CASS Cass Information Systems Inc

Fourth Quarter Results

(All comparisons refer to the fourth quarter of 2022, except as noted)

• Net income of $8.4 million, or $0.61 per diluted common share.
• Return on average equity of 16.06%.
• Increase in net interest margin to 3.30% from 3.15%.
• Increase in facility expense transaction volumes of 9.7%
• Maintained exceptional credit quality, with no non-performing loans or charge-offs.

 

Cass Information Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASS), (the Company or Cass) reported fourth quarter 2023 earnings of $0.61 per diluted share, as compared to $0.67 in the fourth quarter of 2022 and $0.54 in the third quarter of 2023. Net income for the period was $8.4 million, a decrease of 9.4% from $9.3 million in the same period in 2022 and an increase of $1.0 million, or 13.8%, as compared to the third quarter of 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company reported net income and earnings per diluted share of $30.1 million and $2.18, respectively, as compared to $34.9 million and $2.53, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Martin Resch, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, noted, “We began the process of onboarding new facility clients during the fourth quarter, reflecting the success of our Waste Invoice Management and Utility Bill Management solutions. This success is reflected in the 9.7% growth in facility transaction volumes which should continue to accelerate in the first and second quarters of 2024.” Resch added, “While we continue to experience challenges related to the ongoing freight recession and its impact on payment float and financial fees, our recent technology investments should place us in a good position to grow clients and transactions in a highly efficient manner.”

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights

Transportation Dollar Volumes – Transportation dollar volumes were $9.0 billion during the fourth quarter of 2023, a decrease of 17.3% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 and a decrease of 2.4% as compared to the third quarter of 2023. The decrease in dollar volumes was due to a decrease in the average dollars per transaction to $1,036 during the fourth quarter of 2023 as compared to $1,191 in the fourth quarter of 2022 and $1,038 in the third 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 expense dollar volumes totaled $4.8 billion during the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 0.7% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 and a decrease of 4.9% as compared to the third quarter of 2023. The change in dollar volumes period to period are largely reflective of seasonality and energy prices.

Processing Fees – Processing fees increased $1.4 million, or 7.5%, over the same period in the prior year. The increase in processing fees was largely driven by an increase in ancillary fees and an increase in facility transaction volumes of 9.7%. 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 4.8% 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 $117,000, or 1.0%. 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 17.3% in addition to changes in the manner certain vendors receive payments.

Net Interest Income – Net interest income decreased $295,000, or 1.7%. The decrease in net interest income was attributable to a decline in average interest-earning assets of $157.1 million, or 7.0%. The Company’s net interest margin improved to 3.30% as compared to 3.15% in the same period last year, largely driven by the rise in market interest rates.

Net interest income increased $486,000, or 2.9%, as compared to the third quarter of 2023. The increase was driven by an increase in average interest-earning assets of $15.8 million, or 0.8% and an increase in the net interest margin of 6 basis points to 3.30% from 3.24% primarily driven by an increase in short-term investment and loan yields.

Provision for Credit Losses - The Company recorded a release of credit losses of $215,000 during the fourth quarter of 2023 as compared to a provision for credit losses of $500,000 in the fourth quarter of 2022. The release of credit losses for the fourth quarter of 2023 was largely driven by a decrease in total loans of $25.3 million, or 2.4%, as compared to September 30, 2023.

Personnel Expenses - Personnel expenses increased $876,000, or 3.0%. Salaries and commissions increased $841,000, or 3.7%, as a result of merit increases and an increase in average full-time equivalent employees (“FTEs”) of 10.8% due to strategic investments in various technology initiatives. Share-based compensation decreased $1.9 million reflecting the Company’s financial performance and the impact on performance-based restricted stock between the periods. Pension expense increased $1.1 million. 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 $864,000, or 21.3%, primarily due to the 10.8% 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 $1.7 million, or 18.9%. Certain expense categories such as equipment, outside service fees and data processing are elevated as the Company invests in, and transitions to, improved technology.

Loans - When compared to December 31, 2022, ending loans decreased $68.6 million, or 6.3%. The Company opted to be more selective in booking new loans as a result of the decline in deposits during 2023, focusing on building new client relationships rather than transactional opportunities such as investment grade leases.

Payments in Advance of Funding – Average payments in advance of funding decreased $53.3 million, or 20.3%, primarily due to a 17.3% decrease in transportation dollar volumes, which led to fewer dollars advanced to freight carriers.

Deposits – Average deposits decreased $127.2 million, or 10.7%, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. Total deposits at December 31, 2023 decreased $116.4 million, or 9.3% 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 the banking system. The Company has experienced stabilization in its deposit balances since the second quarter of 2023 as a result of an increase in its deposit rates and increased depositor confidence across the banking industry.

Accounts and Drafts Payable - Average accounts and drafts payable decreased $47.7 million, or 4.1%. The decrease in these balances, which are non-interest bearing, are primarily reflective of the decrease in transportation dollar volumes of 17.3%. Accounts and drafts payable are a stable source of funding generated by payment float from transportation and facility clients.

Shareholders’ Equity - Total shareholders’ equity has increased $23.5 million since December 31, 2022 as a result of net income of $30.1 million and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $9.7 million related to the fair value of available-for-sale investment securities, partially offset by dividends of $16.0 million and the repurchase of Company stock of $5.8 million.

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 December 31, 2023

 

Quarter Ended September 30, 2023

 

Quarter Ended December 31, 2022

 

Year Ended December 31, 2023

 

Year Ended December 31, 2022

Processing fees

 

$

20,728

 

 

$

19,939

 

 

$

19,286

 

 

$

79,566

 

 

$

76,470

 

Financial fees

 

 

11,467

 

 

 

11,597

 

 

 

11,350

 

 

 

45,985

 

 

 

43,757

 

Total fee revenue

 

$

32,195

 

 

$

31,536

 

 

$

30,636

 

 

$

125,551

 

 

$

120,227

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and fees on loans

 

 

12,796

 

 

 

12,863

 

 

 

11,570

 

 

 

50,825

 

 

 

39,460

 

Interest and dividends on securities

 

 

4,352

 

 

 

4,392

 

 

 

4,890

 

 

 

18,215

 

 

 

16,437

 

Interest on federal funds sold and other short-term investments

 

 

4,573

 

 

 

3,934

 

 

 

3,007

 

 

 

13,720

 

 

 

6,429

 

Total interest income

 

$

21,721

 

 

$

21,189

 

 

$

19,467

 

 

$

82,760

 

 

$

62,326

 

Interest expense

 

 

4,687

 

 

 

4,641

 

 

 

2,138

 

 

 

16,266

 

 

 

3,482

 

Net interest income

 

$

17,034

 

 

$

16,548

 

 

$

17,329

 

 

$

66,494

 

 

$

58,844

 

Release of (provision for) credit losses

 

 

215

 

 

 

(125

)

 

 

(500

)

 

 

550

 

 

 

(1,350

)

(Loss) gain on sale of investment securities

 

 

(13

)

 

 

--

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

(173

)

 

 

15

 

Other

 

 

1,305

 

 

 

1,264

 

 

 

1,481

 

 

 

5,089

 

 

 

4,740

 

Total revenues

 

$

50,736

 

 

$

49,223

 

 

$

48,946

 

 

$

197,511

 

 

$

182,476

 

Salaries and commissions

 

 

23,861

 

 

 

23,391

 

 

 

23,020

 

 

 

93,474

 

 

 

85,489

 

Share-based compensation

 

 

342

 

 

 

938

 

 

 

2,253

 

 

 

4,139

 

 

 

6,732

 

Net periodic pension cost (benefit)

 

 

476

 

 

 

129

 

 

 

(606

)

 

 

878

 

 

 

(2,453

)

Other benefits

 

 

4,921

 

 

 

5,178

 

 

 

4,057

 

 

 

20,203

 

 

 

16,706

 

Total personnel expenses

 

$

29,600

 

 

$

29,636

 

 

$

28,724

 

 

$

118,694

 

 

$

106,474

 

Occupancy

 

 

890

 

 

 

908

 

 

 

875

 

 

 

3,560

 

 

 

3,676

 

Equipment

 

 

1,950

 

 

 

1,789

 

 

 

1,664

 

 

 

7,138

 

 

 

6,668

 

Other

 

 

7,941

 

 

 

7,730

 

 

 

6,526

 

 

 

30,763

 

 

 

22,758

 

Total operating expenses

 

$

40,381

 

 

$

40,063

 

 

$

37,789

 

 

$

160,155

 

 

$

139,576

 

Income from operations before income taxes

 

$

10,355

 

 

$

9,160

 

 

$

11,157

 

 

$

37,356

 

 

$

42,900

 

Income tax expense

 

 

1,945

 

 

 

1,766

 

 

 

1,872

 

 

 

7,297

 

 

 

7,996

 

Net income

 

$

8,410

 

 

$

7,394

 

 

$

9,285

 

 

$

30,059

 

 

$

34,904

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

.62

 

 

$

.55

 

 

$

.69

 

 

$

2.22

 

 

$

2.58

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

.61

 

 

$

.54

 

 

$

.67

 

 

$

2.18

 

 

$

2.53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

 

 

13,467

 

 

 

13,501

 

 

 

13,548

 

 

 

13,530

 

 

 

13,553

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding assuming dilution

 

 

13,755

 

 

 

13,793

 

 

 

13,812

 

 

 

13,816

 

 

 

13,808

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

($ in thousands)

   

 

 

(unaudited) December 31, 2023

 

(unaudited) September 30, 2023

 

December 31, 2022

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

372,468

 

 

$

408,435

 

 

$

200,942

 

Securities available-for-sale, at fair value

 

 

627,117

 

 

 

615,855

 

 

 

754,468

 

Loans

 

 

1,014,318

 

 

 

1,039,619

 

 

 

1,082,906

 

Less: Allowance for credit losses

 

 

(13,089

)

 

 

(13,318

)

 

 

(13,539

)

Loans, net

 

$

1,001,229

 

 

$

1,026,301

 

 

$

1,069,367

 

Payments in advance of funding

 

 

198,861

 

 

 

258,587

 

 

 

293,775

 

Premises and equipment, net

 

 

30,093

 

 

 

26,257

 

 

 

19,958

 

Investments in bank-owned life insurance

 

 

49,159

 

 

 

48,857

 

 

 

47,998

 

Goodwill and other intangible assets

 

 

20,654

 

 

 

20,849

 

 

 

21,435

 

Accounts and drafts receivable from customers

 

 

110,651

 

 

 

28,710

 

 

 

95,779

 

Other assets

 

 

68,390

 

 

 

71,027

 

 

 

69,301

 

Total assets

 

$

2,478,622

 

 

$

2,504,878

 

 

$

2,573,023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest bearing

 

$

524,359

 

 

$

511,292

 

 

$

642,757

 

Interest-bearing

 

 

616,455

 

 

 

666,050

 

 

 

614,460

 

Total deposits

 

$

1,140,814

 

 

$

1,177,342

 

 

$

1,257,217

 

Accounts and drafts payable

 

 

1,071,369

 

 

 

1,082,224

 

 

 

1,067,600

 

Other liabilities

 

 

36,630

 

 

 

39,076

 

 

 

41,881

 

Total liabilities

 

$

2,248,813

 

 

$

2,298,642

 

 

$

2,366,698

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

$

7,753

 

 

$

7,753

 

 

$

7,753

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

208,007

 

 

 

207,663

 

 

 

207,422

 

Retained earnings

 

 

145,782

 

 

 

141,444

 

 

 

131,682

 

Common shares in treasury, at cost

 

 

(84,264

)

 

 

(83,704

)

 

 

(81,211

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(47,469

)

 

 

(66,920

)

 

 

(59,321

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

$

229,809

 

 

$

206,236

 

 

$

206,325

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

2,478,622

 

 

$

2,504,878

 

 

$

2,573,023

 

Average Balances (unaudited)

 

($ in thousands)

   

 

 

Quarter Ended December 31, 2023

 

Quarter Ended September 30, 2023

 

Quarter Ended December 31, 2022

 

Year Ended December 31, 2023

 

Year Ended December 31, 2022

Average interest-earning assets

 

$

2,075,641

 

$

2,059,801

 

$

2,232,764

 

$

2,076,950

 

$

2,205,793

Average loans

 

 

1,025,259

 

 

1,045,967

 

 

1,049,294

 

 

1,055,668

 

 

992,004

Average securities available-for-sale

 

 

615,666

 

 

634,835

 

 

760,424

 

 

665,146

 

 

745,637

Average short-term investments

 

 

356,887

 

 

310,770

 

 

346,198

 

 

287,243

 

 

425,004

Average payments in advance of funding

 

 

209,364

 

 

234,684

 

 

262,620

 

 

234,865

 

 

278,185

Average assets

 

 

2,414,665

 

 

2,395,264

 

 

2,581,086

 

 

2,419,608

 

 

2,586,078

Average non-interest bearing deposits

 

 

464,924

 

 

480,472

 

 

567,730

 

 

512,608

 

 

588,121

Average interest-bearing deposits

 

 

592,055

 

 

591,556

 

 

616,456

 

 

571,067

 

 

603,251

Average borrowings

 

 

11

 

 

11

 

 

10

 

 

2,241

 

 

11

Average interest-bearing liabilities

 

 

592,066

 

 

591,567

 

 

616,466

 

 

573,308

 

 

603,262

Average accounts and drafts payable

 

 

1,110,415

 

 

1,070,057

 

 

1,158,112

 

 

1,081,245

 

 

1,141,329

Average shareholders’ equity

 

$

207,834

 

$

212,591

 

$

194,269

 

$

211,069

 

$

211,142

Consolidated Financial Highlights (unaudited)

 

($ and numbers in thousands, except ratios)

   

 

 

Quarter Ended December 31, 2023

 

Quarter Ended September 30, 2023

 

Quarter Ended December 31, 2022

 

Year Ended December 31, 2023

 

Year Ended December 31, 2022

Return on average equity

 

 

16.06

%

 

 

13.80

%

 

 

18.96

%

 

 

14.24

%

 

 

16.53

%

Net interest margin (1)

 

 

3.30

%

 

 

3.24

%

 

 

3.15

%

 

 

3.25

%

 

 

2.74

%

Average interest-earning assets yield (1)

 

 

4.20

%

 

 

4.13

%

 

 

3.53

%

 

 

4.04

%

 

 

2.90

%

Average loan yield

 

 

4.95

%

 

 

4.88

%

 

 

4.37

%

 

 

4.81

%

 

 

3.98

%

Average investment securities yield (1)

 

 

2.63

%

 

 

2.62

%

 

 

2.50

%

 

 

2.63

%

 

 

2.30

%

Average short-term investment yield

 

 

5.08

%

 

 

5.02

%

 

 

3.44

%

 

 

4.78

%

 

 

1.51

%

Average cost of total deposits

 

 

1.76

%

 

 

1.72

%

 

 

0.72

%

 

 

1.50

%

 

 

0.31

%

Average cost of interest-bearing deposits

 

 

3.14

%

 

 

3.11

%

 

 

1.38

%

 

 

2.85

%

 

 

0.58

%

Average cost of interest-bearing liabilities

 

 

3.14

%

 

 

3.11

%

 

 

1.38

%

 

 

2.84

%

 

 

0.58

%

Allowance for credit losses to loans

 

 

1.29

%

 

 

1.28

%

 

 

1.25

%

 

 

1.29

%

 

 

1.25

%

Non-performing loans to total loans

 

 

--

%

 

 

--

%

 

 

0.11

%

 

 

--

%

 

 

0.11

%

Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) to loans

 

 

--

%

 

 

--

%

 

 

--

%

 

 

--

%

 

 

--

%

Common equity tier 1 ratio

 

 

14.73

%

 

 

14.53

%

 

 

12.80

%

 

 

14.73

%

 

 

12.80

%

Total risk-based capital ratio

 

 

15.49

%

 

 

15.30

%

 

 

13.52

%

 

 

15.49

%

 

 

13.52

%

Leverage ratio

 

 

10.71

%

 

 

10.61

%

 

 

9.52

%

 

 

10.71

%

 

 

9.52

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation invoice volume

 

 

8,733

 

 

 

8,925

 

 

 

9,174

 

 

 

35,949

 

 

 

36,807

 

Transportation dollar volume

 

$

9,044,772

 

 

$

9,263,453

 

 

$

10,930,786

 

 

$

38,288,478

 

 

$

44,749,359

 

Facility expense transaction volume

 

 

3,505

 

 

 

3,417

 

 

 

3,196

 

 

 

13,857

 

 

 

12,990

 

Facility expense dollar volume

 

$

4,848,064

 

 

$

5,096,882

 

 

$

4,814,145

 

 

$

19,836,821

 

 

$

19,514,049

 

(1) Yields are presented on tax-equivalent basis assuming a tax rate of 21%.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240125779063/en/

Cass Investor Relations ir@cassinfo.com