Home BancShares Inc. of Conway on Thursday announced fourth-quarter net income of $48.6 million, up nearly 30 percent from the same time last year.
The parent company of Centennial Bank said fourth-quarter diluted earnings per share was 35 cents, up from 27 cents — split adjusted — in the same quarter last year. Excluding a reduced provision for loan losses and merger expenses, diluted earnings per share was 33 cents.
For the full year, the company (Nasdaq: HOMB) reported in income of $177.1 million, up 28 percent from $138.2 million the previous year. Diluted earnings per share was $1.26, up from $1.01 per share — split adjusted — in 2015.
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"The annual and quarterly earnings performance for 2016 exceeded expectations," Chairman John Allison said in a news release. "At the beginning of 2016, we had what we considered an aggressive goal in place to reach annual diluted earnings per share of $1.25. While it took both discipline and hard work, the company exceeded this goal for the year by reporting exceptional results for diluted earnings per share of $1.26 per share."
Randy Sims, Home BancShares' CEO, said the fourth quarter marked the 23rd straight quarter of record profit. He also said the company achieved a core efficiency ratio of 35.97 percent.
The company said quarterly non-interest income was $23.8 million, up from to $17.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. Non-interest income included $7.6 million from other service charges and fees, $6.4 million from service charges on deposits accounts and $4.1 million from mortgage lending income.
Total loans receivable were $7.39 billion at Dec. 31, compared to $6.64 billion at Dec. 31, 2015. Total deposits were $6.94 billion, up from $6.44 billion, and total assets were $9.81 billion, up from $9.29 billion.
During the quarter, the company closed one branch in Mountain Home. During the first quarter of 2017, it plans to open a branch location in Clearwater, Florida, and a loan production office in Los Angeles.
The company has 76 branches in Arkansas, 59 in Florida, six in Alabama and one in New York City.