Investments In Technology And Specialized Teams Will Drive Future Profitability

Key Takeaways

• Transitioning to a national commercial bank with a focus on specialization is anticipated to boost profitability, positively affecting revenue and net margins.
  
• Investments in technology and specialized teams aim to enhance revenue, NIM, and earnings through strategic deposit and loan growth.
  
• Challenges include declines in net interest margin, increased expenses, customer acquisition issues, regulatory risks, and timing risks in deposit strategy affecting liquidity and profitability.

Catalysts

Operates as the bank holding company for Customers Bank that provides financial products and services to individual consumers, and small and middle market businesses.

• The transition of Customers Bancorp from a regional community bank to a national commercial and business bank is expected to enhance profitability through a specialized approach, impacting future revenue generation and net margins positively.
  
• Significant investments in technology and risk management infrastructure, alongside hiring deposit-focused teams, are expected to drive revenue growth and net interest margin (NIM) expansion by 2025.
  
• The bank’s deposit transformation strategy, highlighted by a strong pipeline and the influx of high-quality commercial deposits, is projected to bolster NIM and net interest income, impacting earnings positively over the medium term.
  
• The venture banking vertical and other specialized banking teams are forecasted to contribute significantly to loan growth and deposit generation, enhancing revenue streams and driving future earnings.
  
• An ongoing focus on strategic organic growth and operational efficiency, supported by new banking teams improving to break even, is expected to heighten profitability, contributing to an anticipated EPS growth of 30% or more in 2025.

Customers Bancorp Future Earnings and Revenue Growth

Assumptions

• Analysts are assuming Customers Bancorp's revenue will grow by 7.0% annually over the next 3 years.
• Analysts assume that profit margins will shrink from 29.9% today to 27.9% in 3 years time.
• Analysts expect earnings to reach $230.1 million (and earnings per share of $7.52) by about December 2027, up from $201.4 million today. The analysts are largely in agreement about this estimate.
• In order for the above numbers to justify the analysts price target, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 10.0x on those 2027 earnings, up from 8.0x today. This future PE is lower than the current PE for the US Banks industry at 12.9x.
• Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to decline by 0.78% per year for the next 3 years.
• To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 6.52%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

Customers Bancorp Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Risks

• The company acknowledges a decline in its reported net interest margin, primarily due to lower discount accretion from the acquired loan portfolio and a securities portfolio repositioning. This decline could impact future net interest income and overall earnings.
  
• There's a requirement for substantial investments in risk management infrastructure, technology, and talent, which have temporarily increased noninterest expenses. These expenses could impact net margins if not managed effectively.
  
• The bank operates without a traditional branch network, and while this allows for some operational advantages, it raises concerns about customer acquisition and service challenges, potentially affecting revenue growth.
  
• The bank's recent regulatory order regarding the digital asset business requires enhancements to compliance and risk management practices. Failing to meet regulatory expectations could lead to further restrictions or penalties that may impact earnings or operational capabilities.
  
• The transformation of their deposit franchise, focusing on replacing higher-cost deposits with high-quality commercial deposits, while strategic, involves significant timing risks that could lead to variations in short-term liquidity and profitability.

Valuation

• The analysts have a consensus price target of $63.67 for Customers Bancorp based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of $80.0, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just $50.0.
• In order for you to agree with the analyst's consensus, you'd need to believe that by 2027, revenues will be $824.6 million, earnings will come to $230.1 million, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 10.0x, assuming you use a discount rate of 6.5%.
• Given the current share price of $51.49, the analyst's price target of $63.67 is 19.1% higher.
• We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.