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Eastern Bankshares, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Operating net income rose in the quarter: Operating net income was $94.7 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, up from $74.1 million, or $0.37, in the third quarter. Source
  • GAAP net income included a tax benefit: GAAP net income was $99.5 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, against $106.1 million, or $0.53, in the third quarter. The result included a GAAP tax benefit tied to first-quarter securities losses. Source
  • Accretion lifted net interest income: Net interest income rose $37.2 million on net discount accretion of $22.6 million, against $10.0 million in the third quarter. Accretion added 34 basis points to margin, versus 17. Source
  • Wealth assets reached a new high: Wealth assets reached $10.1 billion, including $9.6 billion of assets under management, compared with $9.2 billion of assets under management in the third quarter. Source
  • Merger costs drove the expense increase: Non-operating expense was $33.4 million, up $30.2 million, reflecting $26.7 million of higher merger-related costs and a $3.5 million lease impairment. Source
  • HarborOne added loans and deposits: The merger added about $4.5 billion of loans and $4.3 billion of deposits, each at fair value. Total assets reached $30.6 billion at year-end. Source
  • Nonperforming loans rose on HarborOne loans: The increase in nonperforming loans was mainly from acquired HarborOne loans, which management said were thoroughly assessed and adequately reserved. Source
  • Repurchased 3.1 million shares in quarter: The company repurchased 3.1 million shares for $55.4 million at a weighted average price of $17.79, equal to 26% of the program authorized in October. Source

““We are pleased with our performance in 2025,” said Denis Sheahan, Chief Executive Officer.”

Denis Sheahan, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly cash dividend SourceDeclared for payment March 20, 2026$0.13 per common shareKept
Share repurchase authorization SourceCurrent program through October 31, 20268.8 million shares remaining

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The HarborOne merger was completed on November 1, 2025. The third-quarter release had said it was expected to close that date. Source
  • New: The company description now cites more than 125 branches, up from approximately 110. Connecticut no longer appears in the list of states served. Source

Earnings and growth drivers

  • Operating net income rose in the quarter: Operating net income was $94.7 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, up from $74.1 million, or $0.37, in the third quarter. Source
  • GAAP net income included a tax benefit: GAAP net income was $99.5 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, against $106.1 million, or $0.53, in the third quarter. The result included a GAAP tax benefit tied to first-quarter securities losses. Source
  • Full-year operating returns reported: On a full-year operating basis, return on average assets was 1.21%, return on average tangible common equity 12.7%, and the efficiency ratio 51.7%. Source
  • Priorities cover growth and capital return: Management named organic growth in banking and fee businesses, returning capital to shareholders, and earnings power that delivers top quartile financial returns as priorities. Source

Net interest income and margin

  • Accretion lifted net interest income: Net interest income rose $37.2 million on net discount accretion of $22.6 million, against $10.0 million in the third quarter. Accretion added 34 basis points to margin, versus 17. Source
  • Asset yields rose on loan yields: Yield on total interest-earning assets rose 21 basis points to 5.08%, mainly from loan yields lifted by higher accretion. Source
  • Funding costs rose modestly: Cost of interest-bearing liabilities rose 4 basis points to 2.15%, which management attributed to modestly higher deposit costs. Source

“In addition, our commitment to returning capital was evident in the quarter.”

David Rosato, Chief Financial Officer

Fee income and wealth

  • Operating fee income rose with HarborOne: Operating noninterest income was $46.7 million, up $7.0 million, mostly from HarborOne. Investment advisory fees rose $1.1 million to $18.6 million. Source
  • Wealth assets reached a new high: Wealth assets reached $10.1 billion, including $9.6 billion of assets under management, compared with $9.2 billion of assets under management in the third quarter. Source
  • Rabbi trust income declined: Income from rabbi trust investments fell $2.2 million, partly offset by a $0.7 million drop in related benefit costs within noninterest expense. Source
  • Non-operating item was a loss: The company reported a $0.7 million non-operating loss in noninterest income, compared with $1.5 million of non-operating income in the third quarter. Source

Expenses and merger costs

  • Merger costs drove the expense increase: Non-operating expense was $33.4 million, up $30.2 million, reflecting $26.7 million of higher merger-related costs and a $3.5 million lease impairment. Source
  • Operating expense rose with HarborOne: Operating noninterest expense was $156.1 million, up $18.9 million. Salaries and benefits rose $7.5 million to $91.5 million, and intangible amortization rose $2.9 million to $10.8 million. Source
  • Technology and professional costs rose: Professional services rose $2.6 million to $5.6 million, alongside the technology increase. Source

“Eastern is well-positioned for 2026 and beyond and we look forward to executing on the meaningful opportunities in front of us”

Denis Sheahan, Chief Executive Officer

Balance sheet and merger balances

  • HarborOne added loans and deposits: The merger added about $4.5 billion of loans and $4.3 billion of deposits, each at fair value. Total assets reached $30.6 billion at year-end. Source
  • Acquired securities sold after merger: Acquired securities of $298 million were sold after the merger, while total securities rose $100.4 million to $4.4 billion. Source
  • Deposits grew only through the merger: Excluding the merger, deposits were up $20 million, or less than 1%. Source
  • Book value up, tangible book value down: Book value per share rose to $18.42, while tangible book value per share fell to $12.90 from $13.14 in the third quarter. Source

Credit, capital and shareholder returns

  • Nonperforming loans rose on HarborOne loans: The increase in nonperforming loans was mainly from acquired HarborOne loans, which management said were thoroughly assessed and adequately reserved. Source
  • Allowance rose with acquired loan reserves: The allowance for loan losses was $331.8 million, or 1.44% of total loans, up from $233.0 million, or 1.26%, at September 30. Source
  • Repurchased 3.1 million shares in quarter: The company repurchased 3.1 million shares for $55.4 million at a weighted average price of $17.79, equal to 26% of the program authorized in October. Source
  • Tangible equity ratio declined: Tangible shareholders’ equity to tangible assets was 10.38%, down from 11.37% at the end of the third quarter. Source
  • Common shares outstanding rose: Common shares outstanding were 235.6 million at year-end, against 211.5 million at September 30. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 January 2026

  • Dividend payment and record dates: The declared dividend is payable March 20, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on March 6, 2026. Source
  • Repurchase program expires October 2026: The current share repurchase program runs until October 31, 2026, with 8.8 million shares remaining at year-end. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.61% (FTE)
Net interest income Source$237.4 million
Loans Source$23.6 billion (period-end)
Deposits Source$25.5 billion (period-end)
Cost of deposits Source1.59%
Provision for credit losses Source$4.9 million
Net charge-offs Source$9.8 million; 0.18% of average total loans
Nonperforming assets Source$172.3 million; 0.75% of total loans
CET1 capital ratio Source13.22% (preliminary estimate)
Efficiency ratio Source66.8% (GAAP); 50.1% (operating)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management discussed the rise in nonperforming loans tied to acquired loans and the allowance held against credit exposure at year-end. Source
  • Operational: Management said merger integration, customer and employee transition, and capture of projected cost savings remain the focus. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: The CFO said the company is on track to achieve the merger-related financial targets set when the deal was announced. Source
  • Not stated: Management described the nonperforming loan increase as expected. The documents give no status against a prior figure. 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.