Axos Financial, Inc. Reports Record Fiscal Second Quarter 2023 Results

Axos Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AX) (“Axos”), today announced unaudited financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended December 31, 2022. Net income was $81.6 million, an increase of 34% from $60.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. Diluted earnings per share were $1.35, an increase of $0.35, or 35%, as compared to diluted earnings per share of $1.00 for the quarter ended December 31, 2021.

Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted common share (“adjusted EPS”), non-GAAP measures, which exclude non-cash amortization expenses and non-recurring costs related to mergers and acquisitions, and other non-recurring costs each increased 33% to $83.4 million and $1.38, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, compared to $62.9 million and $1.04, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2021.

Fiscal Second Quarter 2023 Financial Summary:

For the six months ended December 31, 2022, net income was $140.0 million, an increase of 16% from net income of $121.0 million for the six months ended December 31, 2021. Diluted earnings per share were $2.31 for the six months ended December 31, 2022, an increase of $0.32, or 16%, as compared to diluted earnings per share of $1.99 for the six months ended December 31, 2021.

“Our diverse lending and deposit businesses continue to support strong revenue and earnings growth,” stated Greg Garrabrants, President and Chief Executive Officer of Axos. “Net interest income increased 10.8% linked quarter and 37.3% year-over-year, as a result of net interest margin expansion and loan growth. Higher loan yields, primarily from monthly-adjustable commercial loans and a diverse mix of interest-bearing and non-interest bearing deposits allowed us to increase our net interest margin this quarter compared to last quarter despite increased deposit funding costs. Additionally, several of our businesses benefited from rising interest rates, including Axos Securities and Axos Fiduciary Services.”

“Our annualized return on average common equity of 18.71% this quarter exceeded our annualized loan growth rate of 7% allowing us to organically build our capital ratios this quarter,” stated Derrick Walsh, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Axos. “Growth in our Securities Business and continued solid operational performance led to an improved efficiency ratio of 47.1%. Credit quality remains strong, with non-performing assets to total assets declining by 14 basis points linked-quarter to 54 basis points.”

Other Highlights

• Net loans for investment totaled $15.5 billion at December 31, 2022, an increase of $0.3 billion, or 7% annualized, from $15.2 billion at September 30, 2022
• Deposits totaled $15.7 billion at December 31, 2022, an increase of $0.5 billion, or 14% annualized, from $15.2 billion at September 30, 2022
• Pretax income for the Securities Business segment was $15.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 compared to $8.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2022
• Net interest margin was 4.49% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, compared to 4.10% for the quarter ended December 31, 2021
• Non-performing loans to total loans was 0.61% at December 31, 2022, down from 0.78% at September 30, 2022
• Return on average common stockholders’ equity was 18.71% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022
• Book value increased to $29.79 per share at December 31, 2022, from $25.60, an increase of 16% from December 31, 2021

Fiscal Second Quarter 2023 Income Statement Summary

Net income was $81.6 million or $1.35 per diluted common share for the three months ended December 31, 2022, compared to $60.8 million, or $1.00 per diluted common share for the three months ended December 31, 2021. Net interest income increased $54.3 million or 37% for the three months ended December 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to higher average balances and rates earned in the loan portfolio, partially offset by higher rates paid on deposits.

The provision for credit losses was $3.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 compared to $4.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021 primarily due to growth in the loan portfolio and changes in loan mix.

Non-interest income decreased to $28.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 compared to $30.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021. Decreases of $4.0 million in mortgage banking income, $2.5 million in prepayment penalty fee income and $1.1 million in advisory fee income were partially offset by an increase of $3.5 million in broker-dealer fee income and a $1.7 million increase in banking and service fees.

Non-interest expense, comprised of various operating expenses, increased $21.5 million to $107.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 from $86.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to a $9.7 million increase in salaries and related costs, a $7.5 million increase in advertising and promotional expenses primarily due to increased lead generation and deposit marketing costs, and a $2.5 million increase in professional services primarily due to higher consulting expenses supporting technology investments.

Balance Sheet Summary

Axos’ total assets increased by $1.3 billion, or 8%, to $18.7 billion, at December 31, 2022, from $17.4 billion at June 30, 2022, primarily due to an increase of $1.4 billion in loans held for investment. Total liabilities increased by $1.2 billion, or 8%, to $17.0 billion at December 31, 2022, from $15.8 billion at June 30, 2022, primarily due to an increase in deposits of $1.7 billion, partially offset by a $0.3 billion decrease in securities loaned. Stockholders’ equity increased by approximately $144.6 million, or 9%, to $1.8 billion at December 31, 2022 from $1.6 billion at June 30, 2022. The increase was primarily the result of $140.0 million of net income.

The Bank’s common equity tier 1 capital ratio was 11.28% at December 31, 2022 compared to 10.91% at December 31, 2021.

Conference Call

A conference call and webcast will be held on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 5:00 PM Eastern / 2:00 PM Pacific. Analysts and investors may dial in and participate in the question/answer session. To access the call, please dial: 877-407-8293. The conference call will be webcast live, and both the webcast and the earnings supplement may be accessed at Axos’ website, investors.axosfinancial.com. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available until February 26, 2023, at Axos’ website and telephonically by dialing toll-free number 877-660-6853, passcode 13735213.

About Axos Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Axos Financial, Inc. (“Axos”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Axos Bank (the “Bank”) and Axos Nevada Holding, LLC (“Axos Nevada Holding” and collectively, the “Company”). Axos Nevada Holding wholly owns its subsidiary Axos Securities, LLC, which wholly owns subsidiaries Axos Clearing LLC, a clearing broker dealer, Axos Invest, Inc., a registered investment advisor, and Axos Invest LLC, an introducing broker dealer. With approximately $18.7 billion in consolidated assets, Axos Financial, Inc. through Axos Bank provides consumer and business banking products through its low-cost distribution channels and affinity partners. Axos Clearing LLC (including its business division AAS), with approximately $32.3 billion of assets under custody and/or administration, and Axos Invest, Inc., provide comprehensive securities clearing and custody services to introducing broker-dealers and registered investment advisor correspondents and digital investment advisory services to retail investors, respectively. Axos Financial, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “AX” and is a component of the Russell 2000^® Index, the S&P SmallCap 600^® Index, the KBW Nasdaq Financial Technology Index, and the Travillian Tech-Forward Bank Index. For more information on Axos Financial, Inc. please visit investors.axosfinancial.com.

Segment Reporting

The Company operates through two segments: Banking Business and Securities Business. In order to reconcile the two segments to the consolidated totals, the Company includes parent-only activities and intercompany eliminations. Inter-segment transactions are eliminated in consolidation and primarily include non-interest income earned by the Securities Business segment and non-interest expense incurred by the Banking Business segment for cash sorting fees related to deposits sourced from Securities Business segment customers, as well as interest expense paid by the Banking Business segment to each of the wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company and to the Company itself for their operating cash held on deposit with the Business Banking segment.

The following tables present the operating results of the segments and reconciliations:

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the results presented in accordance with GAAP, this release includes the non-GAAP financial measures adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per diluted common share and tangible book value per common share. Non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and are not audited. Readers should be aware of these limitations and should be cautious as to their reliance on such measures. As noted below with respect to each measure, we believe the non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in this release enhance investors’ understanding of our business and performance, and our management uses these non-GAAP measures when it internally evaluates the performance of our business and makes operating decisions. However, these non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for GAAP basis financial measures.

We define “adjusted earnings”, a non-GAAP financial measure, as net income without the after-tax impact of non-recurring acquisition-related costs (including amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions) and other costs (unusual or non-recurring charges). Adjusted earnings per diluted common share (“adjusted EPS”), a non-GAAP financial measure, is calculated by dividing non-GAAP adjusted earnings by the average number of diluted common shares outstanding during the period. We believe the non-GAAP measures of adjusted earnings and adjusted EPS provide useful information about Axos’ operating performance. We believe excluding the non-recurring acquisition-related costs and other costs provides investors with an alternative understanding of Axos’ core business.

Below is a reconciliation of net income, the nearest compatible GAAP measure, to adjusted earnings and adjusted EPS (Non-GAAP) for the periods shown:

We define “tangible book value”, a non-GAAP financial measure, as book value adjusted for goodwill and other intangible assets. Tangible book value is calculated using common stockholders’ equity minus mortgage servicing rights, goodwill and other intangible assets. Tangible book value per common share, a non-GAAP financial measure, is calculated by dividing tangible book value by the common shares outstanding at the end of the period. We believe tangible book value per common share is useful in evaluating the Company’s capital strength, financial condition, and ability to manage potential losses.

Below is a reconciliation of total stockholders’ equity to tangible book value per common share (Non-GAAP) as of the dates indicated:

Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation statements relating to Axos’ financial prospects and other projections of its performance and asset quality, Axos’ ability to continue to grow profitably and increase its business, Axos’ ability to continue to diversify its lending and deposit franchises, the anticipated timing and financial performance of other offerings, initiatives, and acquisitions and expectations of the environment in which Axos operates. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the views and assumptions of management regarding future events and performance as of the date of this press release. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation Axos’ ability to successfully integrate acquisitions and realize the anticipated benefits of the transactions, changes in the interest rate environment, inflation, government regulation, general economic conditions, including uncertainties surrounding the severity, duration and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in the competitive marketplace, conditions in the real estate markets in which we operate, risks associated with credit quality, the outcome and effects of litigation and other factors beyond our control. These and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Axos’ periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Axos undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

The following tables set forth certain selected financial data concerning the periods indicated:

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