RF
REGIONS FINANCIAL CORP (RF)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025: Net income to common $465M and diluted EPS $0.51; adjusted EPS $0.54. Total revenue $1.784B (adjusted $1.809B); NIM fell 3 bps to 3.52% and adjusted efficiency ratio was 56.8% .
- Deposits grew 3% QoQ to $131.0B (EOP) with average deposits up 1% QoQ; mix of non‑interest‑bearing remained in low 30% range. Average loans were stable; ending loans down ~1% QoQ to $95.7B .
- Asset quality within expectations: NCOs 0.52% (annualized), NPLs 0.88% of loans; ACL/loans 1.81%. Criticized business services loans up, driven by transportation and multifamily .
- Guidance trimmed: 2025 NII now +1–4% (from +2–5%), adjusted NIE flat to +~2% (from +1–3%), adjusted NIR +1–3%; NIM targeted to 3.60% by 4Q25. 2Q NII ~+3% QoQ. Capital markets near term ~$80–$90M/quarter .
- Catalysts: EPS beat vs consensus and buyback ($242M) support; revenue below Street, softer capital markets, and front‑loaded credit losses may temper reaction. EPS consensus 0.509 vs actual 0.54; revenue consensus $1.835B vs actual $1.660B* [GetEstimates]*.
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Relationship deposit franchise delivered: ending deposits +2.6% QoQ; management highlighted customer preference for liquidity and deepening relationships in priority markets .
- Fee momentum in core categories: record treasury management (seasonal) and record wealth management; service charges +3.9% QoQ and +8.8% YoY; wealth +2.4% QoQ and +8.4% YoY .
- Capital and liquidity solid: CET1 10.8%, Tier 1 12.2%; total liquidity ~$68B covering ~190% of uninsured deposits; tangible book per share up 8% QoQ and 18% YoY to $12.29 .
Quotes:
- “First quarter deposit growth, driven in part by deepening relationships and account growth” — John Turner (CEO) .
- “Linked‑quarter interest‑bearing deposit costs fell by 11 bps... beta of 32%” — David Turner (CFO) .
- “Proactive hedging strategies position Regions for success in an array of economic conditions” — presentation .
What Went Wrong
- NII down 3% QoQ (less than 1% ex nonrecurring and day count) with NIM −3 bps; lower loan balances and spread compression offset hedge benefits .
- Capital markets softer: revenue $80M, −17% QoQ, −12% YoY on lower M&A, real estate and syndication; near‑term run rate guided to ~$80–$90M .
- Credit costs edged higher: NCOs 0.52% vs 0.49% in Q4; criticized business services loans increased, notably transportation and multifamily portfolios of interest .
Financial Results
Core P&L and Margins
Balance Sheet and Credit KPIs
Segment/Category Breakdown
Average Loans by Category ($USD Millions):
End‑of‑Period Deposits by Segment ($USD Millions):
Additional KPIs:
Estimates vs Actuals (S&P Global)
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We believe our de‑risking efforts and best‑in‑class hedging program… position us well to perform across a wide array of economic conditions” — John Turner (CEO) .
- “Net interest income declined 3% linked quarter, but less than 1% excluding nonrecurring items and day count” — David Turner (CFO) .
- “We expect 2Q25 NII to increase ~3% vs 1Q25… 2025 NII expected to grow between 1–4%; NIM increase to 3.60% by 4Q25” — Company presentation .
- “In the near term, we expect to manage CET1 inclusive of AOCI closer to the lower end of our 9.25–9.75% operating range” — Company presentation .
- “We continue to believe capital markets can consistently generate ~$100M over time… expect ~$80–$90M near term” — David Turner (CFO) .
Q&A Highlights
- Deposit pricing/betas: IB deposit costs −11 bps QoQ; full cycle falling‑rate beta ~32%; promotional pricing in select markets; multiple levers to reduce costs further .
- Buybacks: Repurchased $242M in Q1; pace tied to loan demand; confident capital supports continued buybacks while maintaining CET1 targets .
- Loan outlook: Pipelines mixed; upper end middle market soft; bond market paydowns (~$800M); line utilization flat; cautious sentiment until tariff clarity (90–180 days) .
- Credit provisioning: Front‑loaded charge‑offs 1H; provision ~NCOs, with macro changes causing general reserve increases; expect ACL ratio to drift down over time if economy stabilizes .
- Capital markets drivers: Lower M&A, real estate and syndication suppressed revenue; near‑term guide ~$80–$90M; pathway to ~$100M over time .
Estimates Context
- EPS: RF’s adjusted EPS of $0.54 exceeded S&P Global consensus of $0.509 for Q1 2025; prior two quarters also above consensus (actuals $0.57 and $0.59 vs estimates ~$0.534 and ~$0.555)* [GetEstimates]*.
- Revenue: Reported S&P “Revenue actual” ($1.660B) was below S&P consensus ($1.835B) for Q1 2025; similar shortfalls in Q4 and Q3 2024. Note differing basis vs company’s total revenue ($1.784B) disclosure may explain gap* [GetEstimates] *.
- Implication: Street may trim NII trajectory given lower growth range (+1–4%) and soft near‑term capital markets; deposit cost relief and hedge program support margin resilience .
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Deposit advantage intact: deposit growth and falling IB costs (beta ~32%) underpin margin protection even as rates fall; NIM path to ~3.60% by 4Q25 .
- Earnings durability: Adjusted PPI +21% YoY and ROATCE ~18.6% reflect resilient core; expect positive operating leverage for FY25 (50–150 bps) despite trimmed revenue/expense guides .
- Near‑term headwinds: NII −3% QoQ on balances/spreads; capital markets softness persists; front‑loaded credit losses in portfolios of interest (office, trucking) .
- Capital deployment: With CET1 10.8% and flexible stance on CET1 incl. AOCI, ongoing buybacks and dividend ($0.25/sh declared) likely continue, paced by loan demand .
- Watch for 2Q acceleration: NII guided ~+3% QoQ, removal of nonrecurring items/day count, and fixed‑rate turnover bolster H2 upside if tariff uncertainty eases .
- Strategic tech/AI investments: Cloud core upgrades and AI‑enabled tools (CashFlowIQ/Advisor) target fee growth and small‑business penetration in priority markets .
- Trading lens: EPS beat vs consensus, deposit‑cost tailwinds, and buybacks are supportive; sustained revenue normalization and capital markets re‑acceleration are key triggers, while credit headlines from office/transportation remain a risk monitor [GetEstimates] .
Other Q1 2025 Press Releases
- Declared quarterly dividends: $0.25 common dividend payable July 1; preferred dividends across series C/D/E/F payable in May/June .
- Q1 2025 earnings press release and financial supplement published April 17 (summary metrics above) .