Citizens Financial Q1 Earnings Top Estimates on Fee Income Growth

By Zacks Equity Research | April 16, 2025, 11:13 AM

Citizens Financial Group CFG has reported first-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of 77 cents, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 75 cents. The metric rose 18.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Results benefited from a rise in non-interest income, along with reduced expenses. A strong capital position was another positive. However, lower net interest income (NII) and declining loan balances were major headwinds.

Net income (GAAP basis) was $373 million, which rose 12% from the prior-year quarter. (See the Zacks Earnings Calendar to stay ahead of market-making news.)

CFG’s Revenues & Expenses Fall

Total quarterly revenues in the first quarter were $1.94 billion, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.3%. The top line declined 1.2% year over year.

Citizens Financial’s NII decreased 4% year over year to $1.39 billion due to a lower net interest margin and a decline in average interest-earning assets. Our estimate for NII was the same as reported. 

The net interest margin (NIM) shrunk 1 basis point to 2.90% as the impacts of variable-rate asset repricing were largely offset by the benefits of lower funding costs, non-core runoff and fixed-rate asset repricing. Our estimate for NIM was 2.84%.

The non-interest income increased 5% year over year to $544 million. The improvement resulted from increased service charges and fees, wealth fees, and mortgage banking income. Our estimate for non-interest income was $562 million.

Non-interest expenses decreased 3% to $1.31 billion. The decline was due to a fall in outside services costs, occupancy costs and lower other operating expenses. Our estimate for the metric was $1.34 billion. Underlying non-interest expenses increased 3% from the prior-year quarter.

The efficiency ratio of 67.9% in the first quarter decreased from 69.3% in the year-ago quarter. A fall in the efficiency ratio reflects increased profitability.

Citizens Financial’s Loan Balance Declines & Deposits Rise

As of March 31, 2025, period-end total loans and leases were $137.6 billion, down 1.1% from the prior-year quarter. Total deposits increased 1.6% to $177.6 billion. Our estimate for total loans and deposits was $139.1 billion and $175 billion, respectively.

CFG’s Credit Quality: Mixed Bag

As of March 31, 2025, Citizens Financial’s provision for credit losses was $153 million, which declined 10.5% from the year-ago quarter. Our estimate for the metric was $155.9 million.

The allowance for credit losses decreased 4% to $2.21 billion.

Net charge-offs increased 10% to $200 million. Our estimate for the metric was $188 million.

Non-accrual loans and leases rose 8% to $1.58 billion. Our estimate for the metric was $1.59 billion.

CFG’s Capital Position Improves

As of March 31, 2025, the tier 1 leverage ratio was 9.4%, which increased from 9.3% in the prior-year quarter.

The common equity tier 1 capital ratio was 10.6%, unchanged from the prior-year quarter. The total capital ratio was 13.9%, up from 13.8% in the prior-year quarter.

Citizens Financial’s Share Repurchase Update

In the first quarter of 2025, CFG repurchased $200 million of common shares and paid out $186 million in common dividends.

Our View on CFG

Citizens Financial’s focus on strategic and efficiency initiatives, and inorganic growth moves aid its financials. A solid liquidity position enables sustainable capital distributions. However, a lower NII and declining loan balances are concerning. 

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

 

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Quote

Currently, Citizens Financial carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Earnings Dates & Expectations of Bank Stocks

Wintrust Financial Corporation WTFC is scheduled to release first-quarter 2025 earnings on April 21. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WTFC’s quarterly earnings has been unchanged at $2.52 per share over the past seven days.

Bank of Hawaii BOH is scheduled to announce first-quarter 2025 numbers on April 21. Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BOH’s quarterly earnings has been unchanged at 89 cents.

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Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Bank of Hawaii Corporation (BOH): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (CFG): Free Stock Analysis Report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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