PI
POPULAR, INC. (BPOP)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- EPS of $3.09 beat Wall Street consensus by ~22% (vs $2.54)*; “strong performance” driven by higher net interest income (NII), NIM expansion, and improved credit quality .
- Revenue (SPGI-defined “total revenue”) missed modestly: $751.1M actual vs $775.6M estimate, while GAAP NII rose to $631.5M and GAAP non‑interest income to $168.5M* .
- Guidance raised: NII growth now 10–11% (was 7–9%); NCOs cut to 45–65bps (was 70–90bps); non‑interest income guided to the high end of $155–160M/quarter; OpEx 4–5% including profit sharing .
- Capital actions: dividend increased to $0.75 and new $500M buyback announced—plus $112.0M repurchased in Q2—support capital return narrative .
- Catalyst: visible loan growth ($931M QoQ) and NIM/dep-cost improvements with raised NII guidance; focus areas are Q3 deposit seasonality and OpEx discipline .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- NII and NIM expansion: GAAP NII rose to $631.5M (+$26M QoQ) and NIM to 3.49% (+9bps); taxable-equivalent NIM to 3.85% (+12bps) .
- Broad-based growth with better credit: loans +$931M QoQ; deposits +$1.4B QoQ; NPL ratio improved to 0.82% and annualized NCO ratio fell to 0.45% .
- Confidence and strategic execution: “We delivered strong performance…”; CFO expects ≥12% ROTCE for full year; CRO: “confident…risk profile…will allow us to operate successfully” .
What Went Wrong
- Operating expenses rose $21.7M QoQ to $492.8M, driven by $13.0M profit‑sharing accrual and higher personnel costs .
- Revenue (SPGI) underperformed estimate despite strong GAAP NII; watch mix and definition differences across data providers* .
- Q3 deposit seasonality and continued retail yield-seeking behavior could pressure balances/costs; management flagged expected seasonal outflows and ongoing competition .
Financial Results
Core P&L and Margins (GAAP)
Segment NII and NIM
Key KPIs
Consensus vs Actuals (SPGI-defined)
Values retrieved from S&P Global. (*)
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We delivered strong performance in the second quarter, highlighted by higher net interest income, an expanding net interest margin, healthy loan and deposit growth, and improved credit quality.” — Javier D. Ferrer, CEO .
- “We now expect higher NII growth of 10% to 11% in 2025… and increasingly confident we should exceed a 12% ROTCE for the full year.” — Jorge García, CFO .
- “Credit quality metrics improved… we are confident that the improvement in the risk profile of our loan portfolios positions Popular to operate successfully under more difficult economic condition.” — Lidio Soriano, CRO .
- “Our capital actions… reflect the strength of our capital position.” — CEO on dividend increase and new buyback .
Q&A Highlights
- Profit sharing and OpEx: CFO explained profit sharing accrual mechanics (max ~$40M, ~8% capped), embedded in guidance; total OpEx growth 4–5% including profit sharing .
- Deposits: Management flagged typical Q3 seasonality and retail yield-seeking; deposit retention strategies enhanced via incentive structures .
- Loan dynamics: Strong pipelines in PR and US; some anticipated construction payoffs/takeouts in US later in the year (likely Q4) .
- Projects and capital: PR federal funds-driven project pipeline growing; comfortable keeping buyback pace given capital .
- Stablecoins: Team formed to evaluate use cases following legislation; early innings but acknowledged industry impact .
Estimates Context
- Q2 2025 results vs consensus: EPS $3.09 beat $2.54 by ~22%; SPGI “total revenue” $751.1M missed $775.6M by ~3%*.
- Prior quarters: Q1 2025 EPS beat ($2.56 vs $2.18) with revenue miss ($693.6M vs $760.7M); Q4 2024 EPS beat ($2.52 vs $2.10) with revenue miss ($689.4M vs $748.6M)*.
- Implication: Sell-side likely raises EPS estimates (NII guidance up; NIM tailwinds) while revenue frameworks may diverge due to bank reporting/definition differences; watch model alignment on “revenue” definition* .
Values retrieved from S&P Global. (*)
Key Takeaways for Investors
- EPS beat with raised NII guidance (10–11%) and better credit—supports upward EPS revisions and stronger ROTCE trajectory into H2’25 .
- Loan growth momentum (+$931M QoQ) and segment NIM expansion (BPPR +5bps; Popular U.S. +19bps) point to durable core earnings improvement .
- Deposit costs trending lower (1.78% total) and PR public deposit repricing helped NIM; monitor Q3 seasonality and retail yield‑seeking .
- OpEx discipline needed: profit-sharing accrual lifted costs by $13M; management is offsetting via efficiency workstreams .
- Capital return commits (dividend to $0.75; new $500M buyback; $112M repurchased in Q2) are a positive valuation catalyst if earnings trajectory holds .
- Credit risk downshifts (NCO guide 45–65bps; NPL 0.82%) lower downside risk to provision and bolster earnings visibility .
- Near-term focus: Q3 deposit seasonality, construction takeout timing, and continued deposit retention—key to sustaining NIM/NII into year-end .