage-backed securities portfolios totaling $94.5 million at December 31, 2009 have increased approximately $66.5 million from $28.0 million at the end of the prior year ended June 30, 2009.
Deposits
Deposits increased $41.0 million to $1.50 billion at December 31, 2009 from $1.46 billion at September 30, 2009. As noted earlier, management continued to adhere to a disciplined deposit pricing policy during the reporting period. Nevertheless, growth was reported across all categories of deposits. For the quarter ended December 31, 2009, interest-bearing demand deposits increased $24.9 million to $199.3 million, savings deposits increased $11.3 million to $316.1 million, certificates of deposit increased $4.5 million to $925.6 million and non-interest-bearing demand deposits increased $329,000 to $56.0 million. In general, depositors have been lengthening the maturities of their certificates of deposit, particularly by transferring maturing accounts to 24-month and 36-month certificates of deposit in order to improve the yield.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the balance of the Company's deposits has increased approximately $75.8 million from $1.42 billion at the end of the prior year ended June 30, 2009. The growth in deposits during the six months ended December 31, 2009 included an increase in the balance of non-interest-bearing deposits totaling $4.8 million coupled with an increase in interest-bearing deposits of $71.0 million.
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances
As a result of the Bank's strong liquidity position, there were no additional borrowings drawn during the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and September 30, 2009. Moreover, no borrowings matured during those same periods. Consequently, the balance of FHLB advances remained unchanged at $210.0 million at December 31, 2009 from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009 and the prior fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.
Stockholders' Equity and Capital Management
During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, stockholders' equity decreased $1.5 million to $480.5 million from $482.0 million at September 30, 2009. The decrease was attributable, in part, to a $1.8 million decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income resulting primarily from a decline in the unrealized gain on the available for sale securities portfolios. Also contributing to the decrease in stockholders' equity was a $1.8 million increase in treasury stock resulting from the repurchase of 176,700 shares of the Company's common stock as well as a $1.1 million cash dividend to shareholders. Partially offsetting these reductions were increases to stockholders' equity including net income of $1.8 million, increases to paid-in-capital totaling $1.0 million attributable primarily to benefit plan related adjustments and $364,000 of Employee Stock Ownership Plan shares earned.
At December 31 2009, the Company's total equity to asset ratio was 21.8% while the equity to assets ratio of the Bank was 20.9%. As of that same date, the Bank's ratio of tangible equity to tangible assets was 17.45% while its Tier 1 (Core) Capital and Total (Risk-based) Capital to risk-weighted assets were 37.91% and 38.39%, respectively, far in excess of the 6.0% and 10.0% levels, respectively, required by the Office of Thrift Supervision to be classified "well-capitalized" under regulatory guidelines.
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to factors discussed in documents filed by Kearny Financial Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. The Company does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.
KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data, Unaudited)
At
----------- ----------- -----------
December 31, September 30, June 30,
2009 2009 2009
----------- ----------- -----------
Selected Balance Sheet Data:
Assets $ 2,203,237 $ 2,164,649 2,124,921
Cash and cash equivalents 202,520 121,605 211,525
Securities available for sale 29,541 29,633 28,027
Securities held to maturity 65,000 50,000 0
Net loans receivable 1,021,705 1,052,859 1,039,413
Mortgage-backed securities available
for sale 717,654 749,166 683,785
Mortgage-backed securities held to
maturity 3,677 3,811 4,321
Goodwill 82,263 82,263 82,263
Deposits 1,497,021 1,456,005 1,421,201
Federal Home Loan Bank advances 210,000 210,000 210,000
Total stockholders' equity 480,486 481,957 476,720
Consolidated Capital Ratios:
Equity to assets at period end 21.81% 22.26% 22.43%
Tangible equity to tangible assets
at period end (1) 18.43% 18.79% 18.98%
Share Data:
Outstanding shares 68,978,300 69,155,000 69,241,600
Closing price as reported by NASDAQ $ 10.07 $ 10.42 $ 11.44
Book value per share $ 6.97 $ 6.97 $ 6.88
Tangible book value per share (1) $ 5.62 $ 5.60 $ 5.58
Asset Quality Ratios:
Non-performing loans to total loans 1.88% 1.87% 1.26%
Non-performing assets to total
assets 0.90% 0.95% 0.62%
Allowance for loan losses to total
loans 0.72% 0.64% 0.62%
Allowance for loan losses to
non-performing loans 38.02% 34.29% 48.92%
(1) Tangible equity equals total stockholders' equity reduced by goodwill,
core deposit intangible assets and accumulated other comprehensive
income.
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data, Unaudited)
For the Three For the Six
Months Ended Months Ended
----------------------------- ------------------
December September December December December
31, 30, 31, 31, 31,
2009 2009 2008 2009 2008
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Summary of Operations:
Interest income $ 23,655 $ 23,156 $ 24,917 $ 46,811 $ 50,077
Interest expense 9,263 9,903 11,248 19,166 23,165
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Net interest income 14,392 13,253 13,669 27,645 26,912
Provision for loan losses 605 858 109 1,463 109
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Net interest income
after provision for
loan losses 13,787 12,395 13,560 26,182 26,803
Non-interest income,
excluding loss on
securities 570 618 736 1,188 1,459
Loss on securities (55) (98) 0 (153) (415)
Non-interest expense 11,171 11,017 10,553 22,188 21,171
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Income before taxes 3,131 1,898 3,743 5,029 6,676
Provision for income
taxes 1,290 803 1,505 2,093 2,702
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Net income $ 1,841 $ 1,095 $ 2,238 $ 2,936 $ 3,974
======== ========= ======== ======== ========
Per Share Data:
Net income per share -
basic $ 0.03 $ 0.02 $ 0.03 $ 0.04 $ 0.06
Net income per share -
diluted $ 0.03 $ 0.02 $ 0.03 $ 0.04 $ 0.06
Weighted average number
of common shares
outstanding - basic 68,015 68,074 68,829 68,045 69,017
Weighted average number
of common shares
outstanding - diluted 68,015 68,074 68,829 68,045 69,017
Cash dividends per
share(1) $ 0.05 $ 0.05 $ 0.05 $ 0.10 $ 0.10
Dividend payout
ratio (2) 62.09% 77.81% 39.14% 67.95% 44.89%
(1) Represents dividends declared per common share.
(2) Represents dividends declared, excluding dividends waived by Kearny
MHC, divided by net income.
For the Three For the Six
Months Ended Months Ended
--------------------------------- ----------------------
December September December December December
31, 30, 31, 31, 31,
2009 2009 2008 2009 2008
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Average Balances:
Loans
receivable $1,043,412 $1,050,538 $1,085,396 $1,046,975 $1,068,078
Mortgage-backed
securities:
Mortgage
pass-through
securities 701,664 651,135 692,776 676,399 705,657
Collateralized
mortgage
obligations 4,426 4,626 5,140 4,526 2,768
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total
mortgage-backed
securities 706,090 655,761 697,916 680,925 708,425
Non-mortgage-backed
securities:
Tax exempt
securities 18,153 18,167 18,194 18,160 18,199
Taxable
securities 53,429 13,996 13,945 33,713 17,693
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total non-
mortgage-backed
securities 71,582 32,163 32,139 51,873 35,892
Other interest-
earning assets 159,778 196,865 66,015 178,322 87,990
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total interest
earning
assets 1,980,862 1,935,327 1,881,466 1,958,095 1,900,385
Non-interest-
earning assets 207,936 217,270 162,973 212,085 157,030
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total assets $2,188,798 $2,152,597 $2,044,439 $2,170,180 $2,057,415
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Interest-bearing
deposits
Interest-bearing
checking 185,909 171,051 154,559 178,480 154,552
Savings and
clubs 310,043 304,237 289,843 307,140 293,197
Certificates
of deposit 926,123 917,429 845,266 921,776 852,424
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total interest-
bearing
deposits $1,422,075 $1,392,717 $1,289,668 $1,407,396 $1,300,173
Federal Home
Loan Bank
advances 210,000 210,000 217,685 210,000 217,842
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total interest-
bearing
liabilities 1,632,075 1,602,717 1,507,353 1,617,396 1,518,015
Non-interest-
bearing
liabilities 75,558 74,215 66,917 74,369 68,960
Stockholders'
equity 481,165 475,665 470,169 478,415 470,440
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total
liabilities and
stockholders'
equity $2,188,798 $2,152,597 $2,044,439 $2,170,180 $2,057,415
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Average interest-
earning assets
to average
interest-bearing
liabilities 121.37% 120.75% 124.82% 121.06% 125.19%
For the Three For the Six
Months Ended Months Ended
----------------------------- ------------------
December September December December December
31, 30, 31, 31, 31,
2009 2009 2008 2009 2008
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Performance ratios:
Yield on average:
Loans receivable 5.65% 5.67% 5.69% 5.66% 5.72%
Mortgage-backed
securities:
Mortgage pass-through
securities 4.56% 4.76% 5.09% 4.66% 5.06%
Collateralized
mortgage obligations 7.59% 7.44% 7.07% 7.51% 12.69%
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Total mortgage-backed
securities 4.58% 4.78% 5.10% 4.68% 5.09%
Non-mortgage-backed
securities:
Tax exempt securities 3.48% 3.48% 3.49% 3.48% 3.49%
Taxable securities 3.40% 1.70% 3.71% 3.05% 2.89%
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Total
non-mortgage-backed
securities 3.42% 2.71% 3.58% 3.20% 3.19%
Other interest-earning
assets 0.54% 0.47% 1.73% 0.50% 2.13%
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Total interest-earning
assets 4.78% 4.79% 5.30% 4.78% 5.27%
Cost of average:
Interest-bearing checking 1.15% 1.13% 1.50% 1.14% 1.49%
Savings and clubs 1.04% 1.04% 1.06% 1.04% 1.06%
Certificates of deposit 2.53% 2.86% 3.65% 2.69% 3.78%
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Interest-bearing
deposits 2.02% 2.25% 2.81% 2.13% 2.89%
Federal Home Loan Bank
advances 3.95% 3.95% 4.00% 3.95% 4.00%
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Total interest-bearing
liabilities 2.27% 2.47% 2.98% 2.37% 3.05%
Net interest rate
spread (1) 2.51% 2.32% 2.32% 2.41% 2.22%
Net interest margin (2) 2.91% 2.74% 2.91% 2.82% 2.83%
Non-interest income to
average assets 0.09% 0.10% 0.14% 0.10% 0.10%
Non-interest expense
to average assets 2.04% 2.05% 2.06% 2.04% 2.06%
Efficiency ratio 74.93% 79.99% 73.26% 77.36% 75.73%
Return on average assets 0.34% 0.20% 0.44% 0.27% 0.39%
Return on average equity 1.53% 0.92% 1.90% 1.23% 1.69%
(1) Interest income divided by average interest-earning assets less
interest expense divided by average interest-bearing liabilities.
(2) Net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
The Company attributes the increase in net income between linked quarters to two primary factors, specifically an increase in net interest income and, to a lesser extent, a decrease in the provision for loan loss. Partially offsetting these factors was an increase in noninterest expense. In total, these factors resulted in an overall increase in pre-tax income and the provision for income taxes.
The decrease in net income between the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 resulted primarily from increases in the provision for loan loss and noninterest expense which were exacerbated by a decrease in noninterest income. Partially offsetting these factors was an increase in net interest income. In total, these factors resulted in an overall decrease in pre-tax income and the provision for income taxes.
The Company reported net income of $2,936,000 or $0.04 per diluted share for the six months ended December 31, 2009 representing a decrease of $1,038,000 compared to net income of $3,974,000 or $0.06 per diluted share for the six months ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in net income for the six-month period was attributable to the same factors as the year-over-year decline in quarterly net income.
Kearny Federal Savings Bank operates from its administrative headquarters in Fairfield, New Jersey, and 27 retail branch offices located in Bergen, Hudson, Passaic, Morris, Middlesex, Essex, Union and Ocean Counties, New Jersey. At December 31, 2009, Kearny Financial Corp. had total assets of $2.20 billion which included net loans receivable of $1.02 billion and total investment securities, including mortgage-backed and non-mortgage-backed securities, of $815.9 million. As of that same date, deposits and borrowings totaled $1.50 billion and $210.0 million, respectively, while stockholders' equity totaled $480.5 million or 21.8% of total assets.
The following is an overview of the Company's financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2009:
Net Interest Income
Net interest income during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 was $14.4 million, an increase of $1.1 million compared to net interest income of $13.3 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and an increase of $723,000 compared to net interest income of $13.7 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The Company's net interest margin increased by 17 basis points to 2.91% for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 from 2.74% during the prior linked quarter ended September 30, 2009. The net interest margin was unchanged from 2.91% for the same quarter one year earlier ended December 31, 2008.
The increase in net interest income and net interest margin between linked quarters resulted from an increase in interest income augmented by a concurrent decrease in interest expense. The increase in interest income was primarily attributable to an increase in the average balance of investment securities offset by a reduction in the average balance of comparatively lower yielding other interest-earning assets. This change was primarily attributable to the Company reinvesting a portion of its excess liquidity into investment securities near the end of the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009. The lower interest expense during the current quarter reflected a continued decline in the cost of deposits resulting primarily from the continued downward repricing of certificates of deposit.
The increase in net interest income for the year-over-year comparative quarters ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 resulted from a decrease in interest expense that outpaced a concurrent decrease in interest income. The decrease in interest expense was generally attributable to the same factors noted in the linked period comparison. However, the impact of the downward repricing of certificates was partially offset by growth in the average balance of all interest-bearing deposit types. The decrease in interest income was largely attributable to declines in the overall yield on most interest-earning asset types. That decline was particularly highlighted in the reduction in the yield on other interest-earning assets which reflected the sharp decline in short term, market interest rates to historical lows. The impact of the reduction in the yield on the Company's interest-earning assets was partially offset by the overall growth in their average balances.
More specifically, total interest income increased $499,000 to $23.7 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to $23.2 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009. However, total interest income decreased $1.2 million compared to $24.9 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. Total interest expense decreased $640,000 to $9.3 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to $9.9 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and decreased $1.9 million compared to $11.2 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008.
Interest income from loans decreased $140,000 to $14.7 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to $14.9 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009. By comparison, interest income on loans decreased $706,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to $15.4 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in interest income on loans between both comparative periods resulted from decreases in both the average balance and average yield of the related assets. During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, average loans receivable were $1.04 billion with an average yield of 5.65%. By comparison, during the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, average loans receivable were $1.05 billion and $1.09 billion, respectively; with average yields of 5.67% and 5.69%, respectively.
The Bank continued to experience a reduction in the aggregate outstanding balance of residential first mortgages, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, whose combined average outstanding balances declined $12.3 million to $802.4 million between the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2009 due primarily to continuing depressed residential loan demand. By contrast, average commercial loans, including non-residential mortgages, multi-family mortgages and commercial business loans increased $3.6 million in aggregate to $221.1 million over the same period reflecting the Company's long-term expanded strategic emphasis in commercial lending coupled with a continuing favorable pricing environment for these loans.
Interest income from mortgage-backed securities increased $260,000 to $8.1 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 from $7.8 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009. However, interest income from mortgage-backed securities decreased $809,000 compared to $8.9 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The increase in interest income between linked periods was primarily attributable to an increase in the average balance of mortgage-backed securities that was partially offset by a decline in their average yield. By contrast, the decline in interest income between the year-over-year comparative quarters resulted from a decrease in the average yield of mortgage-backed securities that was only partially offset by a smaller comparative increase in their average balance. During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, average mortgage-backed securities, excluding net unrealized gains, were $706.1 million with an average yield of 4.58%. By comparison, during the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the average balance of mortgage-backed securities was $655.8 million and $697.9 million, respectively; with average yields of 4.78% and 5.10%, respectively. The average yield has been decreasing due to the repayment of higher coupon mortgage loans underlying the securities coupled with the effect of the Company reinvesting incoming cash flows into securities whose comparatively lower yields reflect the overall decline in market interest rates.
Interest income from non-mortgage-backed securities increased $394,000 to $612,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to $218,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and increased $324,000 from $288,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The increase in interest income between the linked periods resulted from increases in both the average balance and average yield of non-mortgage-backed securities. By comparison, the increase in interest income between the year-over-year comparative quarters resulted from an increase in the average balance of non-mortgage-backed securities that was partially offset by a decrease in their average yields. During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, average non-mortgage-backed securities totaled $71.6 million with an average yield of 3.42%. By comparison, during the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the average balance of non-mortgage-backed securities totaled $32.2 million and $32.1 million, respectively, with average yields of 2.71% and 3.58%, respectively.
Interest income from other interest-earning assets, comprised primarily of interest-earning cash and cash equivalents, decreased $15,000 to $215,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to $230,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and decreased $71,000 from $286,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in interest income between the linked periods resulted from a decrease in the average balance of other interest-earning assets that was partially offset by an increase in their average yield. By comparison, the decrease in interest income between the year-over-year comparative quarters resulted from a decline in the average yield on other interest-earning assets that was partially offset by an increase in their average balance. During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, the average balance of other interest-earning assets totaled $159.8 million with an average yield of 0.54%. By comparison, during the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the average balance of other interest-earning assets totaled $196.9 million and $66.0 million, respectively, with average yields of 0.47% and 1.73%, respectively.
Interest expense attributed to deposits decreased $640,000 to $7.2 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 from $7.8 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and decreased $1.9 million compared to $9.1 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The decline in interest expense between both sets of comparative quarters resulted from decreases in the average cost of interest-bearing deposits, partially offset by comparative increases in their average balances. Management continued to adhere to a disciplined deposit pricing policy during the reporting period. Nevertheless, the Bank continued to experience deposit inflows between the linked quarters. During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, average interest-bearing deposits were $1.42 billion with an average cost of 2.02%. By comparison, during the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, average interest-bearing deposits were $1.39 billion and $1.29 billion, respectively, with average costs of 2.25% and 2.81%, respectively. The decrease in the cost of deposits over the comparative quarters was attributed primarily to decreases in the average cost of certificates of deposit, which decreased to 2.53% during the current quarter compared to 2.86% during the linked quarter and 3.65% during the same quarter one year earlier.
Finally, interest expense attributed to Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") advances was unchanged at $2.1 million during the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and September 30, 2009 and decreased $101,000 compared to $2.2 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. During both quarters ended December 31, 2009 and September 30, 2009, the average balance of FHLB advances were $210.0 million with an average cost of 3.95%. By comparison, during the quarter ended December 31, 2008, average advances were $217.7 million with average cost of 4.00%.
Provision for Loan Losses
The provision for loan losses totaled $605,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to provisions of $858,000 for the linked quarter ended September 30, 2009 and $109,000 for the prior year quarter ended December 31, 2008. The provision in the current period continued to reflect required net increases to the allowance for additional estimated specific losses on several impaired mortgage loans on residential properties located in New Jersey. All such loans were originated by Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. ("Countrywide") and purchased by the Bank during prior years. The provision also reflected changes to balances of general valuation allowances attributable to the application of historical and environmental loss factors to the remaining non-impaired portion of the loan portfolio in accordance with the Company's allowance for loan loss calculation methodology. Further discussion of the allowance for loan losses is presented in the Loans and Credit Quality section below.
Noninterest Income
Noninterest income attributed to fees, service charges and miscellaneous income, including REO operations, decreased $48,000 to $570,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 from $618,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 while decreasing $166,000 from $736,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in noninterest income between the linked periods was attributable, in part, to a decline in deposit and branch-related fees and charges coupled with net REO expenses recorded during the current quarter with no such expenses recognized during the earlier comparative quarter. The decline in noninterest income between the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was partly attributable to those same factors. However, the year-over-year reductions in those same categories were exacerbated by comparative declines in income from the Bank's official check clearing agent. The clearing agent is no longer able to compensate its clients at a meaningful level for use of the float on official checks due to significant losses and reduced yields in its investment securities portfolio. Additionally, miscellaneous income during the earlier comparative quarter ended December 31, 2008 included the recognition of a $132,000 gain on sale of deposits with no such income recognized during the current quarter.
Net losses on investment securities recorded against noninterest income during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 totaled $55,000 and were attributable to a non-cash, pre-tax charge to earnings resulting from additional other-than-temporary impairment in the value of certain non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations in the Bank's held to maturity securities portfolio. These securities were originally acquired upon the in-kind redemption of the Bank's interest in the AMF Ultra Short Mortgage Fund ("AMF Fund") during the quarter ended September 30, 2008. During the prior linked quarter ended September 30, 2009, the Company recorded net losses attributable to additional other-than-temporary impairments of value totaling $98,000 attributable to these same securities. No other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities were recorded during the quarter ended December 31, 2008.
Noninterest Expense
Noninterest expense increased $154,000 to $11.2 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 from $11.0 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and increased $618,000 compared to $10.6 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The increase in noninterest expense between linked quarters was largely attributable to an increase in federal deposit insurance premium expense with lesser increases and decreases in other noninterest expense categories combining to partially offset the increase in deposit insurance expense.
Increases in federal deposit insurance premium expense also contributed to the increase in noninterest expense between the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 which also reflected increases in compensation expense. As above, lesser increases and decreases in other noninterest expense categories combined to partially offset the year-over-year increases in deposit insurance and compensation expenses.
More specifically, federal deposit insurance premium expense increased $236,000 to $393,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 from $157,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2009. The increase in deposit insurance expense was attributable, in part, to an increase in the assessment rate charged by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("the FDIC") on the balance of insurable deposits held by the Bank. However, the comparative increase in FDIC insurance premium expense between the linked periods also reflects the absence in the current period of certain adjustments to the related expense accrual that had reduced the expense during the earlier comparative period to reflect the revised premium assessment calculation methodology.
Federal deposit insurance premium expense increased by approximately $281,000 between the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008. As noted above, the increase was attributable to the comparative increase in the regular quarterly assessment rate coupled with the effect of the year-over-year growth in the balance of insurable deposits held by the Bank.
Employee compensation-related expenses increased by approximately $452,000 between the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and 2008. Such increases reflected additional costs associated with staff augmentation attributable, in part, to branch expansion. More generally, however, the increase in expense also reflects the increase in compensation-related costs attributable to annual increases in wages and salaries of existing staff and overall increases to benefits costs including employee health care benefits. The increase in year-over-year compensation expense also reflects an actuarial adjustment that reduced pension expense in the earlier comparative period for which a lesser reduction in expense was recorded during the current period.
Provision for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 was $1.3 million compared to $803,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and $1.5 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The change in income taxes between both sets of comparative quarters was primarily attributable to the comparative increase or decrease in pre-tax income. The Company's effective tax rates during the quarters ended December 31, 2009, September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were 41.2%, 42.3% and 40.2%, respectively.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, which consist primarily of interest-earning deposits in other banks, increased $80.9 million to $202.5 million at December 31, 2009 from $121.6 million at September 30, 2009. Several factors contributed to the reported increase in short term, liquid assets including continued net deposit growth, despite the continuation of the Bank's disciplined approach to deposit pricing during the quarter. Cash inflows from deposit growth were augmented by net reductions in the loan and mortgage-backed securities portfolio as asset repayments outpaced new originations and purchases. Notwithstanding its improvement during the current quarter, the Company's net interest margin has generally come under pressure during recent quarters as the growing balance of interest-earning deposits reflects the decline in short term market interest rates to historical lows of 0.00% to 0.25%.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the balance of the Company's cash and cash equivalents has decreased approximately $9.0 million from $211.5 million at the end of the prior year ended June 30, 2009.
Loans and Credit Quality
Loans receivable, excluding deferred fees and costs and the allowance for loan losses, decreased $30.5 million to $1.03 billion at December 31, 2009 from $1.06 billion at September 30, 2009. The reductions in the loan portfolio continue to reflect diminished loan demand by qualified borrowers coupled with aggressive pricing in the marketplace for certain loan products. These factors impacted the Company's one-to-four family mortgage loan portfolio, in particular, which declined $31.4 million to $785.2 million at December 31, 2009 from $816.6 million at September 30, 2009. Aggregate growth in the remaining loan categories, including commercial real estate, construction, business and consumer loans, totaled $811,000. Loan originations for the three months ended December 31, 2009 decreased $27.9 million to $31.3 million from $59.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 while purchases of loans from other originators declined from $20.7 million to zero for the same comparative periods.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the balance of the Company's loans receivable, excluding deferred fees and costs and the allowance for loan losses, has decreased approximately $16.3 million from $1.04 billion at the end of the prior year ended June 30, 2009.
At December 31, 2009, non-performing assets totaled $19.8 million or 0.90% of total assets and comprised 51 nonperforming loans totaling $19.4 million, or 1.88% of total loans, plus three real estate owned ("REO") properties totaling $390,000. By comparison, at September 30, 2009 non-performing assets totaled $20.5 million or 0.95% of total assets and comprised 56 nonperforming loans totaling $19.9 million, or 1.87% of total loans, plus four REO properties totaling $652,000.
Loans reported as nonperforming loans at December 31, 2009 include 25 mortgage loans totaling $11.4 million on residential properties located in New Jersey originally acquired from Countrywide. At December 31, 2009, the Bank owned a total of 192 residential mortgage loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of $97.4 million that were originally acquired from Countrywide and continue to be serviced by their acquirer, Bank of America through its subsidiary, BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP. Of these loans, an additional 11 loans totaling $4.4 million are 30-89 days past due and are in various stages of collection.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the balance of the Company's nonperforming assets has increased approximately $6.5 million from $13.3 million or 0.62% of total assets at the end of the prior year ended June 30, 2009.
Charge offs, net of recoveries, against the allowance for loan loss during the current quarter ended December 31, 2009 totaled $41,000 and related to writing down the value of one loan to the fair value of its associated real estate collateral at foreclosure. By comparison, charge-offs against the allowance for loan loss during the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009 totaled $482,000 including $384,000 in charge offs to write down the value of two loans at foreclosure and $98,000 in charge offs associated with two troubled debt restructurings. Recoveries of prior charge offs were negligible during the two linked quarters. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans outstanding was 0.72% at December 31, 2009 compared with 0.64% at September 30, 2009 reflecting total allowances of $7.4 million and $6.8 million, respectively, at the close of each quarter.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the balance of the Company's allowance for loan losses has increased by $940,000 from $6.4 million or 0.62% of total loans at June 30, 2009.
Securities and Mortgage-backed Securities
Mortgage-backed securities available for sale, all of which are government agency pass-through certificates, decreased $31.5 million to $717.7 million at December 31, 2009 from $749.2 million at September 30, 2009. The net decrease primarily resulted from continued principal repayments totaling approximately $36.7 million coupled with reductions in the unrealized gain within the portfolio of $3.4 million to $20.9 million at December 31, 2009. Partially offsetting these decreases in the portfolio were purchases of mortgage-backed securities totaling $8.6 million all of which represent issues eligible to meet the Community Reinvestment Act investment test. Based on its evaluation, management concluded that no other-than-temporary impairment was present within this segment of the investment portfolio at December 31, 2009.
Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity decreased $134,000 to $3.7 million at December 31, 2009 from $3.8 million at September 30, 2009. The reduction was primarily attributable to principal repayments net of adjustments for other-than-temporary impairments in the value of certain non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations in the portfolio. Such adjustments reflect additions to valuations for newly identified other-than-temporary impairments offset by the accretion of previously recognized impairments. At December 31, 2009, an analysis of the non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations resulted in the conclusion that securities having an aggregate amortized cost, adjusted for prior impairment charges, of $579,000 were other-than-temporarily impaired by an additional $65,000. Of this impairment, $55,000 was determined to be credit-related, and therefore recognized through earnings, while $10,000 was determined to be noncredit-related and therefore recognized through other comprehensive income. At December 31, 2009, the Company's non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations have a total book value, net of other-than-temporary impairment charges, of $2.0 million and a total fair value of $1.8 million with the difference attributed to temporary impairments of value. The remainder of the held to maturity mortgage-backed securities portfolio is comprised of government agency mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations that were not other-than-temporarily impaired based upon management's evaluation at December 31, 2009.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the combined balances of the Company's mortgage-backed securities portfolios totaling $721.3 million at December 31, 2009 have increased approximately $33.2 million from $688.1 million at the end of the prior year ended June 30, 2009.
Non-mortgage-backed securities classified as available for sale decreased by $92,000 to $29.5 million at December 31, 2009 from $29.6 million at September 30, 2009. The decrease in the portfolio was primarily attributable to principal repayments partially offset by an increase in the fair value of the portfolio. The net unrealized loss for this portfolio was reduced to $1.7 million at December 31, 2009 from $1.9 million as of September 30, 2009. Non-mortgage-backed securities classified as held to maturity increased by $15.0 million to $65.0 million at December 31, 2009 from $50.0 million at September 30, 2009. The increase in the portfolio was fully attributable to the purchase of agency debentures during the quarter. Based on its evaluation, management has concluded that no other-than-temporary impairment is present within either segment of the non-mortgage backed securities portfolio at December 31, 2009.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the combined balances of the Company's non-mortgage-backed securities portfolios totaling $94.5 million at December 31, 2009 have increased approximately $66.5 million from $28.0 million at the end of the prior year ended June 30, 2009.
Deposits
Deposits increased $41.0 million to $1.50 billion at December 31, 2009 from $1.46 billion at September 30, 2009. As noted earlier, management continued to adhere to a disciplined deposit pricing policy during the reporting period. Nevertheless, growth was reported across all categories of deposits. For the quarter ended December 31, 2009, interest-bearing demand deposits increased $24.9 million to $199.3 million, savings deposits increased $11.3 million to $316.1 million, certificates of deposit increased $4.5 million to $925.6 million and non-interest-bearing demand deposits increased $329,000 to $56.0 million. In general, depositors have been lengthening the maturities of their certificates of deposit, particularly by transferring maturing accounts to 24-month and 36-month certificates of deposit in order to improve the yield.
Coupled with the related activity from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009, the balance of the Company's deposits has increased approximately $75.8 million from $1.42 billion at the end of the prior year ended June 30, 2009. The growth in deposits during the six months ended December 31, 2009 included an increase in the balance of non-interest-bearing deposits totaling $4.8 million coupled with an increase in interest-bearing deposits of $71.0 million.
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances
As a result of the Bank's strong liquidity position, there were no additional borrowings drawn during the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and September 30, 2009. Moreover, no borrowings matured during those same periods. Consequently, the balance of FHLB advances remained unchanged at $210.0 million at December 31, 2009 from the prior quarter ended September 30, 2009 and the prior fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.
Stockholders' Equity and Capital Management
During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, stockholders' equity decreased $1.5 million to $480.5 million from $482.0 million at September 30, 2009. The decrease was attributable, in part, to a $1.8 million decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income resulting primarily from a decline in the unrealized gain on the available for sale securities portfolios. Also contributing to the decrease in stockholders' equity was a $1.8 million increase in treasury stock resulting from the repurchase of 176,700 shares of the Company's common stock as well as a $1.1 million cash dividend to shareholders. Partially offsetting these reductions were increases to stockholders' equity including net income of $1.8 million, increases to paid-in-capital totaling $1.0 million attributable primarily to benefit plan related adjustments and $364,000 of Employee Stock Ownership Plan shares earned.
At December 31 2009, the Company's total equity to asset ratio was 21.8% while the equity to assets ratio of the Bank was 20.9%. As of that same date, the Bank's ratio of tangible equity to tangible assets was 17.45% while its Tier 1 (Core) Capital and Total (Risk-based) Capital to risk-weighted assets were 37.91% and 38.39%, respectively, far in excess of the 6.0% and 10.0% levels, respectively, required by the Office of Thrift Supervision to be classified "well-capitalized" under regulatory guidelines.
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to factors discussed in documents filed by Kearny Financial Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. The Company does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.
KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data, Unaudited)
At
----------- ----------- -----------
December 31, September 30, June 30,
2009 2009 2009
----------- ----------- -----------
Selected Balance Sheet Data:
Assets $ 2,203,237 $ 2,164,649 2,124,921
Cash and cash equivalents 202,520 121,605 211,525
Securities available for sale 29,541 29,633 28,027
Securities held to maturity 65,000 50,000 0
Net loans receivable 1,021,705 1,052,859 1,039,413
Mortgage-backed securities available
for sale 717,654 749,166 683,785
Mortgage-backed securities held to
maturity 3,677 3,811 4,321
Goodwill 82,263 82,263 82,263
Deposits 1,497,021 1,456,005 1,421,201
Federal Home Loan Bank advances 210,000 210,000 210,000
Total stockholders' equity 480,486 481,957 476,720
Consolidated Capital Ratios:
Equity to assets at period end 21.81% 22.26% 22.43%
Tangible equity to tangible assets
at period end (1) 18.43% 18.79% 18.98%
Share Data:
Outstanding shares 68,978,300 69,155,000 69,241,600
Closing price as reported by NASDAQ $ 10.07 $ 10.42 $ 11.44
Book value per share $ 6.97 $ 6.97 $ 6.88
Tangible book value per share (1) $ 5.62 $ 5.60 $ 5.58
Asset Quality Ratios:
Non-performing loans to total loans 1.88% 1.87% 1.26%
Non-performing assets to total
assets 0.90% 0.95% 0.62%
Allowance for loan losses to total
loans 0.72% 0.64% 0.62%
Allowance for loan losses to
non-performing loans 38.02% 34.29% 48.92%
(1) Tangible equity equals total stockholders' equity reduced by goodwill,
core deposit intangible assets and accumulated other comprehensive
income.
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data, Unaudited)
For the Three For the Six
Months Ended Months Ended
----------------------------- ------------------
December September December December December
31, 30, 31, 31, 31,
2009 2009 2008 2009 2008
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Summary of Operations:
Interest income $ 23,655 $ 23,156 $ 24,917 $ 46,811 $ 50,077
Interest expense 9,263 9,903 11,248 19,166 23,165
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Net interest income 14,392 13,253 13,669 27,645 26,912
Provision for loan losses 605 858 109 1,463 109
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Net interest income
after provision for
loan losses 13,787 12,395 13,560 26,182 26,803
Non-interest income,
excluding loss on
securities 570 618 736 1,188 1,459
Loss on securities (55) (98) 0 (153) (415)
Non-interest expense 11,171 11,017 10,553 22,188 21,171
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Income before taxes 3,131 1,898 3,743 5,029 6,676
Provision for income
taxes 1,290 803 1,505 2,093 2,702
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Net income $ 1,841 $ 1,095 $ 2,238 $ 2,936 $ 3,974
======== ========= ======== ======== ========
Per Share Data:
Net income per share -
basic $ 0.03 $ 0.02 $ 0.03 $ 0.04 $ 0.06
Net income per share -
diluted $ 0.03 $ 0.02 $ 0.03 $ 0.04 $ 0.06
Weighted average number
of common shares
outstanding - basic 68,015 68,074 68,829 68,045 69,017
Weighted average number
of common shares
outstanding - diluted 68,015 68,074 68,829 68,045 69,017
Cash dividends per
share(1) $ 0.05 $ 0.05 $ 0.05 $ 0.10 $ 0.10
Dividend payout
ratio (2) 62.09% 77.81% 39.14% 67.95% 44.89%
(1) Represents dividends declared per common share.
(2) Represents dividends declared, excluding dividends waived by Kearny
MHC, divided by net income.
For the Three For the Six
Months Ended Months Ended
--------------------------------- ----------------------
December September December December December
31, 30, 31, 31, 31,
2009 2009 2008 2009 2008
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Average Balances:
Loans
receivable $1,043,412 $1,050,538 $1,085,396 $1,046,975 $1,068,078
Mortgage-backed
securities:
Mortgage
pass-through
securities 701,664 651,135 692,776 676,399 705,657
Collateralized
mortgage
obligations 4,426 4,626 5,140 4,526 2,768
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total
mortgage-backed
securities 706,090 655,761 697,916 680,925 708,425
Non-mortgage-backed
securities:
Tax exempt
securities 18,153 18,167 18,194 18,160 18,199
Taxable
securities 53,429 13,996 13,945 33,713 17,693
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total non-
mortgage-backed
securities 71,582 32,163 32,139 51,873 35,892
Other interest-
earning assets 159,778 196,865 66,015 178,322 87,990
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total interest
earning
assets 1,980,862 1,935,327 1,881,466 1,958,095 1,900,385
Non-interest-
earning assets 207,936 217,270 162,973 212,085 157,030
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total assets $2,188,798 $2,152,597 $2,044,439 $2,170,180 $2,057,415
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Interest-bearing
deposits
Interest-bearing
checking 185,909 171,051 154,559 178,480 154,552
Savings and
clubs 310,043 304,237 289,843 307,140 293,197
Certificates
of deposit 926,123 917,429 845,266 921,776 852,424
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total interest-
bearing
deposits $1,422,075 $1,392,717 $1,289,668 $1,407,396 $1,300,173
Federal Home
Loan Bank
advances 210,000 210,000 217,685 210,000 217,842
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total interest-
bearing
liabilities 1,632,075 1,602,717 1,507,353 1,617,396 1,518,015
Non-interest-
bearing
liabilities 75,558 74,215 66,917 74,369 68,960
Stockholders'
equity 481,165 475,665 470,169 478,415 470,440
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total
liabilities and
stockholders'
equity $2,188,798 $2,152,597 $2,044,439 $2,170,180 $2,057,415
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Average interest-
earning assets
to average
interest-bearing
liabilities 121.37% 120.75% 124.82% 121.06% 125.19%
For the Three For the Six
Months Ended Months Ended
----------------------------- ------------------
December September December December December
31, 30, 31, 31, 31,
2009 2009 2008 2009 2008
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Performance ratios:
Yield on average:
Loans receivable 5.65% 5.67% 5.69% 5.66% 5.72%
Mortgage-backed
securities:
Mortgage pass-through
securities 4.56% 4.76% 5.09% 4.66% 5.06%
Collateralized
mortgage obligations 7.59% 7.44% 7.07% 7.51% 12.69%
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Total mortgage-backed
securities 4.58% 4.78% 5.10% 4.68% 5.09%
Non-mortgage-backed
securities:
Tax exempt securities 3.48% 3.48% 3.49% 3.48% 3.49%
Taxable securities 3.40% 1.70% 3.71% 3.05% 2.89%
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Total
non-mortgage-backed
securities 3.42% 2.71% 3.58% 3.20% 3.19%
Other interest-earning
assets 0.54% 0.47% 1.73% 0.50% 2.13%
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Total interest-earning
assets 4.78% 4.79% 5.30% 4.78% 5.27%
Cost of average:
Interest-bearing checking 1.15% 1.13% 1.50% 1.14% 1.49%
Savings and clubs 1.04% 1.04% 1.06% 1.04% 1.06%
Certificates of deposit 2.53% 2.86% 3.65% 2.69% 3.78%
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Interest-bearing
deposits 2.02% 2.25% 2.81% 2.13% 2.89%
Federal Home Loan Bank
advances 3.95% 3.95% 4.00% 3.95% 4.00%
-------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Total interest-bearing
liabilities 2.27% 2.47% 2.98% 2.37% 3.05%
Net interest rate
spread (1) 2.51% 2.32% 2.32% 2.41% 2.22%
Net interest margin (2) 2.91% 2.74% 2.91% 2.82% 2.83%
Non-interest income to
average assets 0.09% 0.10% 0.14% 0.10% 0.10%
Non-interest expense
to average assets 2.04% 2.05% 2.06% 2.04% 2.06%
Efficiency ratio 74.93% 79.99% 73.26% 77.36% 75.73%
Return on average assets 0.34% 0.20% 0.44% 0.27% 0.39%
Return on average equity 1.53% 0.92% 1.90% 1.23% 1.69%
(1) Interest income divided by average interest-earning assets less
interest expense divided by average interest-bearing liabilities.
(2) Net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Panel Investigating Financial Crisis to Question Bankers
WASHINGTON -- The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission will require top bankers and regulators to testify under oath in the coming week when its first public hearings get under way, the panel's chairman and vice chairman said Friday.
Chairman Phil Angelides, a Democrat, and Vice Chairman Bill Thomas, a Republican, said in an interview that the commission also plans to call Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to testify under oath in the months ahead.
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive James Dimon, Bank of America Corp. Chief Executive Brian Moynihan, Morgan Stanley Chairman John Mack, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair are among those expected to testify on Wednesday and Thursday.
The panel, established by Congress last year, got off to a slow start due to the complications of hiring staff and opening an office. But looming hearings show the panel is shifting into action and beginning to make its weight felt among banks and regulators.
But its focus isn't going to be on influencing legislation to overhaul financial-sector regulations, which has been moving through Congress as some lawmakers had envisioned. Instead, the committee is settling into the task of developing a detailed investigative report -- due in December -- on the causes of the financial crisis.
"There is anger and confusion across this country, and people want to know," said Mr. Angelides, a former California state treasurer. He said one of the commission's roles is to act as a proxy for the American people in unraveling the complex crisis, despite encountering some angst over its investigation into the events that precipitated it.
"There's an undercurrent of, 'Hey, things are moving along. Why dig this stuff up?' " Mr. Angelides said.
Mr. Angelides said the emphasis is about gathering "facts and about the series of events that occurred" rather than trying to "get people."
The commission is expected to hold eight or nine hearings, on a range of topics including regulation, subprime lending, how companies became "too big to fail," derivatives, and the role of the credit-rating agencies. The leaders said they hadn't yet issued subpoenas but would do so if they felt government or industry officials were withholding information.
"I've found that if you have [the power to issue subpoenas] and you ask nicely, you don't have to tell them the consequences of 'no,' " said Mr. Thomas, the former chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Asked why a representative of Citigroup Inc. wasn't on the witness list for next week's hearings, Mr. Angelides said, "They'll have their day. They shouldn't feel bad, or left out."
Chairman Phil Angelides, a Democrat, and Vice Chairman Bill Thomas, a Republican, said in an interview that the commission also plans to call Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to testify under oath in the months ahead.
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive James Dimon, Bank of America Corp. Chief Executive Brian Moynihan, Morgan Stanley Chairman John Mack, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair are among those expected to testify on Wednesday and Thursday.
The panel, established by Congress last year, got off to a slow start due to the complications of hiring staff and opening an office. But looming hearings show the panel is shifting into action and beginning to make its weight felt among banks and regulators.
But its focus isn't going to be on influencing legislation to overhaul financial-sector regulations, which has been moving through Congress as some lawmakers had envisioned. Instead, the committee is settling into the task of developing a detailed investigative report -- due in December -- on the causes of the financial crisis.
"There is anger and confusion across this country, and people want to know," said Mr. Angelides, a former California state treasurer. He said one of the commission's roles is to act as a proxy for the American people in unraveling the complex crisis, despite encountering some angst over its investigation into the events that precipitated it.
"There's an undercurrent of, 'Hey, things are moving along. Why dig this stuff up?' " Mr. Angelides said.
Mr. Angelides said the emphasis is about gathering "facts and about the series of events that occurred" rather than trying to "get people."
The commission is expected to hold eight or nine hearings, on a range of topics including regulation, subprime lending, how companies became "too big to fail," derivatives, and the role of the credit-rating agencies. The leaders said they hadn't yet issued subpoenas but would do so if they felt government or industry officials were withholding information.
"I've found that if you have [the power to issue subpoenas] and you ask nicely, you don't have to tell them the consequences of 'no,' " said Mr. Thomas, the former chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Asked why a representative of Citigroup Inc. wasn't on the witness list for next week's hearings, Mr. Angelides said, "They'll have their day. They shouldn't feel bad, or left out."
Friday, January 1, 2010
Your request is being processed... Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein Named Financial Times Person Of The Year
Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein has been named Person of the Year by the Financial Times. The investment bank "not only navigated the 2008 global financial crisis better than others on Wall Street," the paper writes, "but is set to make record profits, and pay up to $23BN in bonuses to its 31,700 staff."
But while the FT may agree that Blankfein is doing "God's work," others view the bank as indicative of exactly what is wrong with Wall Street. Indeed, Blankfein himself apologized last month for Goldman Sachs' role in the financial crisis. And Goldman Sachs's trading practices are currently under investigation by the federal government.
In response to the FT's decision to honor Blankfein, noted bank analyst Christopher Whalen has canceled his subscription to the paper. "Mr. Blankfein and his colleagues at Goldman Sachs, in my view, have done more to damage the reputations of global financial professionals than any other organization in 2009, yet you applaud them," he wrote in a letter to the paper. "Not only is your suggestion ridiculous and repugnant, but it illustrates to me the fact that the FT is part of the problem in global finance, not as one would hope and expect, part of the solution."
But while the FT may agree that Blankfein is doing "God's work," others view the bank as indicative of exactly what is wrong with Wall Street. Indeed, Blankfein himself apologized last month for Goldman Sachs' role in the financial crisis. And Goldman Sachs's trading practices are currently under investigation by the federal government.
In response to the FT's decision to honor Blankfein, noted bank analyst Christopher Whalen has canceled his subscription to the paper. "Mr. Blankfein and his colleagues at Goldman Sachs, in my view, have done more to damage the reputations of global financial professionals than any other organization in 2009, yet you applaud them," he wrote in a letter to the paper. "Not only is your suggestion ridiculous and repugnant, but it illustrates to me the fact that the FT is part of the problem in global finance, not as one would hope and expect, part of the solution."
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