greeksoup/ stock research

Eastern Bankshares, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Operating income up 31% year on year: Management said operating income rose 31% from a year earlier, with an operating return on average tangible common equity of 12.8%. Operating diluted EPS was $0.40, against $0.44 in the prior quarter. Source
  • Net interest income rose $7.2 million: Net interest income was $244.7 million, up $7.2 million from the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Margin widened on lower funding costs: Net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent basis rose 2 basis points to 3.63%, which the company attributed to lower cost of funds. Source
  • Wealth assets reached record $10.3 billion: Wealth assets were a record $10.3 billion, of which $9.8 billion was assets under management, with positive net flows. Source
  • Operating expense rose $11.8 million: Operating noninterest expense was $167.9 million, up $11.8 million, mainly from seasonal payroll and benefit costs and a full quarter of HarborOne. Source
  • Deposits fell on seasonal outflows: Deposits totaled $25,105 million, down $365.5 million or 1.4%, attributed to seasonal outflows and a competitive deposit environment. Source
  • Non-performing loans fell to 0.60%: Non-performing loans were $137.7 million, or 0.60% of total loans, down from $172.3 million, or 0.75%, at year-end 2025. Management credited its Managed Assets Group. Source
  • Repurchased $75.1 million of shares: The company bought back 3.9 million shares at a weighted average price of $19.33, for an aggregate $75.1 million. Source

“Overall, we believe Eastern is well-positioned to deliver meaningful value to shareholders by executing on organic growth opportunities and a consistent return of capital.”

Denis Sheahan, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly dividend SourcePayable June 22, 2026$0.15 per common shareRaised from $0.13 per common share

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Quarterly dividend raised 15%, to $0.15 from $0.13 per share, the sixth consecutive year of dividend growth since becoming a public company. Source
  • New: HarborOne core system conversion completed in February 2026, a milestone the CFO cited ahead of realizing the combined franchise's full potential. Source

Results and earnings

  • Operating income up 31% year on year: Management said operating income rose 31% from a year earlier, with an operating return on average tangible common equity of 12.8%. Operating diluted EPS was $0.40, against $0.44 in the prior quarter. Source
  • Full quarter of HarborOne included: Results include a full quarter of the HarborOne merger. The prior quarter included only a partial quarter, as the merger closed November 1, 2025. Source
  • Quarter in line with expectations: The CEO said the quarter was in line with expectations and reflected typical seasonal trends. Source

Net interest income and margin

  • Net interest income rose $7.2 million: Net interest income was $244.7 million, up $7.2 million from the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Margin widened on lower funding costs: Net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent basis rose 2 basis points to 3.63%, which the company attributed to lower cost of funds. Source
  • Discount accretion eased to $19.5 million: Net discount accretion was $19.5 million, against $22.6 million in the prior quarter. It contributed 28 basis points to the margin, compared with 34 basis points before. Source
  • Asset yields fell on loan yields: The yield on total interest-earning assets was 5.01%, down 7 basis points, mainly from lower loan yields, partly offset by higher securities yields. Source

“Given the Company’s profitability, we continue to generate excess capital and remain committed to returning capital to shareholders, as demonstrated by $75.1 million of share repurchases during the quarter.”

David Rosato, Chief Financial Officer

Noninterest income and wealth

  • Pension investments produced a loss: Investments held for employee retirement benefits posted a $1.9 million loss, reflecting weaker equity markets, compared with $1.7 million of income in the prior quarter. Source
  • Wealth assets reached record $10.3 billion: Wealth assets were a record $10.3 billion, of which $9.8 billion was assets under management, with positive net flows. Source
  • Advisory fees declined $0.3 million: Investment advisory fees were $18.3 million, down $0.3 million from the prior quarter. Source
  • Loan-sale gain lifted miscellaneous income: Miscellaneous income and fees rose $2.9 million, mainly from a $1.7 million gain on the sale of commercial loans, offsetting declines elsewhere in operating noninterest income. Source
  • Wealth and banking alignment deepening: Management said wealth management is gaining from closer alignment with the banking businesses, with higher client engagement and referral activity. Source

Noninterest expense and merger costs

  • Operating expense rose $11.8 million: Operating noninterest expense was $167.9 million, up $11.8 million, mainly from seasonal payroll and benefit costs and a full quarter of HarborOne. Source
  • Salaries rose $10.6 million: Salaries and employee benefits rose $10.6 million to $102.2 million. Source
  • Non-operating expense fell on merger costs: Non-operating expense was $30.8 million, down $2.6 million, mainly from $1.8 million lower merger-related costs and $0.8 million lower other non-operating expense. Source
  • Professional services fell $2.2 million: Professional services declined $2.2 million to $3.4 million, partly offsetting the increases in operating expense. Source

Loan demand and originations

  • Loans fell 0.8% on payoffs: Total loans were $23,388 million, down $186.5 million, mainly from nonperforming loan paydowns and commercial real estate payoffs, partly offset by commercial and industrial growth. Source
  • Customer sentiment positive, pipelines record: Management said customer sentiment remains positive and commercial pipelines ended the quarter at a record high level. Source
  • Commercial team had record originations year: The commercial lending team followed a record year of originations, and management said that momentum is carrying into 2026. Source

Deposits and funding costs

  • Deposits fell on seasonal outflows: Deposits totaled $25,105 million, down $365.5 million or 1.4%, attributed to seasonal outflows and a competitive deposit environment. Source
  • Funding costs fell 16 basis points: The cost of total interest-bearing liabilities fell 16 basis points to 1.99%, attributed to lower deposit costs. Source
  • Deposit actions to add cost pressure: Management said targeted deposit actions will add some upward pressure on costs, with deposit growth balanced against the margin. Source

Balance sheet and securities

  • Total assets rose $45.7 million: Total assets were $30,633 million at March 31, 2026, up $45.7 million from December 31, 2025. Source
  • Securities rose $147.7 million: Securities totaled $4,573 million, up $147.7 million from the prior quarter-end. Source
  • Cash and equivalents fell $14.7 million: Cash and equivalents were $332 million, down $14.7 million. Source

Asset quality and provisions

  • Non-performing loans fell to 0.60%: Non-performing loans were $137.7 million, or 0.60% of total loans, down from $172.3 million, or 0.75%, at year-end 2025. Management credited its Managed Assets Group. Source
  • Net charge-offs at 0.17% of loans: Net charge-offs were $9.7 million, or 0.17% of average total loans, compared with $9.8 million, or 0.18%, in the prior quarter. Source
  • Provision rose to $5.8 million: Provision for loan losses was $5.8 million, against $4.9 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Allowance held near 1.43% of loans: The allowance for loan losses was $327.9 million, or 1.43% of total loans, compared with $331.8 million, or 1.44%, at December 31, 2025. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Repurchased $75.1 million of shares: The company bought back 3.9 million shares at a weighted average price of $19.33, for an aggregate $75.1 million. Source
  • 4.9 million shares left in program: 4.9 million shares remain in the current repurchase program, down from 8.8 million at year-end 2025. The program expires October 31, 2026. Source
  • CET1 ratio preliminary at 13.16%: The CET1 capital ratio was 13.16% at March 31, 2026, a preliminary estimate, against 13.19% at year-end 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 April 2026

  • Next buyback authorization planned: After the current program, management anticipates executing another share repurchase authorization, subject to regulatory approval. Source
  • Originations expected in coming quarters: Management said record commercial pipelines give it confidence in originations for the coming quarters. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management described the deposit environment as competitive and said it is taking targeted actions to defend and grow share. Source
  • Financial: Targeted deposit actions are expected to add upward pressure on costs, with deposit growth balanced against the margin. Source
  • External: Weaker equity markets partly offset wealth asset growth and reduced investment results for employee retirement benefits. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it remains on track to capture the merger's projected cost savings after the core system conversion. Source
  • Not stated: Management said loan balances were down modestly, as expected, and that customer sentiment remains positive. 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.