ServisFirst: Another Quarter, So It Goes.

ServisFirst Bancshares (SFBS +14.58%) had a good day. A really good day, actually. The kind of day where numbers go up on a screen, and people pretend it means something lasting. It happened on Wednesday.

By the time the bell rang, their stock was up more than fourteen percent. Which is, you know, a thing that happens.

They Moved Some Money Around

Deposits went up five percent, to $675.6 million. Loans increased twelve percent, to $384.9 million. It’s all just numbers shuffling, really. Like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, but with slightly better accounting.

Their net interest margin – a phrase designed to lull you into a false sense of security – increased by 42 basis points to 3.38%. Interest rates went down, and somehow that helped. Go figure. It’s a funny world.

Earnings per share surged by 33% to $1.58. More money for someone, somewhere. So it goes.

Disciplined Execution, They Say

The efficiency ratio improved, from 36% to 29%. Meaning they spent less money to make more money. It’s a miracle, almost. Or just good bookkeeping. Hard to tell.

David Sparacio, the chief financial officer, said they focused on net interest margin expansion and expense controls. He said words. People in finance are very good at saying words. It’s what they do.

Handsome Returns, For Some

Return on equity went up, from 16.3% to 18.9%. Another number going up. It means the bank is good at making money with other people’s money. Which, let’s be honest, is what banks are supposed to do.

They raised the dividend by 13%, to $0.38 per share. A little something for the shareholders. A small consolation prize in the grand cosmic lottery. So it goes.

2026-01-22 06:52

They Moved Some Money Around

Disciplined Execution, They Say

Handsome Returns, For Some

Read More