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Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 April 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Diluted EPS rose to $0.84: The company reported net income available to common shareholders of $119.2 million and diluted EPS of $0.84, versus $0.77 in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $0.52 in the first quarter of 2025. Adjusted diluted operating EPS was $0.89, against $0.97 in the prior quarter. Source
  • Merger costs fell sharply: Noninterest expense fell $33.4 million to $209.8 million, mainly from a $29.6 million drop in pre-tax merger-related costs and a $2.3 million drop in intangible amortization. Source
  • Net interest income declined $17.8 million: Net interest income was $312.4 million, down $17.8 million from $330.2 million in the fourth quarter. The decline reflected lower loan accretion, a lower day count, and lower variable-rate loan yields after 75 basis points of federal funds cuts. Source
  • Net interest margin fell 10 basis points: Net interest margin was 3.80% and net interest margin FTE was 3.85%, down 10 and 11 basis points from the prior quarter. Earning asset yields fell 20 basis points to 5.79%, partly offset by a 9 basis point drop in cost of funds to 1.94%. Source
  • Nonperforming assets ratio improved: Nonperforming assets were 0.36% of total LHFI, down 6 basis points, with nonaccrual loans of $97.8 million. The ACL totaled $321.9 million, or 1.15% of total LHFI. Source
  • Past due loans rose: Past due loans still accruing reached $125.0 million, or 0.45% of total LHFI, up from 0.41%. The increase was mainly in multifamily and owner-occupied CRE, and management tied the year-over-year rise to Sandy Spring acquired loans. Source
  • Loans grew 2.2% in the quarter: LHFI increased to $27.9 billion, up $150 million or 2.19% annualized from December 31, 2025, mainly from commercial and industrial loans. Quarterly average LHFI rose 5.87% annualized. Source
  • Deposits slightly lower as brokered run off: Total deposits were $30.4 billion, down $80 million, as brokered deposits fell $518 million, partly offset by $439 million more interest-bearing customer deposits. Management said it continued to reduce higher-cost brokered deposits. Source
  • Capital ratios rose: CET1 was 10.21%, up from 10.10%, and the total capital ratio was 14.01%. Tangible common equity to tangible assets was 8.03%, up from 7.85%. The March 31 ratios are estimates pending the FR Y9-C filing. Source

“Atlantic Union had a solid first quarter, reflecting disciplined execution and a successful conclusion of the Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. integration”

John C. Asbury, president and chief executive officer of Atlantic Union

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Sandy Spring Bancorp integration concluded; goodwill finalized as of March 31, 2026 after the measurement period ended. Source
  • Guidance kept: Management kept its confidence in the full-year 2026 targets for adjusted operating ROA, ROTCE and efficiency ratio, which it had set earlier and restated in the prior release. Source

Results and earnings drivers

  • Diluted EPS rose to $0.84: The company reported net income available to common shareholders of $119.2 million and diluted EPS of $0.84, versus $0.77 in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $0.52 in the first quarter of 2025. Adjusted diluted operating EPS was $0.89, against $0.97 in the prior quarter. Source
  • Merger costs fell sharply: Noninterest expense fell $33.4 million to $209.8 million, mainly from a $29.6 million drop in pre-tax merger-related costs and a $2.3 million drop in intangible amortization. Source
  • Adjusted operating earnings fell from prior quarter: Adjusted operating earnings available to common shareholders were $126.2 million, compared with $138.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $51.6 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source

Net interest income and margin

  • Net interest income declined $17.8 million: Net interest income was $312.4 million, down $17.8 million from $330.2 million in the fourth quarter. The decline reflected lower loan accretion, a lower day count, and lower variable-rate loan yields after 75 basis points of federal funds cuts. Source
  • Net interest margin fell 10 basis points: Net interest margin was 3.80% and net interest margin FTE was 3.85%, down 10 and 11 basis points from the prior quarter. Earning asset yields fell 20 basis points to 5.79%, partly offset by a 9 basis point drop in cost of funds to 1.94%. Source
  • Accretion income dropped $13 million: Net accretion income was $13.0 million lower than the prior quarter, which had elevated accelerated accretion from prepayments. This quarter included a $3.5 million measurement period reduction tied to Sandy Spring. Loan accretion was $35.6 million, against $48.4 million previously. Source

“Asset quality remains strong, our annualized first quarter loan growth rate improved year over year during a seasonally slow period and we continued to reduce higher costing brokered deposits.”

John C. Asbury, president and chief executive officer of Atlantic Union

Asset quality and credit provision

  • Nonperforming assets ratio improved: Nonperforming assets were 0.36% of total LHFI, down 6 basis points, with nonaccrual loans of $97.8 million. The ACL totaled $321.9 million, or 1.15% of total LHFI. Source
  • Past due loans rose: Past due loans still accruing reached $125.0 million, or 0.45% of total LHFI, up from 0.41%. The increase was mainly in multifamily and owner-occupied CRE, and management tied the year-over-year rise to Sandy Spring acquired loans. Source
  • Provision and charge-offs stayed low: The provision for credit losses was $2.7 million, against $2.2 million in the prior quarter and $17.6 million a year earlier. Net charge-offs were $1.6 million, or 0.02% of average LHFI annualized. Source
  • ACL methodology changed: Effective January 1, 2026, the company changed its ACL methodology as a prospective change in accounting estimate, which it said did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. Source

Fee income and noninterest costs

  • Noninterest income eased $2.2 million: Noninterest income was $54.8 million, down $2.2 million from $57.0 million, mainly from a $4.4 million seasonal drop in loan-related interest rate swap fees, partly offset by a $1.5 million rise in other operating income from capital markets. Source
  • Adjusted operating expense edged lower: Adjusted operating noninterest expense was $185.3 million, down $1.6 million. Salaries rose $5.0 million on seasonal payroll taxes and 401(k) contributions, offset by lower other expenses, professional services and technology costs. Source
  • Efficiency ratio improved: The efficiency ratio was 57.14%, or 56.45% FTE, against 62.83% and 62.09% in the prior quarter. The adjusted operating efficiency ratio FTE was 49.86%, against 47.77%. Source

Balance sheet and loan growth

  • Loans grew 2.2% in the quarter: LHFI increased to $27.9 billion, up $150 million or 2.19% annualized from December 31, 2025, mainly from commercial and industrial loans. Quarterly average LHFI rose 5.87% annualized. Source
  • Deposits slightly lower as brokered run off: Total deposits were $30.4 billion, down $80 million, as brokered deposits fell $518 million, partly offset by $439 million more interest-bearing customer deposits. Management said it continued to reduce higher-cost brokered deposits. Source
  • Total assets and borrowings declined: Total assets fell to $37.3 billion from $37.6 billion, mainly from lower investments and cash. Borrowings fell to $1.3 billion from $1.5 billion as short-term borrowings were repaid with deposit proceeds. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Capital ratios rose: CET1 was 10.21%, up from 10.10%, and the total capital ratio was 14.01%. Tangible common equity to tangible assets was 8.03%, up from 7.85%. The March 31 ratios are estimates pending the FR Y9-C filing. Source
  • Dividend held at $0.37: Cash dividends were $0.37 per common share, unchanged from the prior quarter and up from $0.34 a year earlier. The preferred dividend was $171.88 per share, unchanged. Source

Strategy and franchise

  • Transformation to a regional bank: Management described the company as moving from a Virginia community bank to the largest regional bank headquartered in the lower Mid-Atlantic, with operations in Virginia, Maryland and a growing North Carolina presence. Its stated priorities are soundness, profitability, then growth. Source
  • Wealth assets and mortgage volume: Assets under management reached $15.2 billion, up from $15.1 billion. Mortgage originations held for sale were $85.9 million, down from $99.3 million, with refinances at 29.5% of volume. Source

Management statements and employees

  • Management cites disciplined execution: The chief executive said the quarter reflected disciplined execution and the conclusion of the Sandy Spring integration. He also pointed to loan growth during a seasonally slow period and continued reduction of brokered deposits. Source
  • Headcount rose slightly: End-of-period full-time equivalent employees were 3,034, up from 3,001 in the prior quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 21 April 2026

  • Next results release: The release gave no date for the next earnings release or guidance update. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Accretion income is volatile, and lower accretion from prepayments and a Sandy Spring measurement period reduction cut net interest income this quarter. Source
  • Demand: Past due loans still accruing increased to 0.45% of LHFI, mainly in multifamily and owner-occupied CRE. Source
  • Regulatory: The March 31, 2026 capital ratios are estimates and remain subject to change pending the FR Y9-C filing. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the underlying performance supports continued confidence in the full-year 2026 targets, but gave no numeric status. Source
  • Met: Management said it continued to reduce higher-costing brokered deposits, which fell from $1.13 billion to $610 million in the quarter. Source
  • Met: Management described the Sandy Spring integration as successfully concluded, with goodwill finalized at March 31, 2026. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.