Nonperforming assets totaled $11.0 million, or 0.56% of total assets, at March 31, 2020, up from $10.3 million, or 0.57% of total assets, at September 30, 2019 and $10.3 million or 0.56% of total assets, at March 31, 2019. The allowance for loan losses was $13.2 million, or 0.96% of loans outstanding, at March 31, 2020, $12.6 million, or 0.94% of loans outstanding at September 30, 2019 and $12.4 million, or 0.92% of loans outstanding at March 31, 2019 primarily reflecting prudent reserving to match commercial loan growth, overall loan credit quality and decreasingcharge-off trends.
For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company’s return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.76% and 7.09%, compared with 0.63% and 6.26%, respectively, in the comparable period of fiscal 2019. For the six months ended March 31, 2020, the Company’s return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.76% and 7.09%, compared with 0.64% and 6.42%, respectively, in the comparable period of fiscal 2019.
The Bank continued to demonstrate financial strength with a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 9.44% at March 31, 2020, exceeding regulatory standards for a well-capitalized institution. The Company maintained a tangible equity to tangible assets ratio of 9.83% at March 31, 2020.
Total stockholders’ equity increased $4.2 million to $193.74 million at March 31, 2020, from $189.5 million at September 30, 2019, primarily reflecting increases from net income and comprehensive income which were offset in part by dividends paid to shareholders and changes in treasury stock. Tangible book value per share at March 31, 2020 was $16.11, compared with $15.43 at September 30, 2019.
About the Company: ESSA Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for its wholly owned subsidiary, ESSA Bank & Trust, which was formed in 1916. Headquartered in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, the Company has total assets of $2.0 billion and has 22 community offices throughout the Greater Pocono, Lehigh Valley, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and suburban Philadelphia areas. ESSA Bank & Trust offers a full range of commercial and retail financial services, asset management and trust services, investment services through Ameriprise Financial Institutions Group and insurance benefit services through ESSA Advisory Services, LLC. ESSA Bancorp Inc. stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market (SM) under the symbol “ESSA.”
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained herein are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods, or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “may,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “continue,” or similar terms or variations on those terms, or the negative of those terms. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those related to the economic environment, particularly in the market areas in which the Company operates, competitive products and pricing, fiscal and monetary policies of the U.S. Government, changes in government regulations affecting financial institutions, including compliance costs and capital requirements, changes in prevailing interest rates, acquisitions and the integration of acquired businesses, credit risk management, asset-liability management, the financial and securities markets and the availability of and costs associated with sources of liquidity, and the Risk Factors disclosed in our annual and quarterly reports. In addition, theCOVID-19 pandemic is having an adverse impact on the Company, its customers and the communities it serves. The adverse effect of theCOVID-19 pandemic on the Company, its customers and the communities where it operates will continue to adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition for an indefinite period of time.
