Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2025 Results

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Apr 15, 2025

Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (NYSE: NIC) (“Nicolet”) announced first quarter 2025 net income of $33 million and earnings per diluted common share of $2.08, compared to net income of $34 million and earnings per diluted common share of $2.19 for fourth quarter 2024, and net income of $28 million and earnings per diluted common share of $1.82 for first quarter 2024.

“Our first quarter profitability metrics likely place us well within the top quartile of community banks and these results continue to demonstrate that our actions match our words as discussed in our annual report letter,” said Mike Daniels, Chairman, President, and CEO of Nicolet. “We are growing core relationships in all revenue lines, and we are especially encouraged that our typical seasonal decline in core deposits was much less than in prior years. We are also encouraged that our growth is occurring in a disciplined manner. Even with the recent public market volatility and uncertainty, our team is doing what we do best – having real conversations with customers and figuring out how to matter to them and our communities.”

Daniels continued, “while we continue to have high-level M&A conversations, we remain steadfast in our belief that any deal needs to make Nicolet a better bank and enhance long-term shareholder value. Given the market uncertainty, we believe it makes sense to allow the dust to settle. In the meantime, our Board increased our stock buyback authorization, and affirmed that the best acquisition we can make – regardless of any market volatility – is in our own company through share repurchases.”

Balance Sheet Review

At March 31, 2025, period end assets were $9.0 billion, an increase of $178 million (2%) from December 31, 2024, mostly from loan growth. Total loans increased $119 million from December 31, 2024, mostly in commercial & industrial loans. Total deposits of $7.6 billion at March 31, 2025, increased $169 million from December 31, 2024, including a $107 million increase in brokered deposits and a $62 million increase in customer (core) deposits. Total capital was $1.2 billion at March 31, 2025, an increase of $10 million over December 31, 2024, with solid earnings and favorable movements in the securities portfolio market valuation partly offset by common stock repurchases and the quarterly common stock dividend. At March 31, 2025, approximately $10 million remained available for common stock repurchases under the current board authorization. Subsequently, on April 15, 2025, the Board approved a $60 million increase to the common stock repurchase authorization.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets were $29 million and represented 0.33% of total assets at March 31, 2025, minimally changed from both December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2024. The allowance for credit losses-loans was $67 million and represented 1.00% of total loans at March 31, 2025, compared to $66 million (or 1.00% of total loans) at December 31, 2024, and $64 million (or 1.01% of total loans) at March 31, 2024. Asset quality trends remain solid and loan net charge-offs were negligible.

Income Statement Review - Quarter

Net income was $33 million for first quarter 2025, compared to net income of $34 million for fourth quarter 2024.

Net interest income was $71 million for first quarter 2025, down slightly from fourth quarter 2024, mostly due to higher interest expense from deposit growth, with average interest-bearing deposits up $285 million (5%) over fourth quarter. The net interest margin for first quarter 2025 was 3.58%, down 3 bps from 3.61% for fourth quarter 2024. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased 1 bps (to 5.67%), while the cost of interest-bearing liabilities for first quarter 2025 decreased 7 bps (to 2.83%) due to lower deposit costs and decreased 9 bps due to lower noninterest-bearing demand deposits.

Noninterest income of $18 million for first quarter 2025 decreased $3 million from fourth quarter 2024, mostly due to seasonably lower net mortgage income from fewer secondary market sales. Wealth income decreased $0.2 million, while other noninterest income declined $0.3 million on lower swap fees. Net asset gains were $0.9 million unfavorable, mostly from changes in the market value of equity securities.

Noninterest expense of $48 million for first quarter 2025 was down slightly from fourth quarter 2024. Occupancy, equipment, and office expense increased $0.6 million on higher software and snowplowing costs, while marketing declined $0.2 million due to donations to support capital campaigns within our communities in fourth quarter 2024 and other noninterest expense declined $0.4 million mostly within legal and professional fees.

About Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.

Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. is the bank holding company of Nicolet National Bank, a growing, full-service, community bank providing services ranging from commercial, agricultural and consumer banking to wealth management and retirement plan services. Founded in Green Bay in 2000, Nicolet National Bank operates branches primarily in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. More information can be found at www.nicoletbank.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This communication contains non-GAAP financial measures, such as non-GAAP adjusted net income, non-GAAP adjusted earnings per diluted common share, tangible book value per common share, return on average tangible common equity, and tangible common equity to tangible assets. Management believes such measures to be helpful to management, investors and others in understanding Nicolet’s results of operations and financial position. When non-GAAP financial measures are used, the comparable GAAP financial measures, as well as the reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures to the GAAP financial measures, are provided. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)” below. The non-GAAP net income measure and related reconciliation provide information useful to investors in understanding the operating performance and trends of Nicolet and also aid investors in comparing Nicolet’s financial performance to the financial performance of peer banks. Management considers non-GAAP financial ratios to be critical metrics with which to analyze and evaluate financial condition and capital strengths. While non-GAAP financial measures are frequently used by stakeholders in the evaluation of a company, they have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analyses of results as reported under GAAP.

Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share data)

3/31/2025

12/31/2024

9/30/2024

6/30/2024

3/31/2024

Assets

Cash and due from banks

$

105,085

$

115,943

$

124,076

$

109,674

$

81,677

Interest-earning deposits

467,095

420,104

303,908

298,856

345,747

Cash and cash equivalents

572,180

536,047

427,984

408,530

427,424

Securities available for sale, at fair value

838,105

806,415

825,907

799,937

803,963

Other investments

58,627

62,125

63,632

64,720

66,103

Loans held for sale

8,092

7,637

11,121

9,450

5,022

Loans

6,745,598

6,626,584

6,556,840

6,529,134

6,397,617

Allowance for credit losses - loans

(67,480

)

(66,322

)

(65,785

)

(65,414

)

(64,347

)

Loans, net

6,678,118

6,560,262

6,491,055

6,463,720

6,333,270

Premises and equipment, net

125,274

126,979

123,585

120,988

119,962

Bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”)

187,902

186,448

185,011

171,972

170,746

Goodwill and other intangibles, net

386,588

388,140

389,727

391,421

393,183

Accrued interest receivable and other assets

120,336

122,742

119,096

126,279

126,989

Total assets

$

8,975,222

$

8,796,795

$

8,637,118

$

8,557,017

$

8,446,662

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Liabilities:

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

$

1,689,129

$

1,791,228

$

1,839,617

$

1,764,806

$

1,665,229

Interest-bearing deposits

5,883,061

5,612,456

5,420,380

5,476,272

5,500,503

Total deposits

7,572,190

7,403,684

7,259,997

7,241,078

7,165,732

Long-term borrowings

156,563

161,387

161,210

162,433

162,257

Accrued interest payable and other liabilities

63,201

58,826

66,584

62,093

55,018

Total liabilities

7,791,954

7,623,897

7,487,791

7,465,604

7,383,007

Stockholders' Equity:

Common stock

152

154

151

150

149

Additional paid-in capital

630,340

655,540

647,934

639,159

636,621

Retained earnings

594,068

565,772

535,638

507,366

482,295

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

(41,292

)

(48,568

)

(34,396

)

(55,262

)

(55,410

)

Total stockholders' equity

1,183,268

1,172,898

1,149,327

1,091,413

1,063,655

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

8,975,222

$

8,796,795

$

8,637,118

$

8,557,017

$

8,446,662

Common shares outstanding

15,149,341

15,356,785

15,104,381

14,945,598

14,930,549

Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

For the Three Months Ended

(In thousands, except per share data)

3/31/2025

12/31/2024

9/30/2024

6/30/2024

3/31/2024

Interest income:

Loans, including loan fees

$

100,666

$

100,605

$

100,824

$

97,975

$

93,648

Taxable investment securities

5,560

5,369

5,211

5,056

4,557

Tax-exempt investment securities

1,049

1,073

1,095

1,152

1,238

Other interest income

5,466

5,787

5,492

4,695

4,588

Total interest income

112,741

112,834

112,622

108,878

104,031

Interest expense:

Deposits

39,465

39,138

42,060

41,386

38,990

Short-term borrowings

2

Long-term borrowings

2,070

2,146

2,194

2,150

2,234

Total interest expense

41,535

41,284

44,256

43,536

41,224

Net interest income

71,206

71,550

68,366

65,342

62,807

Provision for credit losses

1,500

1,000

750

1,350

750

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

69,706

70,550

67,616

63,992

62,057

Noninterest income:

Wealth management fee income

6,975

7,208

7,085

6,674

6,485

Mortgage income, net

1,926

3,326

2,853

2,634

1,364

Service charges on deposit accounts

2,025

1,877

1,913

1,813

1,581

Card interchange income

3,337

3,541

3,564

3,458

3,098

BOLI income

1,420

1,421

1,455

1,225

1,347

Asset gains (losses), net

(354

)

510

1,177

616

1,909

Deferred compensation plan asset market valuations

45

(192

)

1,162

169

59

LSR income, net

1,057

1,064

1,090

1,117

1,134

Other noninterest income

1,792

2,103

2,079

1,903

2,445

Total noninterest income

18,223

20,858

22,378

19,609

19,422

Noninterest expense:

Personnel expense

26,521

26,682

28,937

26,285

26,510

Occupancy, equipment and office

9,330

8,685

8,826

8,681

8,944

Business development and marketing

2,100

2,325

1,823

2,040

2,142

Data processing

4,525

4,668

4,535

4,281

4,270

Intangibles amortization

1,552

1,587

1,694

1,762

1,833

FDIC assessments

940

990

990

990

1,033

Other noninterest expense

2,819

3,268

2,343

2,814

2,415

Total noninterest expense

47,787

48,205

49,148

46,853

47,147

Income before income tax expense

40,142

43,203

40,846

36,748

34,332

Income tax expense

7,550

8,723

8,330

7,475

6,542

Net income

$

32,592

$

34,480

$

32,516

$

29,273

$

27,790

Earnings per common share:

Basic

$

2.14

$

2.25

$

2.16

$

1.96

$

1.86

Diluted

$

2.08

$

2.19

$

2.10

$

1.92

$

1.82

Common shares outstanding:

Basic weighted average

15,256

15,297

15,052

14,937

14,907

Diluted weighted average

15,647

15,710

15,479

15,276

15,249

Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.

Consolidated Financial Summary (Unaudited)

For the Three Months Ended

(In thousands, except share & per share data)

3/31/2025

12/31/2024

9/30/2024

6/30/2024

3/31/2024

Selected Average Balances:

Loans

$

6,710,206

$

6,581,059

$

6,542,532

$

6,496,732

$

6,398,838

Investment securities

886,010

884,376

873,212

881,190

884,775

Interest-earning assets

8,078,997

7,946,309

7,824,773

7,733,097

7,629,120

Cash and cash equivalents

497,865

493,237

431,632

374,176

364,375

Goodwill and other intangibles, net

387,260

388,824

390,453

392,171

393,961

Total assets

8,849,412

8,716,611

8,596,812

8,481,186

8,380,595

Deposits

7,446,107

7,314,632

7,247,321

7,183,777

7,112,971

Interest-bearing liabilities

5,953,083

5,667,803

5,653,259

5,658,642

5,509,882

Stockholders’ equity (common)

1,178,868

1,163,477

1,118,242

1,070,379

1,048,596

Selected Ratios: (1)

Book value per common share

$

78.11

$

76.38

$

76.09

$

73.03

$

71.24

Tangible book value per common share (2)

$

52.59

$

51.10

$

50.29

$

46.84

$

44.91

Return on average assets

1.49

%

1.57

%

1.50

%

1.39

%

1.33

%

Return on average common equity

11.21

11.79

11.57

11.00

10.66

Return on average tangible common equity (2)

16.70

17.71

17.77

17.36

17.07

Average equity to average assets

13.32

13.35

13.01

12.62

12.51

Stockholders’ equity to assets

13.18

13.33

13.31

12.75

12.59

Tangible common equity to tangible assets (2)

9.28

9.33

9.21

8.57

8.33

Net interest margin *

3.58

3.61

3.51

3.42

3.33

Efficiency ratio

52.94

52.17

54.57

55.24

58.34

Effective tax rate

18.81

20.19

20.39

20.34

19.06

Selected Asset Quality Information:

Nonaccrual loans

$

28,325

$

28,419

$

25,565

$

27,838

$

26,677

Other real estate owned

946

693

859

1,147

1,245

Nonperforming assets

$

29,271

$

29,112

$

26,424

$

28,985

$

27,922

Net loan charge-offs (recoveries)

$

342

$

363

$

379

$

283

$

13

Allowance for credit losses-loans to loans

1.00

%

1.00

%

1.00

%

1.00

%

1.01

%

Net charge-offs to average loans (1)

0.02

0.02

0.02

0.02

0.00

Nonperforming loans to total loans

0.42

0.43

0.39

0.43

0.42

Nonperforming assets to total assets

0.33

0.33

0.31

0.34

0.33

Stock Repurchase Information: (3)

Common stock repurchased ($)

$

26,047

$

10,137

$

$

$

Common stock repurchased (shares)

233,207

92,440

* During fourth quarter 2024, Nicolet changed the annualization methodology utilized for the calculation of net interest margin from actual/360 to actual/actual to be more consistent with the methodology typically used by peer banks and to cause quarterly results to be more consistent with annual results. Prior periods have been restated for this change in methodology. There was no change to the reported average balances or interest recognized.

(1)

Income statement-related ratios for partial-year periods are annualized.

(2)

See Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures below for a reconciliation of these financial measures.

(3)

Reflects common stock repurchased under board of director authorizations for the common stock repurchase program.

Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.

Consolidated Loan & Deposit Metrics (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

3/31/2025

12/31/2024

9/30/2024

6/30/2024

3/31/2024

Period End Loan Composition

Commercial & industrial

$

1,409,320

$

1,319,763

$

1,351,516

$

1,358,152

$

1,307,490

Owner-occupied commercial real estate (“CRE”)

949,107

940,367

920,533

941,137

955,786

Agricultural

1,329,807

1,322,038

1,261,152

1,224,885

1,190,371

Commercial

3,688,234

3,582,168

3,533,201

3,524,174

3,453,647

CRE investment

1,225,490

1,221,826

1,226,982

1,198,020

1,188,722

Construction & land development

273,007

239,694

231,694

247,565

241,730

Commercial real estate

1,498,497

1,461,520

1,458,676

1,445,585

1,430,452

Commercial-based loans

5,186,731

5,043,688

4,991,877

4,969,759

4,884,099

Residential construction

91,321

96,110

85,811

90,904

84,370

Residential first mortgage

1,194,116

1,196,158

1,194,574

1,190,790

1,167,069

Residential junior mortgage

235,096

234,634

223,456

218,512

206,434

Residential real estate

1,520,533

1,526,902

1,503,841

1,500,206

1,457,873

Retail & other

38,334

55,994

61,122

59,169

55,645

Retail-based loans

1,558,867

1,582,896

1,564,963

1,559,375

1,513,518

Total loans

$

6,745,598

$

6,626,584

$

6,556,840

$

6,529,134

$

6,397,617

Period End Deposit Composition

Noninterest-bearing demand

$

1,689,129

$

1,791,228

$

1,839,617

$

1,764,806

$

1,665,229

Interest-bearing demand

1,239,075

1,168,560

1,035,593

1,093,621

1,121,030

Money market

1,988,648

1,942,367

1,928,977

1,963,559

2,027,559

Savings

794,223

774,707

763,024

762,529

765,084

Time

1,861,115

1,726,822

1,692,786

1,656,563

1,586,830

Total deposits

$

7,572,190

$

7,403,684

$

7,259,997

$

7,241,078

$

7,165,732

Brokered transaction accounts

$

249,537

$

163,580

$

159,547

$

250,109

$

265,818

Brokered time deposits

607,725

586,852

549,907

557,657

517,190

Total brokered deposits

$

857,262

$

750,432

$

709,454

$

807,766

$

783,008

Customer transaction accounts

$

5,461,538

$

5,513,282

$

5,407,664

$

5,334,406

$

5,313,085

Customer time deposits

1,253,390

1,139,970

1,142,879

1,098,906

1,069,639

Total customer deposits (core)

$

6,714,928

$

6,653,252

$

6,550,543

$

6,433,312

$

6,382,724

Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin Analysis (Unaudited)

For the Three Months Ended

March 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

March 31, 2024

Average

Average

Average

Average

Average

Average

(In thousands)

Balance

Interest

Rate *

Balance

Interest

Rate *

Balance

Interest

Rate *

ASSETS

Total loans (1) (2)

$

6,710,206

$

100,804

6.08

%

$

6,581,059

$

100,759

6.10

%

$

6,398,838

$

93,744

5.89

%

Investment securities (2)

886,010

6,951

3.14

%

884,376

6,795

3.07

%

884,775

6,197

2.80

%

Other interest-earning assets

482,781

5,466

4.58

%

480,874

5,787

4.79

%

345,507

4,588

5.34

%

Total interest-earning assets

8,078,997

$

113,221

5.67

%

7,946,309

$

113,341

5.68

%

7,629,120

$

104,529

5.50

%

Other assets, net

770,415

770,302

751,475

Total assets

$

8,849,412

$

8,716,611

$

8,380,595

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Interest-bearing core deposits

$

5,001,535

$

30,783

2.50

%

$

4,783,675

$

30,754

2.56

%

$

4,664,670

$

31,256

2.69

%

Brokered deposits

790,460

8,682

4.45

%

722,827

8,384

4.61

%

680,124

7,734

4.57

%

Total interest-bearing deposits

5,791,995

39,465

2.76

%

5,506,502

39,138

2.83

%

5,344,794

38,990

2.93

%

Wholesale funding

161,088

2,070

5.21

%

161,301

2,146

5.29

%

165,088

2,234

5.44

%

Total interest-bearing liabilities

5,953,083

$

41,535

2.83

%

5,667,803

$

41,284

2.90

%

5,509,882

$

41,224

3.01

%

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

1,654,112

1,808,130

1,768,177

Other liabilities

63,349

77,201

53,940

Stockholders' equity

1,178,868

1,163,477

1,048,596

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

8,849,412

$

8,716,611

$

8,380,595

Net interest income and rate spread

$

71,686

2.84

%

$

72,057

2.78

%

$

63,305

2.49

%

Net interest margin

3.58

%

3.61

%

3.33

%

Loan purchase accounting accretion (3)

$

1,475

0.09

%

$

1,475

0.09

%

$

1,527

0.09

%

Loan nonaccrual interest (4)

$

(304

)

(0.02

)%

$

(458

)

(0.03

)%

$

(241

)

(0.02

)%

* During fourth quarter 2024, Nicolet changed the annualization methodology utilized for the calculation of net interest margin from actual/360 to actual/actual to be more consistent with the methodology typically used by peer banks and to cause quarterly results to be more consistent with annual results. Prior periods have been restated for this change in methodology. There was no change to the reported average balances or interest recognized.

(1)

Nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale are included in the daily average loan balances outstanding.

(2)

The yield on tax-exempt loans and tax-exempt investment securities is computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal tax rate of 21%, and adjusted for the disallowance of interest expense.

(3)

Loan purchase accounting accretion included in Total loans interest above, and the related impact to net interest margin.

(4)

Loan nonaccrual interest included in Total loans interest above, and the related impact to net interest margin.

Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)

For the Three Months Ended

(In thousands, except per share data)

3/31/2025

12/31/2024

9/30/2024

6/30/2024

3/31/2024

Adjusted net income reconciliation: (1)

Net income (GAAP)

$

32,592

$

34,480

$

32,516

$

29,273

$

27,790

Adjustments:

Assets (gains) losses, net (2)

354

(510

)

(1,177

)

(616

)

(1,909

)

Adjustments subtotal

354

(510

)

(1,177

)

(616

)

(1,909

)

Tax on Adjustments (3)

69

(99

)

(230

)

(120

)

(372

)

Adjusted net income (Non-GAAP)

$

32,877

$

34,069

$

31,569

$

28,777

$

26,253

Diluted earnings per common share:

Diluted earnings per common share (GAAP)

$

2.08

$

2.19

$

2.10

$

1.92

$

1.82

Adjusted Diluted earnings per common share (Non-GAAP)

$

2.10

$

2.17

$

2.04

$

1.88

$

1.72

Tangible assets: (4)

Total assets

$

8,975,222

$

8,796,795

$

8,637,118

$

8,557,017

$

8,446,662

Goodwill and other intangibles, net

386,588

388,140

389,727

391,421

393,183

Tangible assets

$

8,588,634

$

8,408,655

$

8,247,391

$

8,165,596

$

8,053,479

Tangible common equity: (4)

Stockholders’ equity (common)

$

1,183,268

$

1,172,898

$

1,149,327

$

1,091,413

$

1,063,655

Goodwill and other intangibles, net

386,588

388,140

389,727

391,421

393,183

Tangible common equity

$

796,680

$

784,758

$

759,600

$

699,992

$

670,472

Tangible average common equity: (4)

Average stockholders’ equity (common)

$

1,178,868

$

1,163,477

$

1,118,242

$

1,070,379

$

1,048,596

Average goodwill and other intangibles, net

387,260

388,824

390,453

392,171

393,961

Average tangible common equity

$

791,608

$

774,653

$

727,789

$

678,208

$

654,635

Note: Numbers may not sum due to rounding.

(1)

The adjusted net income measure and related reconciliation provide information useful to investors in understanding the operating performance and trends of Nicolet and also to aid investors in the comparison of Nicolet’s financial performance to the financial performance of peer banks.

(2)

Includes the gains / (losses) on other assets and investments.

(3)

Assumes an effective tax rate of 19.5%.

(4)

The ratios of tangible book value per common share, return on average tangible common equity, and tangible common equity to tangible assets exclude goodwill and other intangibles, net. These financial ratios have been included as they are considered to be critical metrics with which to analyze and evaluate financial condition and capital strength.

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