Finance
American Savings Bank Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results
-
2Q 2024 net loss of $45.8 million reflects after-tax goodwill impairment of $66.1 million in connection with HEI’s ongoing review of strategic options for ASB
-
Excluding the non-cash goodwill impairment, and excluding after-tax Maui wildfire-related expenses of $0.3 million, ASB’s core net income1 for the second quarter was $20.7 million, compared to $20.9 million in the first quarter of 2024 and $20.2 million in the second quarter of 2023
-
Non-cash goodwill impairment has no impact on ASB’s liquidity or ability to serve customers’ financial needs
-
Net interest margin expanded to 2.79%, up 4 basis points from the prior quarter
-
Strong credit quality and another release of reserves reflect healthy Hawaii economy
HONOLULU, July 31, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–American Savings Bank, F.S.B. (ASB), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE – HE), today reported a second quarter 2024 net loss of $45.8 million. The second quarter 2024 results reflect the impact of an after-tax goodwill impairment of $66.1 million in connection with HEI’s ongoing review of strategic options for ASB. The goodwill impairment is related to acquisitions that took place in the 1980s and 1990s. The impairment is non-cash and has no impact on ASB’s liquidity.
“The bank’s core operations and earnings remain strong, and in the second quarter ASB improved profitability and grew core net income2 compared to the same quarter last year,” said Ann Teranishi, president and chief executive officer of ASB. “We saw net interest margin expand in the quarter, and management’s prudent expense control resulted in a decrease in core noninterest expense. ASB is in a strong financial position with high liquidity, deep borrowing capacity and a loyal, long-tenured base of deposits.”
“Over the last year, HEI has been advancing a strategy designed to support a strong, financially healthy enterprise that will empower a thriving future for Hawaii,” said Scott Seu, HEI president and CEO. “Consistent with this approach, HEI has been undertaking a comprehensive review of strategic options for ASB. We will continue to take prudent and measured actions to ensure our companies are well positioned to serve our customers and community for the long term.”
Teranishi continued, “In connection with HEI’s ongoing evaluation, the bank recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge that reflects management’s analysis of our bank’s market valuation. This non-cash charge has no impact on ASB’s liquidity or ASB’s ability to serve our customers’ financial needs. We remain focused on taking care of Hawaii’s residents, businesses and communities as we have for nearly 100 years.”
There is no set timetable for HEI’s comprehensive review of strategic options for ASB, and there can be no assurances that any actions regarding ASB will result from this evaluation. Neither HEI nor ASB expect to disclose or provide an update concerning developments related to this process unless or until HEI’s Board of Directors has approved a definitive course of action or otherwise determined that further disclosure is appropriate or necessary.
___________
|
1 |
|
See the “Explanation of ASB’s Use of Certain Unaudited Non-GAAP Measures” and the related GAAP reconciliation at the end of this release. For the first quarter of 2024 and the second quarter 2023, core net income was approximately equivalent to GAAP net income. |
|
2 |
|
Refer to footnote 1. |
Financial Highlights
Second quarter 2024 net interest income was $61.7 million compared to $62.3 million in the linked quarter and $63.2 million in the second quarter of 2023. The lower net interest income compared to the linked quarter was primarily due to lower yields on the investment portfolio and lower earning asset balances. The lower net interest income compared to the prior year quarter was primarily due to higher interest expense on deposit liabilities, partially offset by higher interest and dividend income due to higher earning asset yields. Net interest margin for the second quarter of 2024 was 2.79% compared to 2.75% in both the linked and prior year quarters. The yield on earning assets improved 1 basis point during the quarter, and cost of funding improved 2 basis points.
In the second quarter of 2024 ASB recorded a negative provision for credit losses of $1.9 million compared to a negative provision for credit losses of $2.2 million in the linked quarter and a provision for credit losses of $0.04 million in the second quarter of 2023. The quarter’s negative provision reflects a $0.8 million release of reserves due to an improved economic outlook for Maui following the August 2023 wildfires, as well as lower loss rates and lower loan balances. As of June 30, 2024, ASB’s allowance for credit losses to outstanding loans was 1.11% compared to 1.16% as of March 31, 2024 and 1.13% as of June 30, 2023.
The net charge-off ratio for the second quarter of 2024 was 0.15%, compared to 0.14% in both the linked and prior year quarters. Nonaccrual loans as a percentage of total loans receivable held for investment were 0.53%, compared to 0.53% in the linked quarter and 0.22% in the prior year quarter.
Noninterest income was $15.8 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $17.2 million in the linked quarter and $15.6 million in the second quarter of 2023. The decrease compared to the linked quarter was primarily due to lower bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) income related to changes in the fair market value of the underlying assets. The increase compared to the prior year quarter was primarily due to higher BOLI income and higher fee income, partially offset by the gain on sale of real estate recorded last year.
Noninterest expense was $136.5 million compared to $55.9 million in the linked quarter and $53.8 million in the second quarter of 2023. The increase compared to the linked and prior year quarters primarily reflects the goodwill impairment charge of $82.2 million pre-tax ($66.1 million after tax) taken in connection with HEI’s ongoing review of strategic options for ASB. Noninterest expense for the quarter also included pre-tax wildfire-related services expenses of $1.2 million.
Total loans were $6.1 billion as of June 30, 2024, down 2.5% from December 31, 2023.
Total deposits were $8.0 billion as of June 30, 2024, down 1.3% from December 31, 2023. Core deposits declined 1.3% from December 31, 2023, while certificates of deposit decreased 1.4% primarily due to the paydown of $166 million in public time deposits. As of June 30, 2024, 83% of deposits were F.D.I.C. insured or fully collateralized, with approximately 79% of deposits F.D.I.C. insured. For the second quarter of 2024, the average cost of funds was 115 basis points, down slightly from 117 basis points in the linked quarter and up 32 basis points from the prior year quarter.
Wholesale funding totaled $520 million as of June 30, 2024, down $73 million from March 31, 2024.
In the second quarter of 2024, ASB did not pay a dividend to HEI, supporting ASB’s healthy capital levels. ASB had a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 8.4% as of June 30, 2024.
HEI EARNINGS RELEASE, HEI WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL TO DISCUSS EARNINGS
Concurrent with ASB’s regulatory filing 30 days after the end of the quarter, ASB announced its second quarter 2024 financial results today. Please note that these reported results relate only to ASB and are not necessarily indicative of HEI’s consolidated financial results for the second quarter 2024.
HEI plans to announce its second quarter 2024 consolidated financial results on Friday, August 9, 2024 and will also conduct a webcast and conference call at 10:30 a.m. Hawaii time (4:30 p.m. Eastern time) that same day to discuss its consolidated earnings, including ASB’s earnings.
To listen to the conference call, dial 1-888-660-6377 (U.S.) or 1-929-203-0797 (international) and enter passcode 2393042. Parties may also access presentation materials (which include reconciliation of non-GAAP measures) and/or listen to the conference call by visiting the conference call link on HEI’s website at www.hei.com under “Investor Relations,” sub-heading “News and Events — Events and Presentations.”
A replay will be available online and via phone. The online replay will be available on HEI’s website about two hours after the event. An audio replay will also be available about two hours after the event through August 23, 2024. To access the audio replay, dial 1-800-770-2030 (U.S.) or 1-647-362-9199 (international) and enter passcode 2393042.
HEI and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (Hawaiian Electric) intend to continue to use HEI’s website, www.hei.com, as a means of disclosing additional information; such disclosures will be included in the Investor Relations section of the website. Accordingly, investors should routinely monitor the Investor Relations section of HEI’s website, in addition to following HEI’s, Hawaiian Electric’s and ASB’s press releases, HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and HEI’s public conference calls and webcasts. Investors may sign up to receive e-mail alerts via the Investor Relations section of the website. The information on HEI’s website is not incorporated by reference into this document or into HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s SEC filings unless, and except to the extent, specifically incorporated by reference.
Investors may also wish to refer to the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Hawaii (PUC) website at https://hpuc.my.site.com/cdms/s/ to review documents filed with, and issued by, the PUC. No information on the PUC website is incorporated by reference into this document or into HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s SEC filings.
The HEI family of companies provides the energy and financial services that empower much of the economic and community activity of Hawaii. HEI’s electric utility, Hawaiian Electric, supplies power to approximately 95% of Hawaii’s population and is undertaking an ambitious effort to decarbonize its operations and the broader state economy. Its banking subsidiary, ASB, is one of Hawaii’s largest financial institutions, providing a wide array of banking and other financial services and working to advance economic growth, affordability and financial fitness. HEI also helps advance Hawaii’s sustainability goals through investments by its non-regulated subsidiary, Pacific Current. For more information, visit www.hei.com.
NON-GAAP MEASURES
Measures described as “core” (e.g., core net income and core noninterest expense) are non-GAAP measures which exclude after-tax Maui wildfire-related costs and the goodwill impairment taken in connection with HEI’s ongoing review of strategic options for ASB. See “Explanation of ASB’s Use of Certain Unaudited Non-GAAP Measures” and the related GAAP reconciliations at the end of this release.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release may contain “forward-looking statements,” which include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and usually include words such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “predicts,” “estimates” or similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance, ongoing business strategies or prospects or possible future actions are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and the accuracy of assumptions concerning HEI and its subsidiaries, the performance of the industries in which they do business and economic, political and market factors, among other things. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.
Forward-looking statements in this release should be read in conjunction with the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” discussions (which are incorporated by reference herein) set forth in HEI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and HEI’s other periodic reports that discuss important factors that could cause HEI’s results to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the report, presentation or filing in which they are made. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, HEI, Hawaiian Electric, ASB and their subsidiaries undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
|
American Savings Bank, F.S.B. |
||||||||||||||||||
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|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Three months ended |
|
Six months ended June 30 |
|||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|
June 30, |
|
March 31, |
|
June 30, |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||||||||
|
Interest and dividend income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Interest and fees on loans |
|
$ |
72,960 |
|
|
$ |
72,971 |
|
|
$ |
67,966 |
|
$ |
145,931 |
|
|
$ |
132,808 |
|
Interest and dividends on investment securities |
|
|
13,218 |
|
|
|
14,964 |
|
|
|
13,775 |
|
|
28,182 |
|
|
|
28,412 |
|
Total interest and dividend income |
|
|
86,178 |
|
|
|
87,935 |
|
|
|
81,741 |
|
|
174,113 |
|
|
|
161,220 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Interest on deposit liabilities |
|
|
18,015 |
|
|
|
17,432 |
|
|
|
9,661 |
|
|
35,447 |
|
|
|
16,498 |
|
Interest on other borrowings |
|
|
6,479 |
|
|
|
8,154 |
|
|
|
8,852 |
|
|
14,633 |
|
|
|
16,573 |
|
Total interest expense |
|
|
24,494 |
|
|
|
25,586 |
|
|
|
18,513 |
|
|
50,080 |
|
|
|
33,071 |
|
Net interest income |
|
|
61,684 |
|
|
|
62,349 |
|
|
|
63,228 |
|
|
124,033 |
|
|
|
128,149 |
|
Provision for credit losses |
|
|
(1,910 |
) |
|
|
(2,159 |
) |
|
|
43 |
|
|
(4,069 |
) |
|
|
1,218 |
|
Net interest income after provision for credit losses |
|
|
63,594 |
|
|
|
64,508 |
|
|
|
63,185 |
|
|
128,102 |
|
|
|
126,931 |
|
Noninterest income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Fees from other financial services |
|
|
5,133 |
|
|
|
4,874 |
|
|
|
5,009 |
|
|
10,007 |
|
|
|
9,688 |
|
Fee income on deposit liabilities |
|
|
4,630 |
|
|
|
4,898 |
|
|
|
4,504 |
|
|
9,528 |
|
|
|
9,103 |
|
Fee income on other financial products |
|
|
2,960 |
|
|
|
2,743 |
|
|
|
2,768 |
|
|
5,703 |
|
|
|
5,512 |
|
Bank-owned life insurance |
|
|
2,255 |
|
|
|
3,584 |
|
|
|
1,955 |
|
|
5,839 |
|
|
|
3,380 |
|
Mortgage banking income |
|
|
364 |
|
|
|
424 |
|
|
|
230 |
|
|
788 |
|
|
|
360 |
|
Gain on sale of real estate |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
495 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
495 |
|
Other income, net |
|
|
423 |
|
|
|
686 |
|
|
|
678 |
|
|
1,109 |
|
|
|
1,479 |
|
Total noninterest income |
|
|
15,765 |
|
|
|
17,209 |
|
|
|
15,639 |
|
|
32,974 |
|
|
|
30,017 |
|
Noninterest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Compensation and employee benefits |
|
|
29,802 |
|
|
|
32,459 |
|
|
|
29,394 |
|
|
62,261 |
|
|
|
59,598 |
|
Occupancy |
|
|
5,220 |
|
|
|
5,063 |
|
|
|
5,539 |
|
|
10,283 |
|
|
|
11,127 |
|
Data processing |
|
|
4,960 |
|
|
|
4,846 |
|
|
|
5,095 |
|
|
9,806 |
|
|
|
10,107 |
|
Services |
|
|
4,250 |
|
|
|
4,151 |
|
|
|
2,689 |
|
|
8,401 |
|
|
|
5,284 |
|
Equipment |
|
|
2,477 |
|
|
|
2,649 |
|
|
|
2,957 |
|
|
5,126 |
|
|
|
5,603 |
|
Office supplies, printing and postage |
|
|
1,006 |
|
|
|
1,018 |
|
|
|
1,109 |
|
|
2,024 |
|
|
|
2,274 |
|
Marketing |
|
|
747 |
|
|
|
776 |
|
|
|
834 |
|
|
1,523 |
|
|
|
1,850 |
|
Goodwill impairment |
|
|
82,190 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
82,190 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other expense |
|
|
5,813 |
|
|
|
4,942 |
|
|
|
6,152 |
|
|
10,755 |
|
|
|
12,343 |
|
Total noninterest expense |
|
|
136,465 |
|
|
|
55,904 |
|
|
|
53,769 |
|
|
192,369 |
|
|
|
108,186 |
|
Income (loss) before income taxes |
|
|
(57,106 |
) |
|
|
25,813 |
|
|
|
25,055 |
|
|
(31,293 |
) |
|
|
48,762 |
|
Income tax (benefit) |
|
|
(11,319 |
) |
|
|
4,879 |
|
|
|
4,851 |
|
|
(6,440 |
) |
|
|
9,996 |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
(45,787 |
) |
|
$ |
20,934 |
|
|
$ |
20,204 |
|
$ |
(24,853 |
) |
|
$ |
38,766 |
|
Comprehensive income (loss) |
|
$ |
(44,154 |
) |
|
$ |
11,166 |
|
|
$ |
12,994 |
|
$ |
(32,988 |
) |
|
$ |
49,986 |
|
OTHER BANK INFORMATION (annualized %, except as of period end) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Return on average assets |
|
|
(1.97 |
) |
|
|
0.88 |
|
|
|
0.84 |
|
|
(0.53 |
) |
|
|
0.81 |
|
Return on average equity |
|
|
(33.97 |
) |
|
|
15.64 |
|
|
|
16.20 |
|
|
(9.25 |
) |
|
|
15.87 |
|
Return on average tangible common equity |
|
|
(39.84 |
) |
|
|
18.48 |
|
|
|
19.40 |
|
|
(10.89 |
) |
|
|
19.07 |
|
Net interest margin |
|
|
2.79 |
|
|
|
2.75 |
|
|
|
2.75 |
|
|
2.77 |
|
|
|
2.80 |
|
Efficiency ratio |
|
|
176.20 |
|
|
|
70.27 |
|
|
|
68.18 |
|
|
122.52 |
|
|
|
68.40 |
|
Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding |
|
|
0.15 |
|
|
|
0.14 |
|
|
|
0.14 |
|
|
0.14 |
|
|
|
0.14 |
|
As of period end |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Nonaccrual loans to loans receivable held for investment |
|
|
0.53 |
|
|
|
0.53 |
|
|
|
0.22 |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Allowance for credit losses to loans outstanding |
|
|
1.11 |
|
|
|
1.16 |
|
|
|
1.13 |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Tangible common equity to tangible assets |
|
|
5.4 |
|
|
|
5.0 |
|
|
|
4.3 |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Tier-1 leverage ratio |
|
|
8.4 |
|
|
|
8.0 |
|
|
|
7.8 |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Dividend paid to HEI (via ASB Hawaii, Inc.) ($ in millions) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
11.0 |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
25.0 |
|
This information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto in HEI filings with the SEC. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for future interim periods or the full year. |
|
American Savings Bank, F.S.B. |
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|
|
||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
June 30, 2024 |
December 31, 2023 |
||||||||||
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Cash and due from banks |
|
$ |
139,114 |
|
|
$ |
184,383 |
|
||||
|
Interest-bearing deposits |
|
|
195,721 |
|
|
|
251,072 |
|
||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
334,835 |
|
|
|
435,455 |
|
||||
|
Investment securities |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Available-for-sale, at fair value |
|
|
1,061,687 |
|
|
|
1,136,439 |
|
||||
|
Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost |
|
|
1,179,182 |
|
|
|
1,201,314 |
|
||||
|
Stock in Federal Home Loan Bank, at cost |
|
|
29,204 |
|
|
|
14,728 |
|
||||
|
Loans held for investment |
|
|
6,030,158 |
|
|
|
6,180,810 |
|
||||
|
Allowance for credit losses |
|
|
(66,813 |
) |
|
|
(74,372 |
) |
||||
|
Net loans |
|
|
5,963,345 |
|
|
|
6,106,438 |
|
||||
|
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value |
|
|
13,904 |
|
|
|
15,168 |
|
||||
|
Other |
|
|
698,648 |
|
|
|
681,460 |
|
||||
|
Goodwill |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
82,190 |
|
||||
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
9,280,805 |
|
|
$ |
9,673,192 |
|
||||
|
Liabilities and shareholder’s equity |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Deposit liabilities–noninterest-bearing |
|
$ |
2,515,062 |
|
|
$ |
2,599,762 |
|
||||
|
Deposit liabilities–interest-bearing |
|
|
5,521,411 |
|
|
|
5,546,016 |
|
||||
|
Other borrowings |
|
|
520,000 |
|
|
|
750,000 |
|
||||
|
Other |
|
|
226,488 |
|
|
|
247,563 |
|
||||
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
8,782,961 |
|
|
|
9,143,341 |
|
||||
|
Common stock |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
||||
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
359,048 |
|
|
|
358,067 |
|
||||
|
Retained earnings |
|
|
439,202 |
|
|
|
464,055 |
|
||||
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax benefits |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Net unrealized losses on securities |
$ |
(291,864 |
) |
|
$ |
(282,963 |
) |
|
||||
|
Retirement benefit plans |
|
(8,543 |
) |
|
(300,407 |
) |
|
(9,309 |
) |
|
(292,272 |
) |
|
Total shareholder’s equity |
|
|
497,844 |
|
|
|
529,851 |
|
||||
|
Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity |
|
$ |
9,280,805 |
|
|
$ |
9,673,192 |
|
||||
|
This information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto in HEI filings with the SEC. |
Explanation of ASB’s Use of Certain Unaudited Non-GAAP Measures
HEI and ASB management use certain non-GAAP measures to evaluate the performance of HEI and the bank.
Management believes these non-GAAP measures provide useful information and are a better indicator of the companies’ core operating activities. Core earnings and other financial measures as presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The accompanying tables provide a reconciliation of reported GAAP1 earnings to non-GAAP core earnings and returns on average equity and average assets for the bank.
The reconciling adjustments from GAAP earnings to core earnings are limited to the costs related to the Maui wildfires and the goodwill impairment taken in connection with HEI’s ongoing review of strategic options for ASB. Management does not consider these items to be representative of the company’s fundamental core earnings.
|
Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Measures |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|
Three months ended |
|
Six months ended |
||||
|
Maui wildfire related costs and goodwill impairment |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Pretax expenses: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Provision for credit losses |
|
$ |
(800 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,300 |
) |
|
Professional services expense |
|
|
1,201 |
|
|
|
2,909 |
|
|
Other expenses, net |
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
(266 |
) |
|
Pretax Maui wildfire related costs, net |
|
|
452 |
|
|
|
343 |
|
|
Pretax goodwill impairment |
|
|
82,190 |
|
|
|
82,190 |
|
|
Income tax benefit |
|
|
(16,181 |
) |
|
|
(16,152 |
) |
|
After-tax expenses |
|
$ |
66,461 |
|
|
$ |
66,381 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
ASB net income (loss) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
GAAP (as reported) |
|
$ |
(45,787 |
) |
|
$ |
(24,853 |
) |
|
Excluding expense relating to Maui wildfire costs and goodwill impairment (after tax): |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Provision for credit losses |
|
|
(586 |
) |
|
|
(1,684 |
) |
|
Professional services expense |
|
|
880 |
|
|
|
2,130 |
|
|
Other expenses, net |
|
|
37 |
|
|
|
(195 |
) |
|
Goodwill impairment |
|
|
66,130 |
|
|
|
66,130 |
|
|
Maui wildfire related cost, net and goodwill impairment (after tax) |
|
|
66,461 |
|
|
|
66,381 |
|
|
Non-GAAP (core) net income |
|
$ |
20,674 |
|
|
$ |
41,528 |
|
|
|
|
Three months ended |
|
Six months ended |
||
|
Ratios (annualized %) |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Based on GAAP |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Return on average assets |
|
(1.97 |
) |
|
(0.53 |
) |
|
Return on average equity |
|
(33.97 |
) |
|
(9.25 |
) |
|
Return on average tangible common equity |
|
(39.84 |
) |
|
(10.89 |
) |
|
Efficiency ratio |
|
176.20 |
|
|
122.52 |
|
|
Based on Non-GAAP (core) |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Return on average assets |
|
0.89 |
|
|
0.88 |
|
|
Return on average equity |
|
15.34 |
|
|
15.46 |
|
|
Return on average tangible common equity |
|
17.99 |
|
|
18.20 |
|
|
Efficiency ratio |
|
68.46 |
|
|
68.49 |
|
|
1 |
|
Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240730272283/en/
Contacts
Mateo Garcia
Director, Investor Relations
Telephone: (808) 543-7300
E-mail: ir@hei.com
Finance
Why has the UAE closed its stock exchanges?
The United Arab Emirates has closed its main stock exchanges amid a widening conflict in the region following the United States and Israel’s attacks on Iran.
The UAE’s financial regulator on Sunday announced that its key exchanges in Dubai and Abu Dhabi would not immediately reopen after the weekend break amid the fallout of the US-Israeli attacks that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
list of 4 itemsend of listRecommended Stories
The announcement that the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market would remain closed on Monday and Tuesday came after the UAE was hit with hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks, including a strike on Abu Dhabi’s main airport that killed one person and wounded seven others.
The UAE’s Capital Markets Authority said in a statement that it would continue to monitor developments in the region and “assess the situation on an ongoing basis, taking any further measures as necessary”.
Here is all you need to know about the move.
Why has the UAE decided to shut its main stock exchanges?
The financial regulator did not elaborate on the rationale for its decision, only saying that it was taken in accordance with its “supervisory and regulatory role” in managing the country’s financial markets.
While closing the stock market outside of scheduled breaks is relatively unusual worldwide, especially in the era of electronic trading, it is not unprecedented.
Typically, when financial authorities halt stock trading during a crisis, it is because they are concerned about panic selling.
During periods of extreme volatility, such as wars and financial crises, investors often rush to sell their holdings to avoid suffering big losses.
As investors sell their stocks, the market value falls further.
This dynamic can spur a vicious cycle that, left unchecked, can lead to a full-blown market crash.
Since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, stock markets around the world have seen significant – though not catastrophic – losses, while oil prices have risen sharply.
Saudi Arabia’s benchmark Tadawul All Share Index fell more than 4 percent on Sunday, while Egypt’s EGX 30 dropped about 2.5 percent.
In Asia, major stock markets closed lower on Monday, with Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index down about 1.4 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively.
The practice of shutting the market to prevent panic selling is controversial among economists and investors.
Closing the market prevents investors from accessing cash they might need in a hurry.
Critics also argue that such closures only exacerbate the sense of panic they seek to prevent and distort important signals about the market.
“Investors don’t like uncertainty, and at times of market stress, liquidity is most important. It appears the UAE just took that away,” Burdin Hickok, a professor at New York University’s School of Professional Studies, told Al Jazeera.
“This move has the potential of diminishing the status of Dubai as a true major market and weaken investor confidence in the Dubai markets. There has to be some concern about capital flight and negative ripple effects.”
Has this happened before?
The UAE has closed its stock exchanges before, though not due to regional conflict.
In 2022, the UAE halted trading as part of a period of mourning declared to mark the death of President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The emirate announced a similar pause following the death of Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in 2006.
“Historically, to the best of my knowledge, no Middle Eastern state, including Israel, has closed its stock exchange during a time of regional conflict,” Hickok said.
“In prior conflicts, Israel has modified hours of their exchange, but we are talking hours, not days.”
Other countries have shuttered their stock markets during periods of major turmoil in recent years.
After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, authorities shut the Moscow Exchange for nearly a month.
In 2011, Egypt shut its stock exchange for nearly two months as the country was grappling with the upheaval of the Arab Spring.
After the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq halted trading for six days, the longest suspension since the Great Depression.
How important is the UAE’s stock market?
The UAE is a relatively small player in the world of capital markets, though it has made significant inroads in recent years.
The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market have a combined market capitalisation of about $1.1 trillion.
By comparison, the New York Stock Exchange, the world’s biggest bourse, has a market capitalisation of about $44 trillion.
Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Exchange, the biggest exchange in the Middle East, is valued at more than $3 trillion.
Still, the UAE’s stature among financial markets has been on the rise.
Before the latest crisis, UAE-listed stocks had been on a winning streak.
The Dubai Financial Market General Index, which includes companies such as Emirates NBD and Emaar Properties, rose more than 29 percent in the 12 months to February 27.
Haytham Aoun, an assistant professor of finance at the American University in Dubai, said while the UAE could see some outflow of foreign capital, the country’s economy remains on a strong footing.
“A temporary stock market closure will have a limited impact on long-term economic variables, provided the fundamentals remain strong,” Aoun told Al Jazeera.
“In the UAE case, it’s a precautionary intervention, and not a sign of structural weakness.”
Finance
Canton High School students find success in personal finance
CANTON, Miss. (WLBT) – A group of juniors at Canton High School has won back-to-back state championships in Mississippi’s Personal Finance Challenge.
The team’s work can be seen through the school’s reality fair, where students are assigned careers and salaries and must make the same financial decisions adults face each month.
Teena Ruth, a personal finance teacher, said the exercise resonates beyond the classroom.
“It’s an eye-opening experience,” Ruth said. “They kind of see what it’s like for even their parents when they have to make these decisions every day — when they are writing out those checks.”
For student Jalynn Dunigan, the program carries personal significance.
“To be known for something else outside of cheer and not just what I do on a court, on a field. I can do something and put my brains to it and people can know that I’m not just pretty,” Dunigan said. “I’m smart as well.”
Student Henser Vicente said the team’s success sends a broader message.
“We’re making a statement that we’re not what you think we are,” Vicente said. “Like, we’re greater than what you think. We can do better than what you think we can do.”
A proposed financial literacy bill in Mississippi would require students to pass a semester of personal finance as a graduation requirement.
Alexandria Luckett said the team’s national success is already motivating others at the school.
“I’m so happy that people are getting more involved in things like this and stepping out of their comfort zone and just putting themselves out there,” Luckett said. “Because I know there’s a lot of shy students [who] don’t necessarily join clubs or anything. So, when they see a group like this going to nationals two times in a row, I feel like that motivates a lot of students.”
Nelly Rosales said competing at the national level has given the team a platform beyond the competition floor.
“We’ve gone to Cleveland, Ohio, we’ve gone to Atlanta, and then hopefully this year we get to go out of state again,” Rosales said. “Being able to be a role model to a lot of children — like especially Hispanic girls who don’t see a lot of role [models] especially in the community — being able to be a role model is a really big thing.”
The students are currently gearing up for this year’s State Personal Finance Challenge set to take place next month.
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Finance
A 27-year-old drew down half of her stock portfolio to buy real estate. It’s part of her plan to hit financial independence.
A few years into her accounting career, Carolyn Yu began thinking seriously about financial independence.
“I’d feel very stressed and tired,” Yu, who was working at a Big Four firm at the time, told Business Insider. “I thought, maybe someday I could have more freedom and not spend 24/7 working at a very demanding job.”
She picked up “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and started listening to the popular real estate podcast, BiggerPockets. One takeaway stood out: focus on buying assets that can grow in value.
Yu, who’d been consistently investing in the stock market since college, felt compelled to make a move. In late 2024, she drained about half her stock portfolio in order to pay cash for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Bay Area-based Gen Zer had been eyeing Texas in part for its tax advantages, including the absence of state income tax. She considered other Texas markets, but Fort Worth stood out for its affordability and growth potential.
“The population growth, the crime rate, the property value growth — they all looked good to me,” she said.
She flew to Fort Worth, toured the condo, signed a contract the next day, and closed within a month. Yu intentionally kept her first purchase under $100,000, unsure whether she had the capital or experience to take on something larger.
“Pretty much 50% of my stock portfolio was gone,” she said. But the drawdown didn’t faze her. “I knew that $80,000 transitioned into another investment.”
Scaling to 5 properties in 2 years by recycling capital
Yu grew her portfolio by reinvesting equity from one property into the next.
Her strategy centers on buying below market value, improving the property, allowing it to appreciate, and then tapping into the built-up equity to help finance another purchase.
As her portfolio expanded, her financing evolved. She moved from paying all cash for her first condo to using conventional loans and later DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) loans, which are designed for investors and rely heavily on a property’s cash flow.
Her second purchase was a two-bedroom, one-bath single-family home. She bought it in June 2025 for about $105,000, putting down 25%. After investing about $50,000 in renovations, she said the home appraised at $195,000 and rented for $1,500 a month.
“This property allowed me to execute the BRRRR strategy successfully,” she said, referring to buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat. She said she was able to pull out about 70% of the appraised value to help fund her next purchases.
Within about two years of buying her first condo, Yu had a five-property portfolio. Her first three are cash-flowing, while her fourth is currently listed for rent, and her fifth is being prepared for tenants. Business Insider reviewed mortgage documents to confirm ownership and lease agreements to verify rental rates.
Courtesy of Carolyn Yu
One of the challenges she’s faced since buying property has been vacancy.
She purchased her first condo in late 2024 — “probably the worst time to rent because of winter vacancy,” she said — and it sat empty for six months. She eventually lowered the asking rent by about $100 a month before securing a tenant.
The vacancy was stressful, but manageable because she had paid cash and didn’t carry a mortgage. Still, she owed about $600 a month in HOA dues.
Her advice to other investors: keep at least six months of reserves, know your numbers inside and out, and expect vacancies and repairs.
Why she prefers real estate to stocks
Yu still invests in stocks, but said she prefers real estate because it feels more controllable and scalable. In addition to generating a few thousand dollars a month in rental income, she’s also building equity in her properties.
“Real estate gave me more control, more tangible assets, more tax efficiency,” she said, pointing to depreciation, mortgage interest deductions, and the ability to refinance without selling. She also enjoys negotiating deals.
She funnels most of her rental income back into her stock portfolio. Her end goal is financial independence and work flexibility.
Yu wants to own at least eight properties by 2027 and have her portfolio appraised at roughly $2 million. By then, she hopes rental income will cover her expenses and provide enough cushion to leave her W-2 job, so she can focus solely on her real estate business.
She’s also changed how she thinks about spending. Early in her career, she said she coped with work stress by traveling frequently. Now, she prioritizes investing over lifestyle upgrades.
“I would rather put my money into investments right now in exchange for vacations in the future,” she said. “I think it’s totally worth it because I think in two years, I could be financially free.”
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