HB
HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INC /MD/ (HBANP)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 delivered strong growth: diluted EPS $0.34 (flat QoQ, +31% YoY), total FTE revenue $1.935B (+10% YoY), NIM expanded to 3.10% (+7bps QoQ), and ROTCE 16.7% .
- Deposit costs fell to 2.03% (down 13bps QoQ), driving margin outperformance; average loans grew 2% QoQ to $130.9B and average deposits rose 1% QoQ to $161.6B .
- Full‑year guidance: loans +5–7% (maintained), deposits +3–5% (maintained), fee revenue +4–6% (maintained), expenses +3.5–4.5% (maintained), net charge‑offs 25–35bps (maintained); net interest income guidance raised to +5–7% for 2025; Q2 guide: avg loans +1–2% QoQ, expenses ≈$1.17B, NII up modestly with stable run‑rate NIM around ~3.07% .
- Capital strengthened: CET1 10.6% (+10bps QoQ) and adjusted CET1 8.9% (+20bps QoQ); Board approved a new $1B multi‑year share repurchase authorization, a potential stock catalyst as capital approaches operating range .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Margin and funding execution: NIM rose to 3.10% as total deposit cost fell to 2.03% (−13bps QoQ), outperforming internal expectations due to disciplined pricing and accelerated down‑beta (achieved ~37% cumulative down‑beta in Q1) .
- Broad‑based growth: Average loans +$2.7B QoQ (+2%), deposits +$2.2B QoQ (+1%); fee income +6% YoY, led by payments (+6% YoY), wealth (+15% YoY), and capital markets (+20% YoY) .
- Credit quality: NCOs fell to 0.26% (−4bps QoQ) and NPA ratio decreased to 0.61% (−2bps QoQ), with ACL at 1.87% despite portfolio growth; management emphasized top‑quartile through‑cycle credit performance .
Management quotes:
- “Our first quarter results were highlighted by continued profit growth driven by increased loans and deposits, expanded net interest margin, growth of fee revenues, and rigorous expense management.” — CEO Steve Steinour .
- “We drove $31 million or 2.2% growth in net interest income… very pleased with the underlying 307 basis points of NIM in the quarter.” — CFO Zach Wasserman .
What Went Wrong
- Sequential fee softness: Total noninterest income fell $65M QoQ to $494M on lower capital markets (−44% QoQ) and “other” income (−56% QoQ), partly due to investment valuation items; note Q1 seasonal trough .
- FDIC insurance expense noise: Deposit and other insurance expense rose to $37M (vs $20M in Q4), with non‑recurring adjustments; notable items included updated DIF assessment estimates .
- Criticized assets uptick: Criticized commercial loans increased to ~3.98%; timing effects deferred several upgrades to early April; commercial real estate balances declined $261M QoQ .
Financial Results
Consensus estimates comparison:
- Wall Street consensus via S&P Global was unavailable for HBANP due to mapping limitations; estimate comparison not provided (consensus unavailable via S&P Global for HBANP) [SpgiEstimatesError].
Segment and category breakdowns:
Noninterest Income Composition ($USD Millions)
Loan and Deposit KPIs
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- Strategic positioning: “We are operating from a position of strength… disciplined approach to risk… top quartile credit performance… very well positioned to manage through the evolving economic outlook.” — CEO Steve Steinour .
- Growth drivers: “Profit growth is supported by earning asset growth, expanded net interest margin, growth of value‑added fee revenues and disciplined expense management.” — CEO Steve Steinour .
- Capital and buybacks: “Adjusted CET1 growing by 20bps… Board approved a $1 billion multiyear share repurchase authorization.” — CEO Steve Steinour .
- NII/NIM dynamics: “Net interest margin was 3.1%… benefit from lower funding costs, hedging impact, and interest recoveries.” — CFO Zach Wasserman .
- Outlook discipline: “We will remain dynamic as we calibrate to the most likely rate environment; neutrality on rate sensitivity through year end.” — CFO Zach Wasserman .
Q&A Highlights
- Deposit pricing and beta: Management achieved accelerated down‑beta and lowered CD rates on retention, outperformed on both cost and volumes due to segmented, disciplined pricing .
- Loan yields and new initiatives: New business yields consistent with overall production; wins driven by banker expertise and vertical model, not aggressive pricing; Carolinas profitable in 2024 .
- Share repurchase rationale: $1B authorization provides flexibility to support capital deployment; modest repurchases expected in 2025; capital priorities remain growth, dividend, then buybacks .
- Macro/tariffs: No material drop‑off; some deferrals in equipment/distribution finance; winners in USMCA‑exempt trade and autos; strong Q2 pipeline .
- Criticized assets: QoQ uptick tied to timing (several upgrades slipped into April); expectation for flattish trend; low loss content in criticized book .
- Hedging trajectory: Hedge drag improved in Q1 and expected ~neutral mid‑year, then ~4bps drag by Q4; asset sensitivity near neutral in 2025, rising in 2026 .
Estimates Context
- S&P Global consensus estimates for HBANP were unavailable due to CIQ mapping limitations; consequently, explicit beat/miss vs consensus could not be determined from S&P Global for HBANP in Q1 2025 [SpgiEstimatesError].
- Given raised full‑year NII guidance and lower deposit costs, sell‑side models may need to adjust upward NII and potentially NIM trajectory assumptions; fee revenue and expense ranges remain consistent with prior ranges .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Margin durability: Deposit cost declines (2.03%) and segmented pricing underpin NIM stability around ~3.07% run‑rate; hedging drag neutral mid‑year supports stable NIM in 2025 .
- Growth momentum: Loans +2% QoQ (+7% YoY) and deposits +1% QoQ (+7% YoY) with ~half of loan growth from new initiatives; Q2 loan growth guided +1–2% QoQ .
- Capital optionality: CET1 10.6% and adjusted CET1 8.9% trending towards operating range; $1B buyback authorization offers discretionary capital deployment; modest 2025 activity expected .
- Fee trajectory: Q1 seasonal trough; payments/wealth solid YoY; watch capital markets/M&A timing amid macro; expect modest sequential fee growth in Q2 .
- Credit resilience: NCOs at 26bps and NPA ratio at 61bps with ACL 1.87%; guidance for NCOs 25–35bps maintained; criticized assets timing suggests near‑term plateau .
- Q2 setup: Modest NII growth, expenses ≈$1.17B, NIM stable; continued self‑funding of loan growth via deposit momentum .
- Watch macro/tariffs: Some equipment/distribution finance deferrals; diversified portfolio and regional expansion (Carolinas/Texas) mitigate headwinds; pipeline remains strong .
Additional Q1 press release note:
- Community initiative: Huntington continued its Detroit S.W.A.G. scholarship program (ninth year), awarding $115,000 in scholarships and educator grants; while not financially material, it reinforces community engagement .