Cass Information Systems Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

Cass Information Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASS), (the Company or Cass) reported third quarter 2023 earnings of $0.54 per diluted share, as compared to $0.64 in the third quarter of 2022 and $0.52 in the second quarter of 2023. Net income for the period was $7.4 million, a decrease of 16.0% from $8.8 million in the same period in 2022 and an increase of $256,000, or 3.6%, as compared to the second quarter of 2023.

The Company’s financial results have been impacted by a decrease in payment float generated from its transportation clients as a result of a decline in freight rates and a decrease in deposit balances generated from its Cass Commercial Bank clients. The lower level of funding provided by these sources has impacted the Company’s ability to earn interest income on short-term investments. The Company also continues to invest in updating and upgrading its technology platforms in its payment business. The Company anticipates an improvement in profitability levels as compared to the third quarter of 2023 in future quarters as efficiencies are gained around ingesting and processing invoices, new facility clients are onboarded and net interest income improves as a result of net interest margin expansion via repricing of maturing fixed rate loans and investment securities to current market interest rates.

Martin Resch, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, noted, “We continue to update and upgrade the various technology platforms supporting our payments businesses. These technology enhancements, while temporarily increasing expense levels beyond what is necessary to run our business, are creating capacity to meet ongoing business demand, presenting significant revenue opportunities. We have recently signed several new large clients which are expected to increase our facility transaction and dollar volumes by 30-40% over third quarter of 2023 levels and marginally impact freight transaction and dollar volumes. The facilities clients are expected to be fully onboarded by the end of the first quarter of 2024.”

Third Quarter 2023 Highlights

Transportation Dollar Volumes – Transportation dollar volumes were $9.3 billion during the third quarter of 2023, a decrease of 19.8% as compared to the third quarter of 2022 and a decrease of 4.6% as compared to the second quarter of 2023. The decrease in dollar volumes was due to a decrease in the average dollars per transaction to $1,038 during the third quarter of 2023 as compared to $1,231 in the third quarter of 2022 and $1,056 in the second quarter of 2023 as a result of lower fuel costs and overall freight rates. Transportation dollar volumes are key to the Company’s revenue as higher volumes generally lead to an increase in payment float, which generates interest income, as well as an increase in payments in advance of funding, which generates financial fees.

Facility Expense Dollar Volumes – Facility dollar volumes totaled $5.1 billion during the third quarter of 2023, a decrease of 7.1% as compared to the third quarter of 2022 and an increase of 11.3% as compared to the second quarter of 2023. The change in dollar volumes period to period are largely reflective of seasonality and energy prices.

Processing Fees – Processing fees increased $975,000, or 5.1%, over the same period in the prior year. The increase in processing fee income was largely driven by an increase in ancillary fees and an increase in facility transaction volumes of 3.1%. The Company has experienced recent success in winning facility clients with high transaction volumes which is expected to contribute to more meaningful growth in processing fees beginning in the first quarter of 2024 as these new clients are onboarded. Transportation invoice volumes decreased 4.9% over the same period. The decline in transportation volumes is due to the on-going freight recession.

Financial Fees – Financial fees, earned on a transactional level basis for invoice payment services when making customer payments, increased $345,000, or 3.1%. The increase in financial fee income was primarily due to the increase in short-term interest rates, partially offset by a decline in transportation dollar volumes of 19.8%.

Net Interest Income – Net interest income increased $577,000, or 3.6%. The Company’s net interest margin improved to 3.24% as compared to 2.90% in the same period last year. The increase in net interest income and margin was largely driven by the rise in market interest rates as compared to the same period last year, which is favorable for these financial metrics over the long-term. The positive impact of the increase in the net interest margin was partially offset by a decline in average interest-earning assets of $183.4 million, or 8.2%.

Net interest income increased $534,000, or 3.3%, as compared to the second quarter of 2023. The increase was driven by an increase in average interest-earning assets of $49.0 million, or 2.4%. The Company’s net interest margin declined 1 basis point to 3.24% from 3.25% primarily driven by the migration of certain non-interest bearing deposits to interest-bearing. The Company anticipates its net interest margin will expand in future quarters as a result of 72.4% of the Company’s average funding sources, consisting of deposits and accounts and drafts payable being non interest-bearing. The Company has $109.8 million in U.S. Treasury securities with a weighted average yield of 2.43% maturing at various dates from April through July of 2024. In addition, the recent success of winning new facility clients is expected to generate a significant average volume of non-interest bearing payment float which can be invested at current market interest rates.

Provision for Credit Losses - The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $125,000 during the third quarter of 2023 as compared to $550,000 in the third quarter of 2022. The provision for credit losses for the third quarter of 2023 was driven by certain changes to assumptions in the Company’s CECL model, partially offset by a decrease in total loans of $16.2 million, or 1.5%, as compared to June 30, 2023.

Personnel Expenses - Personnel expenses increased $2.6 million, or 9.8%. Salaries and commissions increased $1.4 million, or 6.6%, as a result of merit increases and an increase in average full-time equivalent employees of 8.1% due to strategic investment in various technology initiatives. Pension expense increased $745,000. Despite the Company’s defined benefit pension plan being frozen in the first quarter of 2021 resulting in no service cost in subsequent periods, expense increased as a result of the accounting impact of the decline in plan assets during 2022 and corresponding decline in expected return on plan assets for 2023. Other benefits, such as 401(k) match, health insurance and payroll taxes, increased $776,000, or 17.6%, primarily due to the 8.1% increase in average FTEs as well as a significant increase in employer health insurance costs over prior year levels.

Non-Personnel Expenses - Non-personnel expenses rose $1.1 million, or 11.9%. Certain expense categories such as equipment, outside service fees and data processing are elevated as the Company invests in, and transitions to, improved technology. Multiple technology platforms are being maintained prior to switching over to what the Company believes will be more efficient technology platforms for data entry processing by the end of 2023.

Loans - When compared to December 31, 2022, ending loans decreased $43.3 million, or 4.0%. The Company has opted to be more selective in booking new loans as a result of the decline in deposits during the first half of 2023, focusing on building new client relationships rather than transactional opportunities like investment grade leases. The Company expects to experience a more normal level of loan growth in future quarters.

Payments in Advance of Funding – Average payments in advance of funding decreased $43.0 million, or 15.5%, primarily due to a 19.8% decrease in transportation dollar volumes, which led to fewer dollars advanced to freight carriers.

Deposits – Average deposits decreased $112.3 million, or 9.5%, when compared to the third quarter of 2022 but increased $10.0 million, or 0.9% from the second quarter of 2023. Total deposits at September 30, 2023 decreased $79.9 million, or 6.4% as compared to December 31, 2022. The Company experienced deposit attrition during the first six months of 2023 as larger commercial depository clients moved their funds to higher interest rate alternatives outside of Cass Commercial Bank. The Company has experienced a recent increase in its deposit balances as a result of an increase in its deposit rates and increased depositor confidence across the banking industry. During the third quarter of 2023, as compared to the second quarter of 2023, the Company experienced an increase in average interest-bearing deposits of $82.2 million and a decrease in non-interest bearing deposits of $72.2 million as a couple large depository clients transferred funds to interest-bearing accounts.

Accounts and Drafts Payable - Average accounts and drafts payable decreased $112.3 million, or 9.5%. The decrease in these balances, which are non-interest bearing, are primarily reflective of the decrease in transportation dollar volumes of 19.8%. Accounts and drafts payable are a stable source of funding generated by payment float from transportation and facility clients.

Liquidity - The Company maintained strong liquidity during the third quarter of 2023 with average short-term investments, primarily consisting of cash in a reserve account at the Federal Reserve Bank, of $310.8 million. In addition, all of the Company’s investment securities are classified as available-for-sale, and there were no outstanding borrowings at September 30, 2023.

Capital - The Company’s common equity tier 1, total risk-based capital and leverage ratios were 14.53%, 15.30% and 10.61% at September 30, 2023, respectively. Total shareholders’ equity has decreased $89,000 since December 31, 2022 as a result of an increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $7.6 million due to the increase in market interest rates and resulting negative impact on the fair value of available-for-sale investment securities, dividends of $11.9 million and the repurchase of Company stock of $5.2 million, partially offset by year-to-date 2023 earnings of $21.6 million. On October 17, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.30 per share effective with the dividend payable on December 15, 2023 to shareholders of record on December 5, 2023. The Company’s Board of Directors also authorized the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of common stock in future periods.

About Cass Information Systems

Cass Information Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated information and payment management solutions. Cass enables enterprises to achieve visibility, control and efficiency in their supply chains, communications networks, facilities and other operations. Disbursing over $90 billion annually on behalf of clients, and with total assets of $2.5 billion, Cass is uniquely supported by Cass Commercial Bank. Founded in 1906 and a wholly owned subsidiary, Cass Commercial Bank provides sophisticated financial exchange services to the parent organization and its clients. Cass is part of the Russell 2000. More information is available at www.cassinfo.com.

Forward Looking Information

This information contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include future financial and operating results, expectations, intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the impact of economic and market conditions, inflationary pressures, risks of credit deterioration, interest rate changes, governmental actions, market volatility, security breaches and technology interruptions, energy prices and competitive factors, among others, as set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Note to Investors

The Company has used, and intends to continue using, the Investors portion of its website to disclose material non-public information and to comply with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors are encouraged to monitor Cass’s website in addition to following press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts.

Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
($ and numbers in thousands, except per share data)
	Quarter Ended September 30, 2023				Quarter Ended June 30, 2023				Quarter Ended September 30, 2022				Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2023				Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2022
Processing fees	$	19,939			$	19,386			$	18,964			$	58,838			$	57,184
Financial fees		11,597				11,662				11,252				34,518				32,406
Total fee revenue	$	31,536			$	31,048			$	30,216			$	93,356			$	89,590
Interest and fees on loans		12,863				12,931				10,006				38,029				27,890
Interest and dividends on securities		4,392				4,677				4,498				13,863				11,546
Interest on federal funds sold and other short-term investments		3,934				2,100				2,249				9,147				3,423
Total interest income	$	21,189			$	19,708			$	16,753			$	61,039			$	42,859
Interest expense		4,641				3,694				782				11,579				1,344
Net interest income	$	16,548			$	16,014			$	15,971			$	49,460			$	41,515
(Provision for) release of credit losses		(125	)			120				(550	)			335				(850	)
(Loss) gain on sale of investment securities		--				(199	)			13				(160	)			15
Other		1,264				1,224				1,555				3,784				3,260
Total revenues	$	49,223			$	48,207			$	47,205			$	146,775			$	133,530
Salaries and commissions		23,391				23,617				21,953				69,613				62,516
Share-based compensation		938				909				1,260				3,796				4,431
Net periodic pension cost (benefit)		129				138				(616	)			402				(1,847	)
Other benefits		5,178				4,768				4,402				15,283				12,650
Total personnel expenses	$	29,636			$	29,432			$	26,999			$	89,094			$	77,750
Occupancy		908				907				970				2,670				2,801
Equipment		1,789				1,749				1,633				5,188				5,004
Other		7,730				7,251				6,719				22,822				16,233
Total operating expenses	$	40,063			$	39,339			$	36,321			$	119,774			$	101,788
Income from operations before income taxes	$	9,160			$	8,868			$	10,884			$	27,001			$	31,742
Income tax expense		1,766				1,730				2,085				5,352				6,123
Net income	$	7,394			$	7,138			$	8,799			$	21,649			$	25,619
Basic earnings per share	$	.55			$	.53			$	.65			$	1.60			$	1.89
Diluted earnings per share	$	.54			$	.52			$	.64			$	1.56			$	1.86
Share data:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding		13,501				13,553				13,542				13,551				13,554
Weighted-average common shares outstanding assuming dilution		13,793				13,854				13,804				13,836				13,807

Consolidated Balance Sheets
($ in thousands)
	(unaudited ) September 30, 2023				(unaudited ) June 30, 2023				December 31, 2022
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	408,435			$	270,473			$	200,942
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value		615,855				637,513				754,468
Loans		1,039,619				1,055,848				1,082,906
Less: Allowance for credit losses		(13,318	)			(13,194	)			(13,539	)
Loans, net	$	1,026,301			$	1,042,654			$	1,069,367
Payments in advance of funding		258,587				269,180				293,775
Premises and equipment, net		26,257				24,320				19,958
Investments in bank-owned life insurance		48,857				48,564				47,998
Goodwill and other intangible assets		20,849				21,044				21,435
Accounts and drafts receivable from customers		28,710				83,627				95,779
Other assets		71,027				73,421				69,301
Total assets	$	2,504,878			$	2,470,796			$	2,573,023
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:
Deposits
Non-interest bearing	$	511,292			$	679,107			$	642,757
Interest-bearing		666,050				512,327				614,460
Total deposits	$	1,177,342			$	1,191,434			$	1,257,217
Accounts and drafts payable		1,082,224				1,021,524				1,067,600
Other liabilities		39,076				42,692				41,881
Total liabilities	$	2,298,642			$	2,255,650			$	2,366,698
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock	$	7,753			$	7,753			$	7,753
Additional paid-in capital		207,663				206,734				207,422
Retained earnings		141,444				137,996				131,682
Common shares in treasury, at cost		(83,704	)			(80,943	)			(81,211	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(66,920	)			(56,394	)			(59,321	)
Total shareholders’ equity	$	206,236			$	215,146			$	206,325
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	2,504,878			$	2,470,796			$	2,573,023

Average Balances (unaudited)
($ in thousands)
	Quarter Ended September 30, 2023			Quarter Ended June 30, 2023			Quarter Ended September 30, 2022			Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2023			Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2022
Average interest-earning assets	$	2,059,801		$	2,010,771		$	2,243,219		$	2,077,392		$	2,196,704
Average loans		1,045,967			1,075,891			984,105			1,065,915			972,698
Average securities available-for-sale		634,835			686,777			776,162			681,820			740,654
Average short-term investments		310,770			185,230			431,516			263,774			451,562
Average payments in advance of funding		234,684			254,869			277,683			243,458			283,431
Average assets		2,395,264			2,370,359			2,617,814			2,421,274			2,587,760
Average non-interest bearing deposits		480,472			552,718			586,872			528,677			594,994
Average interest-bearing deposits		591,556			509,319			597,458			563,994			598,801
Average borrowings		11			3,199			11			2,993			11
Average interest-bearing liabilities		591,567			512,518			597,469			566,987			598,812
Average accounts and drafts payable		1,070,057			1,049,281			1,182,373			1,071,414			1,135,673
Average shareholders’ equity	$	212,591		$	214,066		$	207,247		$	212,159		$	216,827

Consolidated Financial Highlights (unaudited)
($ and numbers in thousands, except ratios)
	Quarter Ended September 30, 2023			Quarter Ended June 30, 2023			Quarter Ended September 30, 2022			Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2023			Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2022
Return on average equity		13.80 %			13.37 %			16.84 %			13.64 %			15.80 %
Net interest margin (1)		3.24 %			3.25 %			2.90 %			3.24 %			2.61 %
Average interest-earning assets yield (1)		4.13 %			3.98 %			3.04 %			3.98 %			2.69 %
Average loan yield		4.88 %			4.82 %			4.03 %			4.77 %			3.83 %
Average investment securities yield (1)		2.62 %			2.64 %			2.35 %			2.63 %			2.22 %
Average short-term investment yield		5.02 %			4.55 %			2.07 %			4.64 %			1.01 %
Average cost of total deposits		1.72 %			1.38 %			0.26 %			1.42 %			0.15 %
Average cost of interest-bearing deposits		3.11 %			2.88 %			0.52 %			2.72 %			0.30 %
Average cost of interest-bearing liabilities		3.11 %			2.89 %			0.52 %			2.73 %			0.30 %
Allowance for credit losses to loans		1.28 %			1.25 %			1.26 %			1.28 %			1.26 %
Non-performing loans to total loans		-- %			-- %			-- %			-- %			-- %
Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) to loans		-- %			-- %			-- %			-- %			-- %
Transportation invoice volume		8,925			9,193			9,385			27,216			27,633
Transportation dollar volume	$	9,263,453		$	9,711,801		$	11,549,980		$	29,243,706		$	33,818,573
Facility expense transaction volume		3,417			3,467			3,315			10,352			9,794
Facility expense dollar volume	$	5,096,882		$	4,578,490		$	5,485,783		$	14,988,757		$	14,699,903
(1) Yields are presented on tax-equivalent basis assuming a tax rate of 21%.

 

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The Cass Information Systems Stock at the time of publication of the news with a raise of +0,28 % to 35,20USD on Lang & Schwarz stock exchange (19. Oktober 2023, 14:35 Uhr).