Ameris Bancorp delivered third-quarter results that surpassed Wall Street’s revenue and earnings expectations, with management pointing to a combination of core deposit growth, higher noninterest income, and disciplined expense management as key contributors. CEO Palmer Proctor emphasized strong performance in return on assets and tangible book value per share, while highlighting that 4% annualized loan growth and a favorable net interest margin were achieved despite a challenging competitive environment. Management noted that efficiency gains stemmed from revenue expansion rather than cost-cutting, and that asset quality measures remained stable.

Is now the time to buy ABCB? Find out in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.

Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From Ameris Bancorp’s Q3 Earnings Call

• David Feaster (Raymond James) asked about loan demand and pipeline trends. CEO Palmer Proctor highlighted optimism for continued growth across all lending verticals, noting stable payoff activity and strong market demand.
• Feaster (Raymond James) also inquired about competitive pressures. Proctor explained that competition was primarily affecting pricing rather than credit structure and saw disruption as a potential source for additional volume.
• Feaster (Raymond James) questioned the sustainability of equipment finance fee income. Proctor expects roughly 75% of current fee levels to persist and described plans to securitize loans for additional revenue.
• Catherine Mealor (KBW) explored expense trends and mortgage cost modeling. CFO Nicole Stokes outlined expectations for a 5-5.5% increase in noninterest expenses and provided guidance for mortgage efficiency ratios as volume grows.
• Russell Elliott Gunther (Stephens) asked about the outlook for investment portfolio growth and M&A. Stokes said the portfolio would likely stabilize at 9-10% of assets, while Proctor emphasized prioritizing organic growth over acquisitions.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

Looking ahead, our team will be monitoring (1) whether Ameris Bancorp can sustain core deposit and loan growth rates amid rising competition, (2) the trajectory of net interest margin as funding costs evolve, and (3) the impact of potential changes in mortgage rates on both revenue and operating efficiency. Execution in leveraging market disruption and managing expense growth will also be key signposts.

Ameris Bancorp currently trades at $71.62, down from $74.45 just before the earnings. In the wake of this quarter, is it a buy or sell? The answer lies in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

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