• Pre-Provision Net Revenue: $278 million, a $31 million or 12% year-over-year increase.
• Net Interest Income: Grew 9% year-over-year to $651 million, declined $16 million quarter-over-quarter.
• Net Interest Margin: Held steady at 3.47%, declining only one basis point from the prior quarter.
• Adjusted Net Interest Margin: Expanded 17 basis points to 2.75%.
• Noninterest Income: Stable year-over-year at $127 million.
• Noninterest Expense: Reduced $19 million to $500 million from the prior quarter.
• Provision Expense: $31 million, significantly below Q4 levels of $60 million.
• Net Charge-Offs: Declined 5 basis points in the quarter to 20 basis points.
• Nonaccrual Loans: Declined by $25 million quarter-over-quarter to $451 million.
• Loan Growth: Ending held for investment balances $1.1 billion higher quarter-over-quarter.
• Deposit Growth: Grew $3 billion in Q1, mostly in noninterest-bearing accounts.
• Tangible Book Value Per Share: Increased 14% year-over-year.
• Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) Ratio: Decreased approximately 13 basis points to 11.1%.
• Effective Tax Rate for 2025: Expected to be approximately 20%.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with WAL.

Release Date: April 22, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• Western Alliance Bancorp (NYSE:WAL) reported a solid pre-provision net revenue of $278 million, marking a 12% year-over-year increase.
• Net interest income grew by 9% year-over-year to $651 million, driven by effective cost management and loan growth.
• The company maintained a stable net interest margin at 3.47%, with an adjusted net interest margin increasing by 17 basis points to 2.75%.
• Deposits grew by $3 billion in the first quarter, with significant contributions from noninterest-bearing accounts and specialty escrow services.
• Western Alliance Bancorp (NYSE:WAL) achieved a 14% year-over-year increase in tangible book value per share, supported by organic profitability and improved AOCI positions.

Negative Points

• Noninterest income remained relatively stable year-over-year, with a decline in mortgage banking revenue due to lower gain on sale margins.
• The company experienced a $186 million increase in classified assets, indicating potential credit quality concerns.
• Provision expense was $31 million, reflecting the need to bolster reserves for commercial real estate amidst macroeconomic volatility.
• Loan yields decreased by 14 basis points, reflecting pricing pressures and the impact of rate cuts on variable rate loans.
• Western Alliance Bancorp (NYSE:WAL) faces ongoing challenges in managing interest rate sensitivity, with expectations of two rate cuts before the end of 2025 impacting net interest income.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Is there any thought to use some qualitative reserves to adjust the ACL to a more market-tolerable level? A: Dale Gibbons, CFO, explained that the reserve is adequate both in composition and when combined with capital. He emphasized that they maintain a rigorous methodology for determining their allowance and have taken a conservative view using Moody's S4 scenario for commercial real estate.

Q: Can you provide more color on the C&I growth dynamics and what's driving it this quarter? A: Stephen Curley, Chief Banking Officer, noted strong momentum on both sides of the balance sheet, with active client pipelines. Growth is expected from national homebuilder groups, warehouse lending, and lender finance, with deposits tracking to support this growth.

Q: What was the primary goal of the recent capital raise, and are there plans for more unique capital moves? A: Dale Gibbons, CFO, stated that the primary goal was to raise the Tier 1 leverage ratio, which they are satisfied with at the mid-8% range. They plan to call part of a subordinated debt transaction soon to mitigate the cost of the preferred issuance.

Q: How do you plan to improve shareholder returns given the current stock performance? A: Kenneth A. Vecchione, CEO, emphasized the need to better promote their diversified business model and growth capabilities. He noted their strong presence in the Southeast and the potential for organic growth rather than considering strategic partnerships or M&A.

Q: Can you discuss the outlook for mortgage banking revenue and the impact of interest rates? A: Stephen Curley, Chief Banking Officer, mentioned that mortgage income is expected to remain flat year-over-year, with potential increases if mortgage rates drop below 6%. They are monitoring consumer behavior due to recent rate volatility.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.