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Eastern Bankshares, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Operating net income rose 20%: Operating net income was $106.5 million, or $0.49 diluted, up from $88.6 million and $0.40 in the first quarter. Operating return on average tangible common equity was 15.3%. Source
  • Positive operating leverage cited: Management cited positive operating leverage from higher net interest income and fee revenue alongside lower expenses. The operating efficiency ratio was 49%. Source
  • Net interest margin expanded 3 basis points: Net interest margin on an FTE basis rose to 3.66% from 3.63%. Net discount accretion was $19.7 million, contributing 28 basis points, unchanged from the first quarter. Source
  • Wealth assets reached record level: Wealth assets rose to a record $11.5 billion, including $10.6 billion of assets under management, up from $10.3 billion and $9.8 billion in the first quarter. Source
  • Nonperforming loans fell again: Nonperforming loans fell to $109.4 million, or 0.47% of total loans, from $137.7 million, or 0.60%. Management described this as the second consecutive quarterly decline since the HarborOne merger. Source
  • Commercial and industrial loans drove growth: Total loans rose $325 million, or 1.4%, to $23,713 million. Commercial real estate payoffs partly offset the increase. Source
  • Share repurchases totaled $72.7 million: The company bought back 3.6 million shares at a weighted average price of $20.03, for $72.7 million. As of quarter-end, 1.3 million shares remained in the current program. Source

“Eastern’s second-quarter performance reflects our focus on organically growing both banking and fee-based businesses and consistently returning capital to shareholders”

Denis Sheahan, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Share repurchases SourceProgram through December 31, 2027up to 11.35 million shares, or 5% of common stock outstandingNew
Quarterly cash dividend SourcePayable September 22, 2026$0.15 per common shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: New 5% repurchase program authorized; the prior program had 1.3 million shares remaining at quarter-end. Management links the approval to long-term intrinsic value. Source

Results and earnings drivers

  • Operating net income rose 20%: Operating net income was $106.5 million, or $0.49 diluted, up from $88.6 million and $0.40 in the first quarter. Operating return on average tangible common equity was 15.3%. Source
  • Positive operating leverage cited: Management cited positive operating leverage from higher net interest income and fee revenue alongside lower expenses. The operating efficiency ratio was 49%. Source
  • GAAP net income rose on lower costs: GAAP net income was $105.2 million, or $0.48 diluted, against $65.3 million and $0.29 in the first quarter. Results included non-operating merger-related costs. Source

Net interest income and margin

  • Net interest margin expanded 3 basis points: Net interest margin on an FTE basis rose to 3.66% from 3.63%. Net discount accretion was $19.7 million, contributing 28 basis points, unchanged from the first quarter. Source
  • Net interest income up $7.3 million: Net interest income was $251.9 million, up 3% from $244.7 million. The yield on total interest-earning assets rose 4 basis points to 5.05%. Source
  • Funding costs rose modestly: The cost of interest-bearing liabilities rose 2 basis points to 2.01%, mainly from money market deposits. Cost of deposits was 1.47%, against 1.46% in the first quarter. Source

“Asset quality remains excellent, credit trends are positive, and as expected, non-performing loans declined for the second consecutive quarter following the HarborOne merger.”

David Rosato, Chief Financial Officer

Fee income and Wealth

  • Retirement benefit income lifted fees: Income on investments for employee retirement benefits was $7.0 million, against a $1.9 million loss in the first quarter, on equity market performance. Related benefit costs rose $3.4 million. Source
  • Wealth assets reached record level: Wealth assets rose to a record $11.5 billion, including $10.6 billion of assets under management, up from $10.3 billion and $9.8 billion in the first quarter. Source
  • Investment advisory fees rose 8%: Investment advisory fees were $19.7 million, up $1.4 million, reflecting higher Wealth assets and seasonal tax preparation fees. Source

Expenses and efficiency

  • Operating expenses fell slightly: Operating noninterest expense was $166.4 million, down $1.5 million. Management said the quarter benefited from cost synergies after the February core system conversion. Source
  • Merger costs drove reported drop: Total noninterest expense was $167.9 million, down $30.7 million. Non-operating expense was $1.6 million, against $30.8 million in the first quarter, mostly from merger-related costs. Source
  • Efficiency ratio improved to 49%: The operating efficiency ratio was 49.0%, against 52.8% in the first quarter. The GAAP efficiency ratio was 54.3%, against 68.9%. Source
  • Professional and provision costs rose: Professional services rose $2.3 million, mainly shareholder advisory fees. Other operating expense rose $1.6 million on a higher provision for unfunded commitments. Source

“While the deposit environment is highly competitive, we are committed to balancing growth with margin performance.”

Denis Sheahan, Chief Executive Officer

Asset quality and credit

  • Nonperforming loans fell again: Nonperforming loans fell to $109.4 million, or 0.47% of total loans, from $137.7 million, or 0.60%. Management described this as the second consecutive quarterly decline since the HarborOne merger. Source
  • Net charge-offs held at 0.17%: Net charge-offs were $9.8 million, or 0.17% of average total loans, against $9.7 million in the first quarter. Provision for loan losses was $6.8 million, up from $5.8 million. Source
  • Allowance coverage edged lower: The allowance for loan losses was $325.4 million, or 1.40% of total loans, against $327.9 million and 1.43% at March 31. Allowance covered 297.45% of nonperforming loans. Source

Loans, deposits and demand

  • Commercial and industrial loans drove growth: Total loans rose $325 million, or 1.4%, to $23,713 million. Commercial real estate payoffs partly offset the increase. Source
  • Commercial pipeline ended near record: Commercial loan pipelines finished June at a record quarter-end level of nearly $1 billion. Management described customers as resilient. Source
  • Deposits grew on municipal inflows: Deposits rose $814 million, or 3.2%, to $25,919 million. Average deposits rose 1.1%. Management attributed the increase to seasonal municipal inflows and broad growth across business lines. Source
  • Securities balances increased: Securities rose $239 million to $4,812 million. Cash and equivalents fell $75 million to $256 million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Share repurchases totaled $72.7 million: The company bought back 3.6 million shares at a weighted average price of $20.03, for $72.7 million. As of quarter-end, 1.3 million shares remained in the current program. Source
  • Dividends and total capital return: Cash dividends paid were $33.1 million. Total capital returned to shareholders was $105.8 million, including the share repurchases. Source
  • Tangible book value per share rose: Tangible book value per share was $13.13, up 1.8% from $12.90. Book value per share was $18.72, up from $18.45. Source

Strategy and people

  • Wealth and banking partnership deepening: Management said the partnership between Wealth and Banking continues to create new business, and that its solutions-oriented wealth approach resonates with clients. Source
  • Talent added in recent years: Management credited talent added in recent years and the relationship-driven model as contributors to results. Source
  • HarborOne conversion completed in February: The HarborOne core system conversion was completed in February. In the first quarter, management said it remained on track for projected merger cost savings.

Coming up, as management said on 23 July 2026

  • Quarterly dividend payable September 22: The $0.15 quarterly dividend is payable September 22, 2026 to shareholders of record on September 8, 2026. Source
  • Repurchase program runs to 2027: The new share repurchase program runs through December 31, 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.66% (FTE)
Net interest income Source$251.9 million
Loans Source$23,713 million (period-end)
Deposits Source$25,919 million (period-end)
Cost of deposits Source1.47%
Provision for credit losses Source$6.8 million
Net charge-offs Source0.17% of average total loans
Nonperforming assets Source$109.4 million; 0.47% of total loans
CET1 ratio Source13.00% (preliminary)
Efficiency ratio Source54.3% GAAP; 49.0% operating

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Commercial real estate payoffs offset part of commercial loan growth, which management named as a headwind. Source
  • Demand: Management described the deposit market as highly competitive and said it is balancing deposit growth with margin. Source
  • Financial: Higher money market deposit costs raised the cost of interest-bearing liabilities, partly offsetting gains in asset yields. Source
  • External: Retirement benefit investment income moves with equity markets; the first quarter recorded a $1.9 million loss. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said nonperforming loans declined for the second consecutive quarter, as expected, following the HarborOne merger. Source
  • Met: Management said the quarter benefited from cost synergies achieved after the February core system conversion. 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.