Pennsylvania | 001-11138 | 25-1428528 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||
601 Philadelphia Street, Indiana, PA | 15701 | |||
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 2.02 | Results of Operations and Financial Condition |
Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure |
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
99.1 | Press Release announcing Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results and Declaration of Quarterly Dividend. |
FIRST COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL CORPORATION | ||||
By: | /s/ James R. Reske | |||
Name: | James R. Reske | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
• | Improvement in return on average assets and return on average equity, stabilization of earnings per share and net interest margin, and improved efficiency compared to the prior quarter. |
• | Solid loan growth of $78.6 million from the prior quarter, or 7.3% on an annualized basis. |
• | Launch of a new Mortgage division offering purchase and refinance solutions throughout the Western Pennsylvania market area. |
• | Acquisition of a local insurance agency that expands First Commonwealth’s fee-based product lines and provides access to key insurance carriers, which was completed on October 1, 2014. |
• | Completion of a core IT systems conversion, with conversion expenses totaling $2.2 million in the third quarter, or $0.02 diluted earnings per share, and a total of $11.8 million over the life of the project. |
• | First Commonwealth expects to realize expense reductions of $1.5 million to $1.7 million per quarter as a result of the IT systems conversion, of which approximately $0.8 million was recognized during the third quarter of 2014. |
(dollars in thousands, | For the Three Months Ended | For the Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||
except per share data | September 30, | June 30, | September 30, | September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||
Net Income | $ | 12,496 | $ | 11,928 | $ | 15,854 | $ | 36,724 | $ | 32,223 | |||||
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 0.13 | $ | 0.13 | $ | 0.16 | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.33 | |||||
Return on average assets | 0.78 | % | 0.77 | % | 1.02 | % | 0.78 | % | 0.70 | % | |||||
Return on average equity | 6.91 | % | 6.62 | % | 8.83 | % | 6.83 | % | 5.88 | % | |||||
Efficiency Ratio | 66.65 | % | 67.09 | % | 61.50 | % | 66.25 | % | 65.66 | % | |||||
Net Interest Margin | 3.26 | % | 3.26 | % | 3.43 | % | 3.28 | % | 3.41 | % |
FIRST COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL CORPORATION | |||||||||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA | |||||||||||||||||||
Unaudited | |||||||||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||||||
For the Three Months Ended | For the Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | June 30, | September 30, | September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2014 | 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
SUMMARY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS | |||||||||||||||||||
Net interest income (FTE)(1) | $ | 47,364 | $ | 46,197 | $ | 48,255 | $ | 140,029 | $ | 141,429 | |||||||||
Provision for credit losses | 2,073 | 3,317 | 2,714 | 8,621 | 18,011 | ||||||||||||||
Noninterest income | 15,050 | 17,002 | 17,083 | 46,972 | 46,899 | ||||||||||||||
Noninterest expense | 41,568 | 42,396 | 40,045 | 123,851 | 123,497 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | 12,496 | 11,928 | 15,854 | 36,724 | 32,223 | ||||||||||||||
Earnings per common share (diluted) | $ | 0.13 | $ | 0.13 | $ | 0.16 | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.33 | |||||||||
KEY FINANCIAL RATIOS | |||||||||||||||||||
Return on average assets | 0.78 | % | 0.77 | % | 1.02 | % | 0.78 | % | 0.70 | % | |||||||||
Return on average shareholders' equity | 6.91 | % | 6.62 | % | 8.83 | % | 6.83 | % | 5.88 | % | |||||||||
Efficiency ratio(2) | 66.65 | % | 67.09 | % | 61.50 | % | 66.25 | % | 65.66 | % | |||||||||
Net interest margin (FTE)(1) | 3.26 | % | 3.26 | % | 3.43 | % | 3.28 | % | 3.41 | % | |||||||||
Book value per common share | $ | 7.74 | $ | 7.73 | $ | 7.45 | |||||||||||||
Tangible book value per common share(4) | 5.99 | 6.02 | 5.76 | ||||||||||||||||
Market value per common share | 8.39 | 9.22 | 7.59 | ||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends declared per common share | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.06 | $ | 0.21 | $ | 0.17 | ||||||||||||
ASSET QUALITY RATIOS | |||||||||||||||||||
Nonperforming loans as a percent of | |||||||||||||||||||
end-of-period loans (5) | 1.03 | % | 1.07 | % | 1.68 | % | |||||||||||||
Nonperforming assets as a percent of | |||||||||||||||||||
total assets (5) | 0.85 | % | 0.87 | % | 1.33 | % | |||||||||||||
Net charge-offs as a percent of average loans | |||||||||||||||||||
(annualized) | 0.18 | % | 0.66 | % | 0.49 | % | |||||||||||||
Allowance for credit losses as a percent of | |||||||||||||||||||
nonperforming loans (6) | 112.21 | % | 109.59 | % | 77.17 | % | |||||||||||||
Allowance for credit losses as a percent of | |||||||||||||||||||
end-of-period loans (6) | 1.15 | % | 1.17 | % | 1.30 | % | |||||||||||||
CAPITAL RATIOS | |||||||||||||||||||
Shareholders' equity as a percent of total | |||||||||||||||||||
assets | 11.16 | % | 11.50 | % | 11.56 | % | |||||||||||||
Tangible common equity as a percent of | |||||||||||||||||||
tangible assets(3) | 8.87 | % | 9.19 | % | 9.18 | % | |||||||||||||
Leverage Ratio | 9.79 | % | 10.19 | % | 9.84 | % | |||||||||||||
Risk Based Capital - Tier I | 11.73 | % | 12.38 | % | 12.04 | % | |||||||||||||
Risk Based Capital - Total | 12.77 | % | 13.46 | % | 13.22 | % | |||||||||||||
(5) - Includes loans held for sale | |||||||||||||||||||
(6) - Excludes loans held for sale |
FIRST COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL CORPORATION | ||||||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA | ||||||||||||||||
Unaudited | ||||||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
For the Three Months Ended | For the Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, | June 30, | September 30, | September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||
INCOME STATEMENT | ||||||||||||||||
Interest income | $ | 51,089 | $ | 50,166 | $ | 52,308 | $ | 151,761 | $ | 155,050 | ||||||
Interest expense | 4,536 | 4,783 | 5,079 | 14,234 | 16,705 | |||||||||||
Net Interest Income | 46,553 | 45,383 | 47,229 | 137,527 | 138,345 | |||||||||||
Taxable equivalent adjustment(1) | 811 | 814 | 1,026 | 2,502 | 3,084 | |||||||||||
Net Interest Income (FTE) | 47,364 | 46,197 | 48,255 | 140,029 | 141,429 | |||||||||||
Provision for credit losses | 2,073 | 3,317 | 2,714 | 8,621 | 18,011 | |||||||||||
Net Interest Income after Provision for Credit Losses (FTE) | 45,291 | 42,880 | 45,541 | 131,408 | 123,418 | |||||||||||
Net securities gains | 48 | 2 | 229 | 50 | 237 | |||||||||||
Trust income | 1,678 | 1,474 | 1,406 | 4,587 | 4,677 | |||||||||||
Service charges on deposit accounts | 4,099 | 4,141 | 4,227 | 12,032 | 11,443 | |||||||||||
Insurance and retail brokerage commissions | 1,709 | 1,600 | 1,822 | 4,704 | 4,623 | |||||||||||
Income from bank owned life insurance | 1,330 | 1,432 | 1,359 | 4,131 | 4,219 | |||||||||||
Gain on sale of assets | 742 | 2,165 | 1,356 | 4,488 | 2,056 | |||||||||||
Card related interchange income | 3,599 | 3,655 | 3,536 | 10,620 | 10,214 | |||||||||||
Other income | 1,845 | 2,533 | 3,148 | 6,360 | 9,430 | |||||||||||
Total Noninterest Income | 15,050 | 17,002 | 17,083 | 46,972 | 46,899 | |||||||||||
Salaries and employee benefits | 22,244 | 21,897 | 20,998 | 65,185 | 64,288 | |||||||||||
Net occupancy expense | 3,180 | 3,283 | 3,274 | 9,969 | 10,130 | |||||||||||
Furniture and equipment expense (7) | 4,471 | 5,249 | 3,294 | 15,050 | 9,863 | |||||||||||
Data processing expense | 1,583 | 1,542 | 1,492 | 4,593 | 4,511 | |||||||||||
Advertising and promotion expense | 861 | 785 | 815 | 2,346 | 2,369 | |||||||||||
Pennsylvania shares tax expense | 1,033 | 1,038 | 1,516 | 2,782 | 4,223 | |||||||||||
Intangible amortization | 174 | 178 | 193 | 530 | 848 | |||||||||||
Collection and repossession expense | 783 | 449 | 860 | 1,941 | 2,862 | |||||||||||
Other professional fees and services | 1,050 | 691 | 848 | 2,777 | 2,765 | |||||||||||
FDIC insurance | 926 | 1,051 | 1,178 | 3,026 | 3,312 | |||||||||||
Conversion related expenses (8) | 783 | 539 | 65 | 1,676 | 65 | |||||||||||
Loss on redemption of subordinated debt | — | — | — | — | 1,629 | |||||||||||
Other operating expenses | 4,480 | 5,694 | 5,512 | 13,976 | 16,632 | |||||||||||
Total Noninterest Expense | 41,568 | 42,396 | 40,045 | 123,851 | 123,497 | |||||||||||
Income before Income Taxes | 18,773 | 17,486 | 22,579 | 54,529 | 46,820 | |||||||||||
Taxable equivalent adjustment(1) | 811 | 814 | 1,026 | 2,502 | 3,084 | |||||||||||
Income tax provision | 5,466 | 4,744 | 5,699 | 15,303 | 11,513 | |||||||||||
Net Income | $ | 12,496 | $ | 11,928 | $ | 15,854 | $ | 36,724 | $ | 32,223 | ||||||
Shares Outstanding at End of Period | 91,722,649 | 93,752,812 | 95,544,765 | 91,722,649 | 95,544,765 | |||||||||||
Average Shares Outstanding Assuming Dilution | 92,578,701 | 93,811,543 | 96,208,545 | 93,632,783 | 97,675,352 | |||||||||||
(7) - Includes $1.4 million and $2.1 million of accelerated depreciation expense related to the technology conversion for the three-month | ||||||||||||||||
periods ended September 30, 2014 and June 30, 2014, respectively. The nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 includes $5.6 | ||||||||||||||||
million in accelerated depreciation. | ||||||||||||||||
(8) - Does not include accelerated depreciation expense described in note 7. |
FIRST COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL CORPORATION | |||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA | |||||||||||
Unaudited | |||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||
September 30, | June 30, | September 30, | |||||||||
2014 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
BALANCE SHEET (Period End) | |||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||
Cash and due from banks | $ | 78,696 | $ | 92,860 | $ | 88,179 | |||||
Interest-bearing bank deposits | 5,374 | 5,151 | 5,077 | ||||||||
Securities | 1,383,768 | 1,391,688 | 1,324,767 | ||||||||
Loans held for sale | 1,305 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
Loans | 4,411,481 | 4,334,214 | 4,240,004 | ||||||||
Allowance for credit losses | (50,784 | ) | (50,725 | ) | (54,957 | ) | |||||
Net loans | 4,360,697 | 4,283,489 | 4,185,047 | ||||||||
Goodwill and other intangibles | 160,152 | 160,326 | 161,483 | ||||||||
Other assets | 366,106 | 366,708 | 386,409 | ||||||||
Total Assets | $ | 6,356,098 | $ | 6,300,222 | $ | 6,150,962 | |||||
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | |||||||||||
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits | $ | 995,014 | $ | 1,008,031 | $ | 908,436 | |||||
Interest-bearing demand deposits | 82,221 | 83,137 | 96,587 | ||||||||
Savings deposits | 2,363,464 | 2,387,628 | 2,491,315 | ||||||||
Time deposits | 931,689 | 981,625 | 1,121,463 | ||||||||
Total interest-bearing deposits | 3,377,374 | 3,452,390 | 3,709,365 | ||||||||
Total deposits | 4,372,388 | 4,460,421 | 4,617,801 | ||||||||
Short-term borrowings | 1,034,967 | 845,873 | 551,628 | ||||||||
Long-term borrowings | 188,706 | 208,839 | 216,668 | ||||||||
Total borrowings | 1,223,673 | 1,054,712 | 768,296 | ||||||||
Other liabilities | 50,553 | 60,585 | 53,509 | ||||||||
Shareholders' equity | 709,484 | 724,504 | 711,356 | ||||||||
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | $ | 6,356,098 | $ | 6,300,222 | $ | 6,150,962 | |||||
FIRST COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL CORPORATION |
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA |
Unaudited |
(dollars in thousands) |
For the Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, | Yield/ | June 30, | Yield/ | September 30, | Yield/ | ||||||||||
2014 | Rate | 2014 | Rate | 2013 | Rate | ||||||||||
NET INTEREST MARGIN (Quarterly Averages) | |||||||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||||||
Loans (FTE)(1)(5) | $ | 4,388,130 | 3.97 | % | $ | 4,299,228 | 4.01 | % | $ | 4,258,372 | 4.19 | % | |||
Securities and interest bearing bank deposits (FTE)(1) | 1,383,554 | 2.28 | % | 1,376,163 | 2.33 | % | 1,327,656 | 2.50 | % | ||||||
Total Interest-Earning Assets (FTE)(1) | 5,771,684 | 3.57 | % | 5,675,391 | 3.60 | % | 5,586,028 | 3.79 | % | ||||||
Noninterest-earning assets | 553,384 | 555,874 | 576,741 | ||||||||||||
Total Assets | $ | 6,325,068 | $ | 6,231,265 | $ | 6,162,769 | |||||||||
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | |||||||||||||||
Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits | $ | 2,466,127 | 0.10 | % | $ | 2,512,176 | 0.10 | % | $ | 2,608,249 | 0.11 | % | |||
Time deposits | 954,474 | 0.98 | % | 1,113,859 | 1.01 | % | 1,144,766 | 1.06 | % | ||||||
Short-term borrowings | 940,156 | 0.28 | % | 651,450 | 0.29 | % | 547,393 | 0.26 | % | ||||||
Long-term borrowings | 199,435 | 1.79 | % | 210,703 | 1.69 | % | 216,733 | 1.77 | % | ||||||
Total Interest-Bearing Liabilities | 4,560,192 | 0.39 | % | 4,488,188 | 0.43 | % | 4,517,141 | 0.45 | % | ||||||
Noninterest-bearing deposits | 995,690 | 968,926 | 885,346 | ||||||||||||
Other liabilities | 51,327 | 51,138 | 47,932 | ||||||||||||
Shareholders' equity | 717,859 | 723,013 | 712,350 | ||||||||||||
Total Noninterest-Bearing Funding Sources | 1,764,876 | 1,743,077 | 1,645,628 | ||||||||||||
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | $ | 6,325,068 | $ | 6,231,265 | $ | 6,162,769 | |||||||||
Net Interest Margin (FTE) (annualized)(1) | 3.26 | % | 3.26 | % | 3.43 | % |
FIRST COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL CORPORATION | |
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA | |
Unaudited | |
(dollars in thousands) | |
For the Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||
September 30, | Yield/ | September 30, | Yield/ | |||||||
2014 | Rate | 2013 | Rate | |||||||
NET INTEREST MARGIN (Year-to-Date Averages) | ||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||
Loans (FTE)(1)(5) | $ | 4,331,807 | 4.04 | % | $ | 4,248,048 | 4.26 | % | ||
Securities and interest bearing bank deposits (FTE)(1) | 1,370,331 | 2.28 | % | 1,299,138 | 2.35 | % | ||||
Total Interest-Earning Assets (FTE)(1) | 5,702,138 | 3.62 | % | 5,547,186 | 3.81 | % | ||||
Noninterest-earning assets | 557,971 | 574,639 | ||||||||
Total Assets | $ | 6,260,109 | $ | 6,121,825 | ||||||
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | ||||||||||
Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits | $ | 2,511,615 | 0.10 | % | $ | 2,615,158 | 0.13 | % | ||
Time deposits | 1,065,458 | 1.00 | % | 1,167,593 | 1.08 | % | ||||
Short-term borrowings | 749,269 | 0.29 | % | 450,219 | 0.26 | % | ||||
Long-term borrowings | 208,818 | 1.75 | % | 239,166 | 2.17 | % | ||||
Total Interest-Bearing Liabilities | 4,535,160 | 0.42 | % | 4,472,136 | 0.50 | % | ||||
Noninterest-bearing deposits | 953,946 | 869,526 | ||||||||
Other liabilities | 52,001 | 48,020 | ||||||||
Shareholders' equity | 719,002 | 732,143 | ||||||||
Total Noninterest-Bearing Funding Sources | 1,724,949 | 1,649,689 | ||||||||
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | $ | 6,260,109 | $ | 6,121,825 | ||||||
Net Interest Margin (FTE) (annualized)(1) | 3.28 | % | 3.41 | % | ||||||
FIRST COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL CORPORATION | ||||||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA | ||||||||||||||||
Unaudited | ||||||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
September 30, | June 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2014 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||
ASSET QUALITY DETAIL | ||||||||||||||||
Nonperforming Loans: | ||||||||||||||||
Loans on nonaccrual basis | $ | 27,310 | $ | 28,928 | $ | 42,122 | ||||||||||
Troubled debt restructured loans on nonaccrual basis | 6,783 | 6,793 | 17,807 | |||||||||||||
Troubled debt restructured loans on accrual basis | 11,164 | 10,566 | 11,290 | |||||||||||||
Total Nonperforming Loans | $ | 45,257 | $ | 46,287 | $ | 71,219 | ||||||||||
Other real estate owned ("OREO") | 7,751 | 7,817 | 9,656 | |||||||||||||
Repossessions ("Repo") | 902 | 527 | 695 | |||||||||||||
Total Nonperforming Assets | $ | 53,910 | $ | 54,631 | $ | 81,570 | ||||||||||
Loans past due in excess of 90 days and still accruing | $ | 2,374 | $ | 2,410 | $ | 2,364 | ||||||||||
Classified loans | 63,724 | 70,166 | 107,196 | |||||||||||||
Criticized loans | 139,449 | 157,370 | 180,593 | |||||||||||||
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total loans, | ||||||||||||||||
plus OREO and Repos | 1.22 | % | 1.26 | % | 1.92 | % | ||||||||||
Allowance for credit losses | $ | 50,784 | $ | 50,725 | $ | 54,957 | ||||||||||
For the Three Months Ended | For the Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, | June 30, | September 30, | September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||
Net Charge-offs (Recoveries): | ||||||||||||||||
Commercial, financial, agricultural and other | $ | 294 | $ | 5,922 | $ | 3,000 | $ | 7,732 | $ | 16,957 | ||||||
Real estate construction | (132 | ) | 128 | (63 | ) | (173 | ) | 633 | ||||||||
Commercial real estate | 635 | (78 | ) | 800 | 677 | 9,930 | ||||||||||
Residential real estate | 454 | 561 | 686 | 1,866 | 517 | |||||||||||
Loans to individuals | 763 | 565 | 786 | 1,960 | 2,204 | |||||||||||
Net Charge-offs | $ | 2,014 | $ | 7,098 | $ | 5,209 | $ | 12,062 | $ | 30,241 | ||||||
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans | ||||||||||||||||
outstanding (annualized) | 0.18 | % | 0.66 | % | 0.49 | % | 0.37 | % | 0.95 | % | ||||||
Provision for credit losses as a percentage of net | ||||||||||||||||
charge-offs | 102.93 | % | 46.73 | % | 52.10 | % | 71.47 | % | 59.56 | % | ||||||
Provision for credit losses | $ | 2,073 | $ | 3,317 | $ | 2,714 | $ | 8,621 | $ | 18,011 | ||||||
FIRST COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL CORPORATION |
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA |
Unaudited |
(dollars in thousands, except per share data) |
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES | ||||||||||||
(1) Net interest income has been computed on a fully taxable equivalent basis ("FTE") using the 35% federal income tax | ||||||||||||
statutory rate. | ||||||||||||
(2) Efficiency ratio is "total noninterest expense" as a percentage of total revenue. Total revenue consists of "net interest | ||||||||||||
income, on a fully taxable equivalent basis," plus "total noninterest income," excluding "net impairment losses" and "net | ||||||||||||
securities gains." | ||||||||||||
September 30, | June 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||
2014 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
Tangible Equity: | ||||||||||||
Total shareholders' equity | $ | 709,484 | $ | 724,504 | $ | 711,356 | ||||||
Less: intangible assets | 160,152 | 160,326 | 161,483 | |||||||||
Tangible Equity | 549,332 | 564,178 | 549,873 | |||||||||
Less: preferred stock | — | — | — | |||||||||
Tangible Common Equity | $ | 549,332 | $ | 564,178 | $ | 549,873 | ||||||
Tangible Assets: | ||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 6,356,098 | $ | 6,300,222 | $ | 6,150,962 | ||||||
Less: intangible assets | 160,152 | 160,326 | 161,483 | |||||||||
Tangible Assets | $ | 6,195,946 | $ | 6,139,896 | $ | 5,989,479 | ||||||
(3)Tangible Common Equity as a percentage of | ||||||||||||
Tangible Assets | 8.87 | % | 9.19 | % | 9.18 | % | ||||||
Shares Outstanding at End of Period | 91,722,649 | 93,752,812 | 95,544,765 | |||||||||
(4)Tangible Book Value Per Common Share | $ | 5.99 | $ | 6.02 | $ | 5.76 | ||||||
Note: Management believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present these non-gaap measures. These | ||||||||||||
measures provide useful information to management and investors by allowing them to make peer comparisons. |