Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. Q1 FY2026 earnings call

• Merger with Synovus closed Jan 1st, early results strong. Delivered diluted EPS 89 cents and adjusted diluted EPS $2.39. • Organic loan growth over $2B and core deposit growth almost $2B in first quarter. • Net interest margin expanded into top half of target range. Adjusted non-interest revenue grew over 20% vs combined results in first quarter of 2025. • Added 50 experienced revenue producers during the quarter, with 37 new hires or accepted offers in April. • Integration progressing ahead of plan, operating model in full motion. • Named number 12 on Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, 10th consecutive year. • Joined KBW NASDAQ Bank Index (BKX).

For the first quarter, Pinnacle delivered diluted earnings per share of 89 cents and adjusted diluted EPS of $2.39. On an organic basis, over $2 billion in loan growth and almost $2 billion in core deposit growth. Net interest margin expanded into the top half of target range. Adjusted non-interest revenue grew over 20% vs combined results in first quarter of 2025. Credit remained stable. Loan growth: period-end loans excluding day one purchase accounting loan mark increased $2.1 billion, or 10% annualized from combined firm's fourth quarter 2025. Core deposit growth: linked quarter organic core deposit growth was $1.9 billion, or 8% annualized. Revenue contribution: details not explicitly given as percentages but key components like loan growth, deposit growth, net interest margin, adjusted non-interest revenue are highlighted.

• Expect period-end loan growth of 9% to 11% excluding purchase accounting loan mark vs combined balances at year-end 2025; on track with 3% organic period-end loan growth in first quarter. • Total deposits expected to grow 8% to 10% vs combined year-end 2025 balances. • Adjusted revenue outlook remains $5B to $5.2B for full year. • Net interest margin expected to be approximately 3.5% with marginal benefits of near to medium term fixed rate asset repricing offset by methodical increase in on balance sheet liquidity position. • Expect approximately $1.1B in adjusted non-interest revenue this year, driven by sustained execution in treasury management, capital markets, and wealth management; BHG investment income projection $105 to $115 million. • Adjusted non-interest expense forecast in range of $2.675 to $2.775 billion; expect to realize approximately 40% or $100 million of merger-related savings this year. • Net charge-offs expected to be in range of 20 to 25 basis points for full year, consistent with combined company performance in 2025. • Focus for capital management remains on managing CET1 ratio towards target of 10.25% while prioritizing deployment for core client growth; estimate capital NPR proposal could have 60 basis point positive impact to CET1 ratio. • Adjusted effective tax rate expected to be approximately 20 to 21% for the year.

• Merger integration could have potential disruptions and areas where course correction may be needed. • Economic uncertainty could impact credit outlook and provisioning. • Competitive environment could affect loan pricing and deposit gathering. • Changes in regulatory requirements like Basel III endgame could have implications, but expected to be positive overall but need to await final rules. • BHG's strategic funding and delivery platform optimization could have near-term revenue recognition headwind but long-term positive impact.

Q: John McDonald from Truist Securities asked about loan and deposit growth outlook, what gives confidence, and how much driven by seasoned hires and other factors.

A: Kevin Blair said first quarter showed combined companies can continue to grow, diversification across geographies and specialties, momentum in pipelines, benefits from previous hiring and cross-selling opportunities.

Q: Tamir Brazzler from UBS asked about go-to-market strategy change and reception.

A: Kevin Blair said moving to pinnacle model, rapid hiring of revenue producers, 40% of producers hired in legacy Synovus footprint up 50% from same period last year, model well received.

Q: John Pancari from Evercore asked about loan front details like credit spreads, new money loan yields, loan demand, line utilization.

A: Kevin Blair said organic growth solid, line utilization down a bit, loan pricing around 620 on new loans, deposit production around 262, competitive landscape rational.

Q: Abraham Poonawalla from Bank of America asked about net interest margin, loan deposit growth dynamic, non-interest bearing deposits mix.

A: Jamie Gregory said core deposit growth helps funding mix, first quarter loan production rate 6.2%, deposit side 2.62%, legacy pinnacle margin approx 3.3% for future incremental growth, NIB expected to remain relatively stable at around 20% of deposits.

Q: Casey Hare from Autonomous asked about recruiting strategy upside and economics.

A: Kevin Blair said excited about recruiting momentum, 50 hired, 37 in April, confident in economics as model is attraction point.

Q: Jared Shaw from Barclays asked about new geographies for hiring.

A: Kevin Blair said no new expansion markets, focus on existing nine states and District of Columbia, with growth in markets like Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, Florida, Alabama.

Q: Anthony Elian from J.P. Morgan asked about capital, buyback authorization.

A: Jamie Gregory said plan to get to low end of CET1 target 10.25% before buybacks, capital generated in first quarter from earnings, deployed to clients.

Q: Steven Scouten from Piper Sandler asked about BHG and loan originations.

A: Kevin Blair said BHG outlook strong, production increase, change in distribution to improve long-term profitability.

Q: Bernard Van Gazzicke from Deutsche Bank asked about credit, allowance for credit losses.

A: Kevin Blair said economic uncertainty drove change in economic outlook, qualitative reserves ebbed and flowed based on portfolio outlook.

Q: Catherine Miller from KBW asked about average earning assets and building cash and securities.

A: Jamie Gregory said expect to continue growing securities portfolio, could end year up $1.5 to $2B, longer term expect to grow to 19-20% of assets.

Q: David Chiaverni from Jefferies asked about growth consistency and Basel III endgame impact.

A: Kevin Blair said first quarter ahead of schedule, growth could be more consistent, Basel III endgame proposed rules can work to advantage, enhance attractiveness of core client business.

Q: Gary Tenner from DA Davidson asked about NIM roll forward and net accretion benefit.

A: Jamie Gregory said securities repositioning made it traditional NII, securities accretion and loan accretion have general amounts each quarter.

Q: Chris Maranek from Breen Capital Research asked about NDFI business line.

A: Kevin Blair said NDFI business line well structured, protected, no upper bound set as loans are granular and different.

Q: Robert Rutschow from Wells Fargo asked about visa gain and retention.

A: Kevin Blair said no visa gain, retention data would be provided, worst of churn likely behind us.