Oritani Financial Corp. (the “Company” or “Oritani”) (NASDAQ:ORIT), the holding company for Oritani Bank (the “Bank”), reported net income of $12.0 million, or $0.27 per basic and diluted common share, for the three months ended September 30, 2017.  This compares to net income of $10.6 million, or $0.25 per basic (and $0.24 diluted) common share, for the corresponding 2016 period. 

The Company also reported that its Board of Directors has declared a $0.175 quarterly cash dividend on the Company’s common stock.  The record date for the dividend will be November 6, 2017 and the payment date will be November 20, 2017. 

“I was certainly pleased with the operating results for this past quarter for Oritani,” said Kevin J. Lynch, the Company’s Chairman, President and CEO.  “Our net interest income, spread and margin all expanded and our efficiency ratio was further improved.” Mr. Lynch continued: “The level of loan prepayments exceeded our expectations.  While this development aided income, it also directly impacted our ability to increase the loan portfolio.  I anticipate that we will be able to produce growth in the next quarter.”

Comparison of Operating Results

Net Income

Net income increased $1.4 million, or 13.1%, to $12.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, from $10.6 million for the corresponding 2016 quarter.  The primary cause of the increased net income in 2017 was increased net interest income of $2.3 million.  A portion of the increased net interest income was due to a $658,000 increase in prepayment penalty income.  Our annualized return on average assets was 1.16% for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, and 1.14% for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

Interest Income

The components of interest income changed as follows:

      Three Months Ended September 30, Increase / (decrease)
      2017 2016   Average  
      Income Yield Income Yield Income Balance Yield
      (Dollars in thousands)
       
Interest on loans $ 35,837 4.02 % $ 31,973 4.06 % $ 3,864   $ 413,588   -0.04 %
Dividends on FHLB stock   485 6.47 %   457 5.51 %   28     (3,178 ) 0.96 %
Interest on securities AFS   496 2.08 %   826 1.98 %   (330 )   (71,493 ) 0.10 %
Interest on securities HTM   1,099 1.86 %   803 1.87 %   296     64,595   -0.01 %
Interest on federal funds sold                  
and short term investments   3 1.25 %   1 0.50 %   2     151   0.75 %
Total interest income   $ 37,920 3.86 % $ 34,060 3.87 % $ 3,860   $ 403,663   -0.01 %
                   

The Company’s primary strategic business objective remains the organic growth of multifamily and commercial real estate loans.  The average balance of the loan portfolio increased $413.6 million, or 13.1%, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 versus the comparable 2016 period.  Loan originations and principal payments totaled $147.5 million and $153.0 million, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2017.  There were no loan purchases in the 2017 period.  For the comparable 2016 period, loan originations, principal payments and purchases totaled $152.6 million, $102.6 million and $26.7 million, respectively.  The Company has not had any recent significant changes regarding its underwriting standards. 

On a linked quarter basis (September 30, 2017 versus June 30, 2017), loan balances were particularly impacted by loan principal payments.  The annualized growth rate of the portfolio was 3.5% when measured based on average balance.  Loan balances contracted $4.8 million when measured on a period end basis.  Management considers these results to be an anomaly primarily caused by the loan principal payments and anticipates meaningful loan growth in prospective periods.

The yield on the loan portfolio decreased 4 basis points for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 versus the comparable 2016 period.  On a linked quarter basis (September 30, 2017 versus June 30, 2017), the yield on the loan portfolio increased 12 basis points.  The increased level of prepayment income impacted these results.  Exclusive of prepayment penalties, the yield on the loan portfolio decreased 10 basis points versus the quarter ended September 30, 2016 and increased 1 basis point on a linked quarter basis.  As discussed in previous releases, there have been numerous pressures on loan yields.  The impact of many of these pressures has ebbed and, as noted above, we realized slight expansion recently.  Prepayment penalties totaled $1.3 million, $236,000 and $631,000 for the quarters ended September 30, 2017, June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively.   Prepayment penalty income boosted annualized loan yield by 14, 3 and 8 basis points for the quarters ended September 30, 2017, June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively. 

The average balance of securities available for sale decreased $71.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 versus the comparable 2016 period, while the average balance of securities held to maturity increased $64.6 million over the same period.  The Company has been classifying the majority of new purchases as held to maturity.  These balances were also impacted by purchases and sales.

Interest Expense

The components of interest expense changed as follows:

      Three Months Ended September 30, Increase / (decrease)
      2017 2016   Average  
      Expense Cost Expense Cost Expense Balance Cost
      (Dollars in thousands)
       
Savings deposits $ 101 0.23 % $ 96 0.23 % $ 5   $ 10,260   - %
Money market   2,382 1.11 %   1,885 1.06 %   497     140,772   0.05 %
Checking accounts   972 0.54 %   548 0.40 %   424     164,148   0.14 %
Time deposits   3,898 1.37 %   3,210 1.32 %   688     163,230   0.05 %
Total deposits   7,353 1.02 %   5,739 0.95 %   1,614     478,410   0.07 %
Borrowings   2,923 1.97 %   3,021 1.79 %   (98 )   (81,083 ) 0.18 %
  Total interest expense   $ 10,276 1.18 % $ 8,760 1.14 % $ 1,516   $ 397,327   0.04 %
                   

Strong deposit growth remains a strategic objective of the Company.  As detailed above, the average balance of deposits increased $478.4 million, or 19.9%, for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 versus the comparable 2016 period.  Growth was also strong when measured on a linked quarter comparison basis though a significant portion of the growth in this period was due to brokered deposits.  The overall cost of deposits increased 7 basis points for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 versus the comparable 2016 period, and 4 basis points on a linked quarter comparison basis.  The increased cost of money market and checking accounts is primarily attributable to the costs of interest rate swaps that are being reflected as interest expense on these accounts.  The situation occurred as a result of balance sheet transactions executed during the quarters ended June 30, 2017, June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.  The restructures executed during the quarters ended June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 impacted the results for both the quarter ended September 30, 2017 and the quarter ended September 30, 2016.  The restructure executed during the quarter ended June 30, 2017 only impacted the results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.  The balance sheet restructures are discussed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the annual periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.  The increase in the cost of time deposits is primarily due to the impact of market pressures. 

The average balance of borrowings decreased $81.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 versus the comparable 2016 period, while the cost increased 18 basis points.  The increase in the average balance of deposits allowed the Company to reduce borrowings while still funding growth.  The cost of borrowings has been impacted by the increased cost of overnight and short term borrowings.  The cost of borrowings was also affected by the balance sheet restructures referenced above.  On a linked quarter basis, the average balance of borrowings decreased $117.8 million and the cost of borrowings decreased 3 basis points.  The impact of the balance sheet restructure on borrowing costs was partially offset by the increased cost of overnight borrowings as well as the decreased level of overnight borrowings.  Despite the increased cost of such borrowings, they remain a lower cost of funding than longer term borrowings. 

Net Interest Income Before Provision for Loan Losses

Net interest income increased by $2.3 million to $27.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, from $25.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016.  The Company’s net interest income, spread and margin over the period are detailed in the chart below.

  Net Interest Income Before Provision   Prepayment Penalty Income   Net Interest Income Before Provision Excluding Prepayment Penalties   Including Prepayment Penalties   Excluding Prepayment Penalties
         
         
         
Quarter Ended     Spread Margin Spread Margin
  (dollars in thousands)            
September 30, 2017 $ 27,644   $ 1,289   $ 26,355   2.68 % 2.82 %   2.55 % 2.68 %
June 30, 2017   26,287     236     26,051   2.54 % 2.68 %   2.52 % 2.66 %
March 31, 2017   26,795     821     25,974   2.63 % 2.75 %   2.54 % 2.67 %
December 31, 2016   26,229     1,199     25,030   2.72 % 2.86 %   2.59 % 2.73 %
September 30, 2016   25,300     631     24,669   2.73 % 2.87 %   2.65 % 2.80 %
                                     

The Company’s spread and margin have been significantly impacted by prepayment penalties.  Due to this situation, the chart above details results with and without the impact of prepayment penalties.  Net interest income before provision for loan losses, excluding prepayment penalties, is a non-GAAP financial measure since it excludes a component (prepayment penalty income) of net interest income and therefore differs from the most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes the presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure is useful because it provides information to assess the underlying performance of the loan portfolio since prepayment penalty income can be expected to change as interest rates change.  While prepayment penalty income is expected to continue, fluctuations in the level of prepayment income are also expected.  The level of prepayment income is generally expected to decrease as external interest rates increase since borrowers would have less of an incentive to refinance existing loans.  However, the time period when these events could occur may not align, and the specific behavior of borrowers is difficult to predict.  The level of loan prepayments and prepayment income increased during the quarter ended September 30, 2017 despite a period of generally increasing interest rates.

The Company’s spread and margin have been under pressure due to several factors.  These factors were discussed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the annual period ended June 30, 2017, and in other prior public releases.  The Company undertook the balance sheet restructures referenced above, in part, to counter some of the spread and margin compression.  Recently, the rate of compression has abated and the spread and margin, absent prepayment penalties, expanded for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 (versus the quarter ended June 30, 2017).  While expansion was primarily due to the balance sheet restructure that was executed during the quarter ended June 30, 2017, increased loan yields have offset some of the compression pressures.  Management does not expect continued expansion of the spread and margin in the coming quarter.  However, the Company’s net interest income excluding prepayment penalties has been expanding.

The Company’s net interest income and net interest rate spread were both negatively impacted in all periods due to the reversal of accrued interest income on loans delinquent more than 90 days.  The total of such income reversed was $78,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and $119,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016.

Provision for Loan Losses

The Company recorded no provision for loan losses for both the three months ended September 30, 2017 and the three months ended September 30, 2016.  A rollforward of the allowance for loan losses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 is presented below:

  Three months ended
  Sept. 30,
  2017   2016
               
  (Dollars in thousands)
Balance at beginning of period $ 30,272     $ 29,951  
Provisions charged to operations   -       -  
Recoveries of loans previously charged off   152       2  
Less: Loans charged off   22       75  
Balance at end of period $ 30,402     $ 29,878  
       
Allowance for loan losses to total loans   0.84 %     0.92 %
Net annualized (recoveries) charge-offs to average      
loans outstanding   (0.02 )%     0.01 %

Delinquency and non performing asset information is provided below:

    9/30/2017 6/30/2017 3/31/2017 12/31/2016 9/30/2016
    (Dollars in thousands)
Delinquency Totals            
30 - 59 days past due   $ 987   $ 1,374   $ 1,266   $ 3,133   $ 1,686  
60 - 89 days past due     1,656     1,571     371     1,196     1,060  
Nonaccrual     9,906     10,223     10,310     10,393     10,537  
Total   $ 12,549   $ 13,168   $ 11,947   $ 14,722   $ 13,283  
             
Non Performing Asset Totals            
Nonaccrual loans, per above   $ 9,906   $ 10,223   $ 10,310   $ 10,393   $ 10,537  
Real Estate Owned     -     140     140     266     449  
Total   $ 9,906   $ 10,363   $ 10,450   $ 10,659   $ 10,986  
             
Nonaccrual loans to total loans     0.28 %   0.28 %   0.29 %   0.30 %   0.32 %
Delinquent loans to total loans     0.35 %   0.37 %   0.33 %   0.43 %   0.41 %
Non performing assets to total assets     0.24 %   0.25 %   0.25 %   0.27 %   0.29 %

Delinquent loan and non performing asset totals continue to illustrate minimal credit issues at the Company.  Further, of the $9.9 million in loans classified as nonaccrual at September 30, 2017, $4.6 million were current. 

Other Income

Other income decreased $315,000 to $943,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, from $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016.   The primary change was a decrease of $316,000 in net income from investments in real estate joint ventures.  Income from this category decreased to zero for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as the Company has disposed of all such properties

Other Expenses

Other expenses decreased $784,000 to $9.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, from $10.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016.  Compensation, payroll taxes and fringe benefits decreased $802,000 to $6.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, from $7.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016.  The cost for the majority of the stock awards and stock options granted in conjunction with the Company’s 2011 Equity Plan fully amortized in August 2016.  The 2016 period included a portion of the amortization expense related to this plan while the 2017 period had significantly less expenses related to the amortization of this plan.  This situation reduced expenses in the 2017 period by $724,000. 

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $7.1 million on pre-tax income of $19.1 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 37.2%.   Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $5.7 million on pre-tax income of $16.3 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 34.9%.  The Company’s effective rate in the 2016 period was positively affected by the vesting of stock awards and the exercise of nonqualified stock options and disqualified incentive stock options.  There were minimal such events in the 2017 period.  The 2017 period was also negatively impacted by certain changes in State tax rates.

Comparison of Financial Condition at September 30, 2017 and June 30, 2017

Total Assets.  Total assets decreased $18.1 million to $4.12 billion at September 30, 2017, from $4.14 billion at June 30, 2017.  Asset growth is typically driven by loan growth.  As discussed below, loan balances decreased this quarter. 

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents (which include fed funds and short term investments) decreased $2.5 million to $31.1 million at September 30, 2017, from $33.6 million at June 30, 2017.

Net Loans.  Loans, net decreased $4.8 million to $3.56 billion at September 30, 2017, from $3.57 billion at June 30, 2017.  As discussed in “Comparison of Operating Results, Net Interest Income,” net originations were fully offset by loan principal payments resulting in a slight decrease for the quarter.  Management considers these results to be an anomaly and expects to continue the execution of its strategic business objective of increasing multifamily and commercial real estate loan balances.

Securities available for sale.  Securities AFS decreased $7.6 million to $90.3 million at September 30, 2017, from $97.9 million at June 30, 2017.  The decrease is primarily due to principal payments. 

Securities held to maturity.  Securities HTM decreased $861,000 to $238.8 million at September 30, 2017, from $239.6 million at June 30, 2017.  The decrease is primarily due to principal payments partially offset by purchases totaling $10.6 million.

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLB”) stock.  FHLB stock decreased $4.7 million to $27.8 million at September 30, 2017, from $32.5 million at June 30, 2017.  FHLB stock holdings are required depending on several factors, including the level of borrowings with the FHLB.  As FHLB borrowings decreased over the quarter, excess FHLB stock was redeemed.

Deposits.  Deposits increased $63.6 million to $2.92 billion at September 30, 2017, from $2.86 billion at June 30, 2017.  See “Interest Expense” for discussion regarding deposit balances.

Borrowings.  Borrowings decreased $95.8 million to $546.3 million at September 30, 2017, from $642.1 million at June 30, 2017.  See “Interest Expense” for discussion regarding borrowing amounts.

Stockholders’ Equity.  Stockholders’ equity increased $7.2 million to $566.4 million at September 30, 2017, from $559.2 million at June 30, 2017.  The increase was primarily due to net income and the release of treasury shares in conjunction with stock option exercises, partially offset by dividends.  Based on our September 30, 2017 closing price of $16.80 per share, the Company stock was trading at 137.0% of book value. 

About the CompanyOritani Financial Corp. is the holding company for Oritani Bank, a New Jersey state chartered bank offering a full range of retail and commercial loan and deposit products.  Oritani Bank is dedicated to providing exceptional personal service to its individual and business customers.  The Bank currently operates its main office and 25 full service branches in the New Jersey Counties of Bergen, Hudson, Essex and Passaic.  For additional information about Oritani Bank, please visit www.oritani.com.

Forward Looking StatementsCertain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Such forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods, or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as  "may,"  "will,"  "believe,"  "expect," "estimate,"  "anticipate,"  "continue,” or similar terms or variations on those terms, or the negative of those terms. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those risk factors disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2017 and the following: those related to the economic environment, particularly in the market areas in which the Company operates, competitive products and pricing, fiscal and monetary policies of the U.S. Government, changes in government regulations affecting financial institutions, including regulatory fees and capital requirements, changes in prevailing interest rates, credit risk management, asset-liability management, the financial and securities markets and the availability of and costs associated with sources of liquidity.

The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.  The Company wishes to advise readers that the factors listed above could affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements.  The Company does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions, which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

For further information contact:Kevin J. LynchChairman, President and Chief Executive OfficerOritani Financial Corp.(201) 664-5400

Oritani Financial Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share data)
                 
        Sept. 30,   June 30,
Assets   2017   2017
        (unaudited)   (audited)
Cash on hand and in banks   $ 30,701     $ 33,252  
Federal funds sold and short term investments     403       326  
    Cash and cash equivalents     31,104       33,578  
                 
Loans, net       3,561,902       3,566,703  
Securities available for sale, at fair value     90,348       97,930  
Securities held to maturity,            
  fair value of $236,711 and $237,204, respectively.     238,770       239,631  
Bank Owned Life Insurance (at cash surrender value)     96,592       95,946  
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock ("FHLB"), at cost     27,813       32,504  
Accrued interest receivable     11,371       10,620  
Real estate owned           140  
Office properties and equipment, net     13,713       13,909  
Deferred tax assets     38,888       37,693  
Other assets     9,107       9,030  
    Total Assets   $ 4,119,608     $ 4,137,684  
                 
Liabilities            
Deposits     $ 2,920,046     $ 2,856,478  
Borrowings       546,277       642,059  
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and            
  insurance     23,383       23,496  
Official checks outstanding     3,407       4,423  
Other liabilities     60,102       52,005  
    Total liabilities     3,553,215       3,578,461  
                 
Stockholders' Equity            
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized;            
  56,245,065 shares issued; 46,176,504 shares outstanding at              
  September 30, 2017 and 45,992,366 shares outstanding at            
  June 30, 2017.     562       562  
Additional paid-in capital     512,693       512,337  
Unallocated common stock held by the employee stock            
  ownership plan     (18,061 )     (18,407 )
Non-vested restricted stock awards     (347 )     (458 )
Treasury stock, at cost; 10,068,561 shares at September 30, 2017 and            
  10,252,699 shares at June 30, 2017.     (134,061 )     (136,517 )
Retained earnings     202,196       198,186  
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax     3,411       3,520  
    Total stockholders' equity     566,393       559,223  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity   $ 4,119,608     $ 4,137,684  
                 
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.            
             
Oritani Financial Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016
(In thousands, except share data)
                   
        Three months ended  
        September 30,  
        2017   2016  
                     
        unaudited  
Interest income:              
  Loans   $ 35,837     $ 31,973  
  Dividends on FHLB stock   485       457  
  Securities available for sale   496       826  
  Securities held to maturity   1,099       803  
  Federal funds sold and short term investments   3       1  
    Total interest income   37,920       34,060  
                   
Interest expense:              
  Deposits     7,353       5,739  
  Borrowings     2,923       3,021  
    Total interest expense   10,276       8,760  
                   
    Net interest income before provision for loan losses   27,644       25,300  
                   
Provision for loan losses          
    Net interest income after provision for loan losses   27,644       25,300  
                   
Other income:              
  Service charges     228       182  
  Net income from investments in real estate joint ventures       316  
  Bank-owned life insurance   646       679  
  Net loss on sale of assets   (2 )      
  Other income     71       81  
    Total other income   943       1,258  
                   
Other expenses:              
  Compensation, payroll taxes and fringe benefits   6,556       7,358  
  Advertising     142       90  
  Office occupancy and equipment expense   749       800  
  Data processing service fees   544       544  
  Federal insurance premiums   300       450  
  Real estate owned operations   1       55  
  Other expenses     1,192       971  
    Total other expenses   9,484       10,268  
                   
    Income before income tax expense   19,103       16,290  
Income tax  expense     7,107       5,679  
    Net  income   $ 11,996     $ 10,611  
                   
                   
Income per basic  common share $ 0.27     $ 0.25  
Income per diluted common share $ 0.27     $ 0.24  
                   
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