Hailey
Southern Missouri Bancorp has released its fourth-quarter earnings for fiscal year 2024, and the numbers have exceeded expectations on both earnings per share (EPS) and revenue fronts.
The company posted an EPS of $1.39, which is $0.13 higher than the analyst consensus estimate of $1.26, reflecting a strong quarterly performance.
According to Zacks Investment Research, the adjusted EPS came in slightly lower at $1.30, still beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.23 per share.
This marks an earnings surprise of 5.69%, showcasing consistent operational efficiency and strategic execution. Compared to the same quarter last year, when the company reported $1.07 EPS, Southern Missouri has seen significant year-over-year growth.
Revenue Highlights and Year-Over-Year Growth
Southern Missouri Bancorp reported quarterly revenue of $47.61 million, surpassing the market forecast of $46.26 million. Zacks also noted a separate revenue figure of $45.01 million, representing a 4.16% beat over their estimate and a rise from $40.13 million year over year.
This positive trend continues a strong track record, as the bank has exceeded revenue expectations in four of the past four quarters.
Earnings Performance and Historical Trends
Over the last year, SMBC has outperformed analysts’ earnings projections in three out of four quarters, reflecting robust financial management. In the prior quarter, analysts expected EPS of $1.11, but the company delivered $1.10, resulting in a slight negative surprise of -0.90%.
Even with this minor deviation, the consistent earnings beats indicate long-term stability and potential value for investor
Market Performance and Share Movement
Despite its financial strength, Southern Missouri Bancorp stock has declined slightly by 0.3% year-to-date. In contrast, the S&P 500 has gained 3.7% during the same period.
However, SMBC shares have seen gains of 7.15% over the last three months and 7.54% over the past year, pointing to growing investor confidence.
Future Outlook and Analyst Expectations
Looking ahead, the company’s earnings outlook will play a crucial role in determining future stock movement. The current consensus EPS estimate for the next quarter is $1.20 on projected revenue of $43.75 million.
For the entire fiscal year, analysts expect earnings of $4.75 per share on $175.77 million in revenue.
According to Zacks Rank, Southern Missouri Bancorp currently holds a Rank #4 (Sell) due to recent negative estimate revisions. This suggests that the stock may underperform in the short term unless future guidance improves.
Industry Perspective
Southern Missouri Bancorp is part of the Financial – Savings and Loan industry, which currently ranks in the top 11% out of more than 250 industries tracked by Zacks. Historical data indicates that companies in the top 50% of Zacks-ranked industries typically outperform those in the bottom half by more than 2-to-1.
Comparative Look: Flushing Financial Corporation (FFIC)
Another player in the same industry, Flushing Financial (FFIC), is set to report its earnings for the same quarter on January 28, 2025. Analysts anticipate earnings of $0.21 per share, marking a 16% decline from the prior year.
However, the EPS forecast has been revised upward by 2.1% in the past 30 days. Expected revenue stands at $50.35 million, a 5.9% decrease compared to the previous year.
Financial Strength and Stock Health
According to InvestingPro, Southern Missouri Bancorp maintains a “Good Performance” Financial Health Score, reflecting a solid balance sheet and strong cash flows.
Additionally, the company recorded one positive and one negative EPS revision in the past 90 days, indicating mixed analyst sentiment.
Investors interested in tracking how the market reacts to this earnings performance can monitor real-time stock price changes and future earnings estimate trends.
Southern Missouri Bancorp continues to demonstrate resilience and growth despite broader market challenges. With a track record of beating earnings and revenue estimates, the company positions itself as a solid player in the regional banking sector.
However, short-term investor sentiment may be dampened by a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell) and recent downward estimate revisions.
Still, with the Financial – Savings and Loan industry showing strong relative strength, and SMBC’s consistent financial performance, long-term prospects remain promising for investors who focus on earnings growth and market share expansion.