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Many bank stocks pay dividends, although few have as high of a dividend yield as Tompkins Financial (TMP).

TMP stock has a high current yield of 4.3%. As a result, it is part of our ‘High Dividend 50’ series, where we cover the 50 highest-yielding stocks in the Sure Analysis Research Database.

Not only that, Tompkins Financial also has a long history of increasing dividends. It has raised its dividend for 37 consecutive years.

In this article, we will analyze the prospects of Tompkins Financial stock.

Business Overview

Tompkins Financial is a regional financial services holding company headquartered in Ithaca, NY that can trace its roots back more than 180 years.

TMP stock trades with a market capitalization of $850 million and has total assets of about $8 billion, which produce about $300 million in annual revenue.

The company offers a wide range of services, including checking and deposit accounts, time deposits, loans, credit cards, insurance services, and wealth management to its customers in New York and Pennsylvania.

Tompkins posted first-quarter earnings on April 26th, 2024, and results were somewhat mixed, as the company beat estimates on profits, but fell short on the top line.

Earnings-per-share came to $1.18, which was 11 cents ahead of estimates. Revenue was off 2.5% year-over-year to $73 million, but missed estimates by $1.1 million.

Net interest margin for the quarter was 2.73%, which was nine basis points worse than the fourth quarter, and 26 basis points off from the year-ago period. Net interest margin is a critical profitability metric for banks, and the higher, the better.

Total deposits were $6.4 billion, up $50 million, or 3.1% on an annualized basis, from December. The change was $59 million, or 0.9%, from the year-ago period.

Tompkins finished the quarter with a loan-to-deposit ratio of 87.5%, essentially flat from Q4.

We note this elevated ratio being a potential headwind for growth going forward. The allowance for credit losses were 0.92% of total loans, up from 0.87% in the year-ago period.

We now see $4.20 in earnings-per-share for this year after Q1 results.

Growth Prospects

Tompkins Financial’s earnings-per-share have steadily declined since 2021, which was an abnormal year. Earnings in 2021 were boosted by credit loss recoveries that will not recur. 2023 earnings were quite weak, but we expect 5% annual EPS growth over the next five years.

We are cautious on Tompkins’ ability to grow in the near-term given the interest rate environment. Given the state of the yield curve, we don’t see a lot of additional deterioration in margins, but it may take some time before Tompkins sees any material improvement in its lending spreads.

The bank’s share repurchase program should help boost earnings-per-share, but only with fractional declines in the float annually. And, extremely high loan-to-deposit ratios are another headwind.

Therefore, we view modest growth of 5% over the next five years as a reasonable estimate for TMP.

Competitive Advantages

Tompkins’ competitive advantage is its focus on targeted local markets in the Northeast U.S. The local bank feel is something consumers in small communities gravitate towards, which benefits Tompkins.

For example, during the coronavirus pandemic the performed well in 2020, but credit quality deteriorated somewhat during the year.

The company’s recession-resistant business model have allowed it to raise its dividend for 37 consecutive years, making it a Dividend Champion.

Dividend Analysis

TMP has maintained a long dividend history, and we do not see this streak in jeopardy by any means. Due to its modest payout ratio of 58% expected for 2024, it has ample room to keep growing its dividend, even with low earnings growth.

In the 2024 first quarter, the bank also boosted its dividend by 1.7%, to a new annual payout of $2.44 per share. Based on the $2.44 per share dividend and a current share price of ~$57, TMP shares have a current dividend yield of 4.3%.

This is a strong yield, which is well above the ~1.3% average yield of the S&P 500 Index right now. As a result, TMP stock is attractive for income investors, as the yield is relatively high, and the payout appears safe.

Final Thoughts

Tompkins Financial is not a growth stock, but it has maintained a long history of steady dividend increases. The company has increased its dividend for 37 consecutive years, due to its competitive advantages and consistent earnings growth.

We have modest growth expectations for TMP going forward, but it should be able to generate enough EPS growth to maintain its current dividend, and continue its streak of annual increases.

Dividend increases are likely to continue to be low each year, but with a high starting yield of 4.3%, TMP stock is attractive for income investors.

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